Transcript Backing Up Your Computer Hard Drive

Backing Up
Your Computer Hard Drive
Lou Koch
June 27, 2006
Tonight’s Program
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Introduction – Why?
Terminology – concepts
Methodology – software, media, etc
Tips and suggestions – organization,
preparation, frequency, etc.
Demo
Why Backup?
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Hardware Failure
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Viruses
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Can target specific files or erase entire drive
Accidental deletion
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Most serious … generally cannot easily
recover anything from damaged hard disk
Single or few files
Software Problem
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Generally lose program but not files
Types of Backups
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File or data backups
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Backs up individual files
Typically you can back up personal files or key
data onto a CD using a file backup
You can just highlight and copy the files to
your backup media
OR
Lots of software to do this which can
automate and execute the backups
Typically does not back up OS or open files.
Types of Backups
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System Restore
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A restore point backs up key files (registry, drivers,
etc) to allow your to restore your PC to previous
configuration.
Typically this is done automatically by Windows when
you install new software or drivers.
You can access System Restore to either restore your
computer to a prior configuration or to manually
create a restore point by
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START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools System
Restore.
This is valuable protection but it consumes hard drive
capacity – default is 6% of hard drive … you can
adjust this.
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My Computer View System Information (or properties)  system
restore  select drive  settings
Types of Backups
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Drive Image or Mirror Backup
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Copies all files from PC to backup … including OS and
boot sector files
Allows you to restore system to look exactly like it is
at the time of the backup without installing files one
at a time
INCREMENTAL and DIFFERENTIAL backups can be
done after a full backup to reduce space and time
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Incremental – all files since last incremental or full
Differential – all files since last full.
Restoring with incremental or differential backups
requires multiple steps but will still provide full restore
What should you back up?
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CRITICAL - Personal files or data
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These are files and documents that you create
or obtain from some outside source –
documents, music, pictures, etc
For most people this is the most important
category since it is the most personal
Use file backup utility
What should you back up?
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Software/Programs
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Typically you can reinstall software that
becomes corrupted but it is time consuming
Also most software allows customization that
will be lost if it is reinstalled
Software backup is less critical because it can
be recreated
What should you back up?
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Operating system
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Generally WINDOWS
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Includes your preferences and customization
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Hardware Drivers
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Every user has different monitors, printers, modems,
scanners, etc that have to be configured to your preference
using these drivers
Boot sector files
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What opens when you start up
What the desktop looks like …. etc
Tells PC how to start up before Windows is loaded
This info is mostly contained in Restore Point.
Hardware
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Large choice of media for backups
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CD’s
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Cheap and will hold most personal data
Almost all PCs come with burners
Burner software allows you some ease of use
DVD’s
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More expensive but still not bad
Will allow you to store significant number of audio
and image files
Many PCs have burners and software.
Hardware
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Additional Media
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Flash Drives
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Internal Hard Drive
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Can hold multiple image backups
Fairly expensive but prices are dropping
Susceptible to Power surge failure in PC
External Hard Drive
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Easy to use
Can handle short term backups and file transfers
Similar to Internal Hard Drive but can be unplugged from
PC/power and not be susceptible to power surges.
Easy to connect via USB port
OTHER
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diskettes and tapes … obsolete?
On line … available … I prefer to physically control my media
Software
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File Backup Utilities
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Microsoft Backup Utility Included in Windows
START 
All Programs  Accessories  System Tools Backup …… use backup
wizard
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Note: during the presentation I learned that this backup utility is not
automatically loaded when Windows is installed but it is included on the
Windows disk. The following link explains how to load it …
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx
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CD R/W utility you can generally save a backup profile
and use it often to save info.
Lots of commercial software (including free utilities)
that help you configure and schedule file backup
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Check freeware sites
Image Backups
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Plenty to choose from
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http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
Tips and Suggestions
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Determine your backup needs
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Not everyone needs Image backups
Back up just personal files if you are a casual user
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Do image backup if you use your PC for a lot of tasks
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You use computer for Email and internet
You have installed only a few Software programs
You have a lot of software installed
You create a lot of files
Organize your Hard Drive
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Save ALL personal info to MY DOCUMENTS
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Most Microsoft documents are saved here
Other Software may save to a different default location … change
default to MY DOCUMENTS
You can create subfolders in MY DOCUMENTS to locate files.
Then back up MY DOCUMENTS frequently … weekly
Tips and Suggestions
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Clean up before you backup
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If your plan is to do a full backup or image
then take a few minutes to delete junk
Run Disk Cleanup
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START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools
Disk Cleanup … read description and follow suggestions
Clear any files that you don’t want
Run Image Backup about monthly …
incremental backups weekly
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If you are paranoid about losing data … run more
frequently.
Note: While it should not effect the backup this would also be a good time to check
to see if your disk is fragmented … START  All Programs  Accessories 
System Tools Disk Defragmenter …. Run Analyze
Acronis True Image
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Demo