Safeguard Yourself!
It is vitally important to follow some basic steps to ensure your PC is backed up properly. This page is intended to give an overview of computer backups, outlining the various components and showing how they fit together.
In a nutshell, a 'backup' is nothing more than duplicate copies of your most important files - that are stored on a separate hard disk.
Why Backup?
It is important to remember that everything you create on a computer is stored on the 'hard disk', which is a mechanical device that is prone to wear and tear. Just like a car - it will eventually wear out and breakdown. Hard drives are also susceptible to a variety of nasties: shock, data corruption, viruses, malware, theft etc. all of which can destroy your data, (...emails, pictures, music videos etc).
So, to ensure you don't lose anything, make sure you learn how to install and use your backup software properly.
There are only two types of hard disk - one that has failed and one that's going to...
Your Strategy...
Generally, any good backup strategy allows you to 'recover' many different versions of the same file. You often need the ability to be able to go 'back in time', and resurrect these different versions, because sometimes you may backup a corrupt file, which means when you recover this file from the backup, it is still corrupt. If you have several backups, containing different versions of the file, you have every chance of recovering a good copy.
The steps you need to accomplish are as follows:
- Determine size constraints - how much you need to backup - the requirement 'now' and additional space for future expansion.
- Select software - learn how to use it and stick with just one product if possible.
- Make your hardware choices - you may need another disk(s) etc.
- Configure your software for fully automatic backups - this will ensure you never forget to backup.
- Rotate backups 'offsite' for further protection.
How do I achieve this?
Tip: Work out how much data, in 'gigabytes', you need to backup and add on a percentage annual increase.
The amount of data you wish to protect is absolutely critical, in determining your strategy and hardware choices. Cross this bridge now and save yourself some long term pain - workout how much, in gigabytes (GB) you need to backup. Generally, a basic computer user will have very small amounts of data to backup, typically less than a single DVD disk.
This type of individual has a very simple and effective method available, as they can simply use DVDs - as long as they remember to do it!
However, there are some interests that generate huge amounts for data, and impact the type of backup available:
- Keen amateur photographers.
- Video, movies and television shows.
- Animated and rendered graphics.
Software
Most operating systems (including Windows), come with a basic backup program, so you could just check the internet or your manuals for instructions. Freeware such as GFI Backup and Comodo both offer the usual array of features and are reasonably easy to use.
Tip: My own current recommendation would be to use a commercial backup program, which can normally be purchased for less than £50 - my top pick being Genie Backup Manager, with NovaBackup Professional a very close second. (No, I don't get commission!)
However, there are several really good backup programs available for free, the top picks being GFI for the inexperienced and Areca for the more advanced users:
- GFI Backup - top pick of the freeware
- Comodo Backup - good alternative
- Areca - fantastic backup program - and the only one that supports delta backups
- Ace Backup - all the standard options
- Cobian - long time development of this fine backup utility
You should aim to setup your backup software to perform both Full and Incremental Backups periodically, and automatically.
Full backups basically copy everything you have selected from a source folder to a destination folder - which should be located on different hard disks.
Incremental backups copy only files that have changed since the last backup - when you run an incremental backup for the first time however, it will copy everything form the source folder to the destination folder.
Backup software comes with a scheduler that allows you to select the times you want your backup to run - then you just 'set it and forget it'.
Off site your data!
In the event of a burglary or other catastrophe that renders the PC 'dead', it is always a good idea to have a backup 'off site', I.e. at a friend or relatives house. In the event of some form of disaster or theft, you are then covered and can reload your holiday snaps etc on your new PC.
Backup Options
Online backups can be a very good solution for
small amounts of data!
Here are some guidelines:
- Less than 1GB - online backup really can't be beaten, as long as you don't expect to increase this much over time.
- Less than 5GB - DVDs.
- Between 5GB and 200GB - use a USB, Firewire or (better) eSATA external hard disk.
- Over 200GB - use an eSATA connected external hard disk system.
With the advent of very cheap external hard disks, buying more disks is fast becoming the preferred solution for large amounts of data.
There are many other different types of backup solution, but they often use some form of proprietary system, which means that if this fails, you can not simply take the hard disk to another machine and recover your data.
You would have to buy another identical system, in which to install your backup hard disks.
These are some examples:
- NAS - Network Attached Storage.
- DAS - Direct Attached Storage.
- Raid Arrays.
- Drobo systems.
What NOT to do
Don't use the following for a backup device, they are unreliable and easily broken or lost!
- Flash memory stick
- Floppy disk
- The same hard disk that stores your data
- Your phone or iPod!