What should I back up and how do I protect it?

Get the basics on backing up: Part 1

There are many ways you can unintentionally lose information on a computer: a rambunctious child, a sudden power outage, a natural disaster. And sometimes equipment just fails.

The good news is that if you regularly (and the key word here is “regularly”) make backup copies of your files and keep them in a safe place, you can get some, if not all, of your information back if something happens to the originals on your hard disk.

What do I back up?

Any files or software that you cannot replace easily should be at the top of your backup list. Consider:

·          Bank records and other financial information

·          Digital photographs

·          Music you purchased and downloaded from the Internet

·          Personal projects such as Word documents and Excel spreadsheets

·          Your e-mail address book

·          Your Microsoft Outlook calendar

·          Your Internet Explorer bookmarks

·          Software you purchased and downloaded from the Internet

How do I protect my backups?

After you’ve backed up your important personal files and information, you’ll want easy yet secure access to them when you need it.

·          Make more than one copy. Keep the backups in two separate locations, so if disaster strikes one area, you still have your other backup.

·          Delete old files or use compression software from time to time to compress information so it takes up less space and stays tidy. This is a particularly good idea if you’re paying for digital storage.

·          Get your information out of the house or office. Keep your backups away from your computer, perhaps in a fireproof box in a separate room. If you use a safety deposit box to protect valuable paper documents, consider keeping your backup CDs or DVDs there, too.  

·          Protect your backup files with a password. Some media formats include password protection. Consider this feature if you will be backing up personal or sensitive information. Write down your password and keep it in a secure location, such as a safety deposit box, along with your other personal documents. This will allow family members to get your personal information if you can’t.

·          While you’re at it, make sure any software you’ve purchased on CD, together with its product key, is in a safe, retrievable place. If your hard disk drive should ever fail, you’ll need the discs to reinstall the software.

Related topics

To learn more about backing up, read the other topics in this series:

·          What should I use to store my backups?

·          How do I back up my files?