BC Technologies
1 North Main Street
Mansfield, PA 16933
(570) 662-7990
sales@bctech.com

Backing Up Files

Okay.. so now you’ve purchased the anti-virus software; installed it; and updated all the data files. You’re all ready for the first virus to just TRY and get passed you. Now what? Sit around and wait? No, no, no, no, no! Now is the time to get all those files and folders backed up. This is not only something you can do better than anyone else. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! Who knows your computer better than you?

Backing up your files means making a spare copy of every file stored on your computer's hard drive, which you have created or modified yourself. Backing up protects you from data loss in case your hard drive fails, and allows you to transfer old files to a new computer.

When should I back up?

	As a matter of routine. To protect yourself against accidental data loss, you should back up your files according to a regular schedule (e.g., every Friday afternoon). You may also choose to back up each file whenever you make changes to it.
	Before your computer is repaired or has new software installed. You must back up your files before any hardware or software repairs or upgrades can be performed.
	Before you get a new computer. If you are moving to a different computer, you must back up any files that need to be transferred to your new machine. All files left on the hard drive of your old computer will be lost.

You can’t afford NOT to backup!

Which files should I back up?

Backups of some shape/form are essential if you do anything serious on a computer. Could you afford to lose:

	Financial records?
	Accounting data?
	Customer data?
	Contacts?
	Letters and documents?
	Photos?
	Email?
	Projects?
	Books in progress?
	Databases?
	Notes and ToDo lists?
	Appointments?
	Spreadsheets?
	Tax info?

You can’t afford NOT to backup!

What to backup ?

	Data only: just periodically copy the important files to floppies or removable disks, or even a second hard disk (chances are low that BOTH hard disks will fail together).
	Total system backups: all hard disk files are backed up to floppy (yuk), removable storage, or tape.
	Total system backups are rarely as useful as you think – often, programs have to be reinstalled anyway when a disk is replaced.

You can’t afford NOT to backup!

Backup Strategies

	Backup early and often. Even if you save your work every hour, you could still lose an hour’s worth of work!
	Daily backup at least of important work
	Could backup only important stuff
	Could do regular backups of entire areas without regard to what’s changed
	Rotate your backup media so you have several versions of backed up files.
	Always store a copy of your critical backups "off-site" (so if your home or business is destroyed you have some version of the info)

You can’t afford NOT to backup!