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General discussion

backing up work

May 31, 2004 6:38AM PDT

I always hear that you should back up your work but I've never learned the process. How is it done and what do you save it to, CD's? I have ME and would appreciate any info on this subject. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Re:backing up work/my thoughts
May 31, 2004 7:47AM PDT

I think of backing up as being more of a plan than a process. You get to make most of the decisions on how to do this as the plan needs to meet your priorities. It may include some of the following;

What is the worst thing that could happen?
What data is critical to me?
When (not if) I have a problem, how quickly must it be resolved?
What might cause data loss (i.e. viruses, hardware failure, theft, etc.).

Now, you might start by organizing your data is such a way that critical files are easy to find and back up. Your back up plan also needs to include making copies of your original media and writing down codes needed for installation of them. Of course this will require you to have a good CD burner and extra hardware is just part of the plan. You will need to decide if a rebuild of your entire system using original media, reloading drivers, downloading product updates, and restoring saved data acceptable in the event of a complete disaster or would you prefer to keep an image of your hard drive available that can do a complete restore in a few minutes. This requires third party software. So, ask yourself all these questions and decide what your plan needs to be and then post back. There is plenty of advice to be had here.

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Re:backing up work
May 31, 2004 8:32AM PDT

Mulberry,

The simplest way to "back up your work" is to make a copy of the file and place the copy of that file on some type of "removable media" such a floppy disk or CD. Every file created by you, using any installed program on the computer, could potentially be lost if the computer were to crash. Make backups of all personal documents and files, such as pictures, etc. that you can't replace. Please recognize that a floppy disk will only work for small files and floppy disks can easily be damaged making the files unrecoverable. A CD burner and CD disks are much safer/permanent and can save a great deal more data.

As an example, place a blank floppy disk in the floppy drive. Double click on "My Computer", then double click on the "Floppy disk" icon to open it. Now click on the - sign in the upper right corner of that window to minimize it into the lower task bar. Now find a file that you need to make a copy of, (maybe one in your "My Documents" folder), RIGHT click on the file, choose "Copy" from the little menu. Now click once on the "minimized" floppy disk to open it. RIGHT click on a blank area of the window, choose "paste". The file will be copied to the floppy disk.

The same procedure can be used with a CD disk which has been formatted, OR, you can do a full burn to save the files permanent.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re:Re:backing up work
May 31, 2004 12:30PM PDT

Grif,
Thank you for your help. You always give easy to understand and easy to follow instructions. I attempted to copy to a floppy disk and it actually worked. It wasn't as hard as I had anticipated. I just love learning new things! Thanks again for being there when I need you.

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(NT) Mulberry, Glad We Could Help
May 31, 2004 1:40PM PDT

.

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Four rules of backing up:
May 31, 2004 11:49PM PDT

1. Whatever method you use must be easy enough for you to use that you'll actually do it! If a backup method is to you like getting a root canal, then you'll never use it...

2. If a file's loss would cause you to repeatedly utter profane passwords were it lost, back it up!

3. Make backing up a habit - like getting out of bed. Set an interval based on how you use your PC and how often the files you want to protect change.

4. Verify, verify, verify. A backup that can't be accessed is a waste of media - and a further disaster to you. Make absolutely sure that the backup is usable after you make it!

Now, what would I, at the minimum, backup on a Windows ME system? Answer: The My Documents folder, all downloaded files (especially shareware/freeware programs), browser bookmarks and any audio/video files you may have created. Here's a suggestion: You know all those product keys you get with new software as well as order numbers from purchased shareware? Carefully type them onto a Wordpad document and save it in My Documents. Should a disaster occur, it'll make reinstalling all that software much easier.

Hope this helps!

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Re:Four rules of backing up:
Jun 1, 2004 11:37AM PDT

Paul C.

I can see how planning ahead can save one a lot of stress and aggravation if something important were to be lost. Now that I have an idea of how to save my info I hope I won't have to face that problem. Thanks for the advice.