Computer Backup and Recovery Strategies for Home Users

With technology today, you have a variety of optionsSaving to a DVD - If you have more then 700 MB of
of backing up your data. In this article, I will cover manydata, you may want to consider getting a writable
of the options that are local to your computer. BeforeDVD drive for your computer. While you may think of
you begin, you need to create an inventory of yourDVD's for movies, the reality is a DVD is just another
data the locations and size of all your data. Pleaseform of media for storing data. The movie is nothing
note: The tips/advice here are for backing up usermore than zeros and ones. The advantage of the
data files and not for backing up system/WindowsDVD is that a DVD can store up to 4.7 Gig of data.
files. As you read through this information, you willThat is considerably more than a regular CD. Of
notice that much of this is "old school" back-upcourse you will need a DVD writer. Fortunately, they
processes. I have used Windows XP backup but Iare not that much more expensive than a CD writer. If
prefer writing my own batch files and creating myyou are buying a new computer, you should consider
own process as I believe this is cleaner for what Ithe DVD burner option. Like a CD, instructions for
need. For example, in Windows XP backup, when youcopying data to a DVD differ by the software being
create a backup of several files, Windows XP backup,used.
backs them up all into a single file. My method simplySaving to a USB Flash Drive - Flash drives are now at
copies the files to another location, file by file, which2 gigs of data and will soon be more. A flash drive is a
means you are not later dependant on any Windowssmall device you connect into a USB port. It is
software for restores. Now, please know, that thesomewhat like your computer memory except it does
Windows XP backup utilities are full of cool features, itnot lose data when the power goes out. These handy
is just I prefer to have more control over what I amlittle devices are becoming more and more popular as
backing up.a quick and easy way to get data from one computer
You are now ready to backup where data? But wait,to another and have basically replaced the floppy
my data is spread out all over my hard drive. Is theredrive. They can be used to back up your data, but you
an easy way? Yes, there is. My method may not bewill only have the most current backup, and of course
the best way, or most slick method, but it works foryou are limited to the data storage limits of the device.
me and has saved me many times. I write a batch fileAnother Disk Drive - Got tons of data? Get another
using the old dos command (xcopy) and copy mydrive. My preferred method of backing up data is to
data from all the different locations on my hard driveanother hard drive. This is perhaps a little overkill, but it
into one central location. I can then save this folder toworks. I back up all my data (many, many gigs of data)
CD/DVD/etc. To improve speed, I use the commandto another hard drive in my computer. This is quick and
line options to copy only new files or files that havefast. It is also rather expensive and does not solve the
changed. The batch file has several lines like thisxcopyoff-site problem, so still need to save data to DVD's.
c:\pictures\*.* d:\backup\pictures\ /e/s/h/c/dxcopyBut this method allows me to incrementally backup my
c:\mydata\*.* d:\backup\data\ /e/s/h/c/dxcopydata at any give time, and allows me the options to
c:\mydocu~1\*.* d:\backup\data\ /e/s/h/c/detccreate a permanent backup at a later time. The
I now have all the data I need in one main folderadvantage was clear when I had to rebuild my
With that in mind, here are your options:computer. Once the OS was installed and patched, I
Saving Data to Floppy - I feel silly even mentioning thissimply attached my backup drive, and presto, there
option, but it is still an option if you need to back up awas ALL my data. No restores, no waiting around, it
few very small files and bring them with youwas just there. Had I had to rebuild my computer due
somewhere. Please note, most computers today doto viruses or other issues, I may not have been able to
not even come with floppy drives making this option alldo this because my files on my backup drive could
but obsolete.have also been infected. So be careful when using this
Saving to a Zip Disk - A Zip Disk is much like astrategy. You can purchase external hardrives for this
supercharged floppy or external hard drive. It is justtype of activity.
another form of media that you can use to store data.Saving to Tape - It is unlikely that you will want to save
While quick and simple, in order to restore to anotheryour data to tape if all you have is a personal
computer, it has to have a zip drive attached, or youcomputer or two. Tape drives are expensive and the
need to bring your actual drive with you.tapes for the drives are expensive as well. Tape
Saving to a CD - Most computers today come with abackup does make sense in large data centers or file
CD drive that has write capabilities. What this means isservers as this method provides a good alternative to
you can save your data (up to about 700 Meg) to abacking large amounts of data day after day. It also
CD. This option is more than adequate for the majorityprovides a good back tracking record as tapes are
of computer users. Each CD drive has its own set ofusually rotated on some sort of schedule. If you have
software that enables you to do this, so you will havea home business with several computers, a few file
to refer to your own manufacture/softwareservers, and gigs and gigs of data, then a tape backup
instructions for details.may be the thing for you.