How to Backup

A Backup Article Contributed by Kris Metzger

Media Forms of Backup

Backup can be in many forms, from floppy drives to cd-rom, to extra hard drives. The idea is to pick the one that best suits your needs. The floppy disk is the simplest and the most popular of all the mediums to use. Basically, it is a miniature version of a hard drive with high density and low density disks available. They call it a disk because of its compact size. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. All in all, backup done on one of these disks will usually work for most people.

The next step up, is a zip drive. Usually, they connect to a USB port and cost about $100.00 or more. Most people will buy them to backup their files because of their size. The disks are much larger than a floppy drive, in the range of 100 MB or more. Of course, the disk itself, being so much larger, cost a lot more than a floppy. If you have a CD burner, then you have a more reliable method of backup. Except, you must buy the more expensive disks, so you can record over and over again.

Unless you only need them for the final copy. Lastly, is the idea to install a second hard drive in your computer. This will give you plenty of storage to backup all of your files. Backup on a second hard drive means, if your computer crashes, the second hard drive is not usually effected. Except, for the possibility of a virus. Hackers can also cause more damage than a virus. However, this is something that doesn't happen to everyone.

Backup, How is It Done?

Once you create a file, you must save it. Typically, you will next click onto the word file, in the upper left hand corner of the computer screen. Next, scroll down and then click onto save as. If you plan on adding to the file, once it is saved, you would use the save option. The computer automatically knows where to find the file. Backup is relatively easy, if you follow these basic procedures. Otherwise, without backup your files are in jeopardy. Of course, these instruction are different with a CD burner. Simply follow the manufacturers instructions and backup will be easy.

Without Backup, What Can Happen?

An example, lets say your surfing on the Internet and you connect into just the wrong site. A virus has come in through a hacker or maybe through an instant message. Your computer crashes. You have no backup on all of your precious files and no way to retrieve them. Except now, your only hope is an expensive data recovery service. Only one word can describe this service. Expensive! Backup is now your only regret. A simple floppy disk could have saved your precious files.

Now you have learned your lesson. It is usually less than ten dollars for a small box of these disks. Backup is the best way to have peace of mind that your computer and your precious files are safe.