Backing Up Your Computer

Why Back Up? System Crash or Hardware Failure Historical record Downloaded install files Earlier version of revised documents Corrupted files Accidental deletions

Where to Back UP #1 >> Easy: Add a sub-folder for versioning C:\Users\User Name\Documents\New Project\Plan.txt C:\Users\User Name\Documents\New Project\bu01\Plan.txt C:\Users\User Name\Documents\New Project\bu02\Plan.txt C:\Users\User Name\Documents\New Project\bu03\Plan.txt Removable medium: Flash drive ($4 to $10, depending on size) DVD R/W (Easily damaged, not recommended) External Hard Drive

Where to Back UP #2 >> Easy cont’d: D. Cloud 1. Free services available to store documents 2. More space needed for storing images and video, mostly you pay for that storage. >> More Difficult: Separate internal partition Free program - EaseUS Partition Master Free 11.10 

Where to Back UP #3 >> More Cost: Second internal Hard Drive Acronis True Image 2017 (about $50) Carbonite: 1-year personal Basic plan subscription, $60, files and folders - Geeky Carbonite: 1-year personal Prime plan subscription, $150, includes video - Geeky >> More Cost & “Very Very Geeky”: Fancy RAID Drive system: (Do Not Buy) (2 hard drives with the same data)

What Not to Back Up Don't backup: Program Files: Except as part of system image to be fully re-installed. Registry: Create Restore Point for System Restore instead. System Restore can correct some, but not all problems. For secure backups, create image. System Settings: Norton backups not intuitive: Hard to configure, maintain and use.

What to Back Up – System (Windows 7/10) A. Create System Repair Disk Control Panel, System & Maintenance, Backup & Restore, Create System Repair Disk B. Preinstalled Restore Partition needs System Repair disk C. Windows System Image for full System Restoration Backup and Restore, Create System Image May need to reinstall bare Windows to restore image Cannot select individual files D. Acronis True Image 2017 - $50: Creates System Image, files recoverable E. Bootable disk of Applications may not restore System

What to Back UP - Documents A. Find the “My Documents” folder inside the User’s folder B. If not very experienced, only create new folders in My Documents C. Do not save elsewhere (except as applications require) D. Avoid Libraries (Only save from original source.) E. Back up My Documents folder RIGHT click drag and drop - Never Left Click Drag Drag & Drop folders preserves subfolder structure F. You may compress, if you wish (Only if you are low on hard drive space) RIGHT click the file or folder, point to Send To, and then click Compressed (zipped) Folder

What to Back UP - Internet I/E – Export Favorites, Feeds, Cookies File menu Import/Export option Save Favorites to a HTML file before buying a new computer. Import that file into the browser on your new PC. You can also import your Favorites into Edge-W10 or Google Chrome.

What to Back UP – Email? With modern email systems, you don’t normally need to backup your email. (87% of CG&COF are gmail, yahoo or aol) If you use an email client like Outlook or Thunderbird you may want to backup your email. Use “Save As” in Email program to save as .EML Save your Gmail Messages as PDF Files in Google Drive See My Links page (use Google Chrome)

When to Back UP Prior to Buying a New Computer Before System changes System upgrades, Service Pack installations New program installation Hardware changes Disk partitioning Regularly, depending on activity 1/week, 1/month

My Links Create a Restore Point http://www.oakcg.org/Archive/How-to-Create-a-Restore-Point-2016-04-18.pdf Create System Repair Disk (see Page #2) http://www.oakcg.org/Win7/Win7-3-(Backup-Computer)-A16.doc Frequently Asked Questions about System Restore http://www.oakcg.org/Archive/System-Restore-FAQS.pdf How to Use a Restore Point To Recover Your System http://www.oakcg.org/Archive/How-to-Use-a-Restore-Point-To-Recover-Your-System-2016-04-18.pdf How to Use All of Windows 7’s Backup and Recovery Tools http://www.pcworld.com/article/186997/win7_backup.html How to Use All of Windows 10’s Backup and Recovery Tools https://www.howtogeek.com/220986/how-to-use-all-of-windows-10’s-backup-and-recovery-tools Save your Gmail Messages as PDF Files in Google Drive & Chrome https://www.labnol.org/internet/save-gmail-in-google-docs/21045/

My Glossary FAQ’s Frequently Asked Questions Word Definition RAID “Redundant Array of Independent Disks” All data copied to 2 disks. When one crashes, throw it away and replace with a new drive. Then sync both drives. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAID.html Do not purchase, “Very Geeky”.

Did You Backup? Backing-Up-Your-Computer 03/20/2017