Posts Tagged ‘pc data backup’

Why CDs are Great Backup Tools for Your PC

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

When the unexpected happens and your server crashes on you, are you prepared to face the problem head-on? The problem with many PC users is that they are so engrossed in using their PCs everyday that they don’t bother backing up their files, especially important ones that they would mourn the loss of should their server crash. PC data backup, not even online PC backup, is a priority for many users – and this is quite unfortunate.

For the PC users who are not experienced in PC data backup, here’s a tip for you – CDs are actually great things to have at hand as backup tools for your computer or laptop. Here’s why.

They are great support for online PC backup.

    It is usually highly recommended that you backup your data using an online program that will do all the saving and recovering for you, but at the same time, it is also handy to have a hard copy of your files. In the long run, you will want to look back on older files that you deleted from your system, and you can get rid of unnecessary and unwanted files of sentimental value by saving them in a CD. You can then begin to create a CD library as some files get older and older and you require more and more space for newer ones.

    They’re a great PC data backup plan for transferring files to another computer.

      If you have just decided to purchase a new computer after a server crash, CDs may be better tools to rely on as you can just collect and select the files you want re-installed in your new computer. This is highly recommended for program files and important instant messaging programs and music. This is, of course, assuming that you have labelled your CDs properly.

      They’re a great checking tool for online PC backup.

        In the case that you need to do a run-through of the files that you have backed up online for consistency, saving them in CDs are a great way to do it. Also, it is a great tool to use if you have finished backing up your files after a long and tiring process and have realized that there are additional files that need saving – you can store them in CDs for filing.

        When it comes to responsible and practical PC data backup, it is important to prioritize the files that need backing up. Begin with your basics, as these are the more important files to recover in case of a server crash. These are usually programs such as word processing programs (eg. Open Office), instant messaging programs (eg. AIM and MSN), and personal pictures that you never want to get rid of. After making sure that all your basics are safe and sound, then you can begin backing up your other files, such as music, documents, and other pictures. If you have great online PC backup, these should easily be recovered in case of a server crash.

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        3 Tips for PC Data Backup

        Monday, October 5th, 2009

        Are you an avid PC fan who is online and using his laptop 24/7? Then you should know that one of the most heartbreaking things that can happen to a frequent PC user is a server crash. If you have lots of valuable files, programs, and documents that disappear in a server crash and you have tried to recover them to no avail, this can be a very distressing and frustrating experience for you. This is why PC data backup is so important.

        Now, if you are asking yourself, “How do I backup my PC?”, then the answer is very simple: save your files as you modify them. This is a common mistake that many users make, despite them knowing how important saving files are. Here are some simple principles of PC data backup to help you, so that you won’t have to ask yourself “How do I backup my PC?” anymore.

        PC data backup tip #1: Always save files as you go along.

        If you are constantly creating documents on Word, or graphic art on Photoshop, or maybe even presentations on PowerPoint, always remember to click on the Save tab as soon as you make really important changes to your file. Do not automatically rely on AutoSave, as this doesn’t necessarily mean that the program will back up ALL the changes in your file. Don’t be lazy and do the saving yourself.

        Backup my PC tip #2: Organize your data.

        The worst backup plan ever is to scatter your important files in different non-descript folders that cannot even located and identified. Create one central folder in your desktop that will contain sub-folders of all your important files. Organize them in any which way that you would prefer – whether by year, account, person, file type, or occasion.

        PC data backup tip #3: Create a “Basics” folder.

        One great way of making sure that you are fully backed up in the case of a PC emergency is to create one specific folder in your files that will contain all your “basic” programs and files. These should contain ONLY the most important files that need to be recovered. This can include your favorite Instant Messaging programs, the programs and files that you often use for work or personal use, or pictures that you don’t want to lose in a server crash. Remember, though, that these should be your BASICS – meaning, don’t put anything and everything in this one folder. That’s what the rest of your sub-folders are for.

        See, at the end of the day, PC data backup is something that you can do everyday, little by little, one step at a time. By organizing your files by priority and other important categories, you will make data recovery a much easier task should your server crash out on you. “What do I need to backup my PC?” is now an answerable question.

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        Dispelling Misconceptions About PC Backup Software

        Thursday, October 1st, 2009

        We may not notice it immediately, but the fact is that we are becoming increasingly dependent on computers for our day-to-day tasks. Activities such as shopping, meetings and other similar ones can now be done with electronic elements and the Internet. It is, likewise, becoming increasingly important to always have PC backup software on hand, so that a PC data backup will not seem a daunting and hassling task to accomplish.

        There are, however, many misconceptions surrounding both PC backup software and the process of a PC data backup. And these must be dispelled before anything else.

        First, it is a huge misunderstanding that one is immune to the need for PC backup software. Computer systems are becoming increasingly fragile nowadays, what with the increasing number of processes these machines have to deal with simultaneously, along with the greater intricacy each of these processes requires. Coupled with our aforementioned greater needs for computers nowadays, this simply means that computers are so much more prone to crashing, and that computer crashes are more damaging than ever. This is the first and foremost reason why having the required tools for a PC data backup is so important to have on hand at all times. Data loss is harder to cope with nowadays, mind you.

        Second, it is a misconception that PC backup software can only be stored in physical media such as CDs, DVDs and external hard drives. There are a lot of online resources dedicated to such a form of data storage available everywhere on the Internet today. This has several benefits that are not present within the restrictions of today’s physical storage devices: one, your data is secured online, which means that you will be able to access it from any computer, as long as you have your codes with you. This is useful for situations when even your storage devices may be compromised, such as in a fire or in a flood. Two, this makes for easy updating of your data, compared to some CDs, which are non-rewritable and therefore more costly and time-consuming to update. Three, the best online PC data backup repositories boast storage capacities that simply cannot be matched by any physical media today. This gives you the comfort, not to mention the convenience, of not having to worry about your backup data (or any other data whatsoever) exceeding the storage capacity of a conventional CD.

        With all that said, it is always important to go through any service that offers backup data storage, as these services are not usually free. Some may have file restrictions, some may require updates of some sort, and different services may have different security protocols. Keep these in mind when searching for a service to protect your precious data.

        Once you have found a service you wish to utilize, then go for it. Trust me, protected data is well worth the insurance costs you pay for it.

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        PC Data Backup Solutions

        Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

        Making sure your data is backed up is a vital part of being a PC user, whether you use your computer for work or you use it for play. For those of us that use our computers to work, we cannot afford to lose any of our precious files because this could mean the difference between getting paid and not! If you use it just for personal use, then you still don’t want to lose all of your data, because of the family photos, music, video files, games and more that you could lose in the event of a computer failure.

        There are many different things that can cause data loss. A computer crash is the most common. In order to keep your files safe in the event that your computer crashes, then you need to make sure everything important is safe and sound somewhere else – somewhere that’s not actually on the computer itself. Popular backup methods include CD and DVD ROMs, flash drives, and external hard drives.

        Backing up your data to a CD or DVD is easy – simply burn your important files to a disk and you’re done. If you have a lot of files, though, you might want to go with a different method than burning to disk, as you could end up with a ton of disks and still not be done. This is particularly true if you have large video files because they may not always fit on one disk.

        If you have a lot of data or many large sized files, then look to a jump or flash drive, or an external hard drive as the solution. Flash drives are small USB powered drives that you can save your files to and they are also sometimes called “jump drives.” They range in size (in terms of how much data they can store, not their actual physical size!) from small like 256 MB to much larger, like upwards of 8 gigs or more. These drives are perfect for transferring files from computer to computer, but they can also work as a backup method. To back up all of your data, though, you may need a handful of drives, so it may be better to just go with an external hard drive and save the jump drive backup method for an emergency.

        External hard drives are basically big hard drives that aren’t connected to your computer except when you hook it up. Simply copy all of the files you want over and you’re done. When buying an external, look for one that has its own fans or other cooling mechanism, though, to make sure it stays safe and sound, as overheating can cause the drive to fail, and then where you will be?

        In the event of a computer failure, you do not want to lose any of your precious data, regardless of what that data might be. If you take the time to back up your files now, it will save you a lot of hassle in the future!

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