Data Backup and Boot Disks

A Backup Article Contributed by Ashley Lister

Data Backup and Boot Disks

A very important part of your data backup strategy should be the creation and upkeep of an up to date set of boot disks.

Without Boot Disks It Might Be Impossible to Reinstate Any Data from Even the Most Recent Backup.

Boot disks are used in the event of an emergency or disaster which is why they are sometimes referred to as "emergency" boot disks. In the case of a severe system failure, or some sort of corruption to the boot sector of an existing hard drive, an appropriate boot disk will allow the computer to be used (in a limited capacity) so that a problem causing boot failure might be resolved. This small inlet into an ailing computer could be enough to avert a potential catastrophe.

It is Highly Recommended That All Pc Users, Especially Those Who Have a Need for Data Backup, Should Keep a Valid Set of Boot Disks Available. It is Most Sensible to Store the Boot Disks Alongside the Other Media That Contains the Data Backup.

The need for a boot disk (or a set of boot disks) can arise for many reasons. If a hard drive fails and an operating system refuses to load the boot disk will be of vital importance. In instances of disaster recovery, when data backup has become a serious issue, boot disks will help to get vital information back on a system ready for a complete restore. Boot disks can also be used for hardware upgrades and to detect and eliminate viruses that are located in the hard drive's boot sector.

All of These Instances Have Serious Implications for Those Involved in Data Backup.

Prior to creating a boot disk, it is advisable to run a virus scan and ensure you are not copying any boot sector viruses to the new boot disk. Follow the on screen instructions for creating a new boot disk, write protect the finished product, then store it safely with your other data backup media. Additional files can be written to a boot disk such as unzip utilities, defragmentation utilities, text editors and diagnostic tools. Some operating systems include antivirus functions as part of their standard boot disk.

However, in order to make use of any backup data that you wish to restore, the most important files that need to be on a boot disk are the system system configuration files (CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT). Other tools such as scandisk and MSD.EXE are diagnostic tools that should be able to indicate why your PC failed.

Although It Can Seem Unnecessary to Create Boot Disks These are As Vital to Your Computer's Well Being As the Data Backup Files That are Made on a Daily Basis. the Absence of a Set of Boot Disks Could Mean the Difference between Retrieving Information or Losing Everything That You Have Been Trying to Hold Onto. If You Value Your Data Highly Enough to Perform Backups on a Regular Basis, Then You Will Almost Certainly Value It Highly Enough to Create a Set of Functioning Boot Disks.