A guide to inform you on the computer data backup process.
What files should you include when backing up your computers hard drive? Backing up your computer is easy and really essential. You need to have a fair idea about what files you should back up, and why. Figuring out which data is the most important to you is an essential first step in the backing up process. After backing up your data it should be stored in a minimum of two or more physical locations.
How to figure out which files to backup?
Some of the most common but important files to backup are your documents, music, pictures, and other user files. Every user on the machine has different data that is attached to that user. Backup of each user ensures that that user’s information is not lost in the event of a computer crash or reinstall of windows. Each person’s backup is unique in that only you know what files are the most important to you and need to be backed up.
Documents: You should back up these files every time you do a backup. Remember, to back up the entire documents folder. Back-up of these files ensures that you will have a backup of any word, excel, Power Point or any other documents you have created since your last backup.
Email: Are you using Windows Live Mail or Outlook? If yes, you should never miss backing up all the files that have been categorized under these applications. All emails are stored in Outlook in the .PST file.
Music: By including this folder you are ensuring that you will have all your favorite music weather it be wav files, mp3 files or music you have downloaded or put directly onto your machine. Failure to include all the content of your music folder will result in the loss of those files and may cause you to have to purchase those downloads again.
Videos & Pictures: Make sure not to ignore your picture and video folder during back up. Including this data will ensure you’re most precious moments and good times will be included in your buck up.
What files you can ignore backing up?
Program files: Programs that are already installed on your pc you cannot back up unless you have the original setup file to that program. You need to keep the original disk of that program to reinstall it later on down the road
Windows: There is no reason to backup the Windows directory. You must retain your original copy of Windows for later reinstall into the machine.
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