If you are asking the question “how do I backup my computer” one of two things has most likely happened. Either you have had a hard drive crash and want to make sure it doesn’t happen again or you had a near miss (lost files or something) and don’t want it to happen to the other precious items on your computer.
The answer to how to backup your computer needs to start with what is it you are needing backed up. First let’s look at what is commonly found on your hard drive. These items can be broken down into three elements: operating system (OS), applications, and files.
Operating System
This is what manages your PC and how you view and interact with the computer and all the files and programs. The three main flavors of operating system are Windows (XP, Vista, 7), Mac (OS X), and Linux (Red Hat, Ubuntu, Mandrake).
Applications
These are the programs that run and handle the things you do. Examples are Internet Explorer, Quicken, PhotoShop, and McAfee just to name a few.
Files
These are the things that you read, use, or view. Pictures, videos, Word docs, spreadsheets, and so on.
In an ideal world you would want to back up everything you have, but that really isn’t practical. Because of increasing hard drive space, your time, and your expertise you may just want and need something simple (more on that in a moment).
In most cases all that you will want to back up is just a few of your files as these are what change the most. For example your pictures of friends and family, that great series of videos you saved from your phone, and what not.
For the average user of a PC the order of importance in things to back up are:
1 Files
2 Applications
3 OS
But before we get into how to, let’s look at what options you have to back up to.
CD’s and DVD’s
Pros: Cheap and readily available.
Cons:Easily damaged, may need many to use for storage and backup.
Flash drives/USB drives
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Can be corrupted (in other words lost files and data), due to their small size can be easily lost.May need more than one.
External Hard Drives
Pros: Can find them the exact size of your computer’s hard drive or perhaps larger. Takes up only a small amount of space.
Cons: Can be damaged and corrupted. Can be costly ($100 or more)
Online server (through a service)
Pros: Usually runs in the background without you knowing it. Storage is elsewhere so you don’t have to worry with it.
Cons: Usually have to pay an annual fee for the service. Needs an internet connection.
There are three main ways to backup your computer system. These are to use your operating system’s backup utility program, use a ghosting (or mirroring) software, or use an online backup service.
As for the utility program option the great thing is it is probably already there. The downfall is you have to make sure the media you use (disks flash drives etc) is available and connected when you have new files to update.
Here’s where to find the top three OS manufacturer’s instructions:
Windows XP
Windows 7
Mac OS
Alternatively you can use what is referred to as a ghosting or mirroring program. This essentially takes a “snapshot” of your hard drive onto a disk or another drive. What is nice is that it is an exact replica of your hard drive. You can reload it onto your hard drive if you have to replace it and be exactly where you were at previously in a matter minutes. Alternatively, if put onto another hard drive, you can swap drives and be up and running in no time.
Norton Ghost
Acronis
EaseUs Disk Copy (free)
A side note regarding backups on removable media:
When it comes to making backups don’t make any backups to the same drive that your operating system is on. Also store your backups in a secure and safe location. A fireproof box and or a safe are ideal spots. This will help ensure that you have them in case of big disasters like fires and storms.
Online Service
An online service such a Mozy or Carbonite is a simple way to backup your files. It will automatically back up anything new that you add to your hard drive with the exception of videos and certain other files. Most of these files, however, can still be backed up by going to the file, right clicking, and selecting the option to back up.
The biggest downfall is that you do have to have an internet connection. You will have to download a small program that manages everything and answer a few questions to get it set up. The first time it starts saving your files may take a while, but after that most updates take moments and you rarely notice it running.
I personally use Carbonite but Mozy has a free trial. Either service will run you about $60 per year.
So What Do I Recommend For Backing Up Your Computer?
For the average home PC user I would recommend the following (it’s the same as I use on my wife’s computer):
1. Make a backup copy of the hard drive using your OS’s utility program (or make a ghost).
2. Use Mozy or Carbonite to do daily backups.
3. Once a year make a backup of the hard drive using the utility program or ghost.
