Chapter 6 Protecting Your Files

2Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Getting Started In this Chapter, you will learn: − What you should know about losing data − How to reduce the risk of losing data − How to protect files from viruses − What tools can be used to recover corrupted files and lost data

3Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Getting Started In this Chapter, you will learn (continued): − How to use restore points − The most effective backup strategies − About Hardware: Backup devices

4Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 What should I know about losing data? There are many ways to lose data – Hardware failures, human errors, fires & floods – A corrupted file is a file that has been damaged in some way – A computer viruses and worms can alter data – Head crash is when the read/write head crashes into the disk surface Become familiar with tools to protect and restore data

5Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Can I reduce the risk of losing data? To protect your computer: – Keep your computer in a safe place – Don’t bump it or drop it – Use a surge strip to prevent power spikes – Use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) in case of a power outage – Save your work often – Use S.M.A.R.T. technology when possible to be warned when something is going wrong Two of the most important steps you can take are to use antivirus software and make backups

6Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Can I reduce the risk of losing data? A surge strip (left) and UPS (right)

7Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 How do I protect my files from viruses? A virus is a small computer program that can replicate itself and do damage A worm can spread from computer to computer and allows hackers access to your computer Antivirus software works in the background scanning and watching for virus signatures – A virus signature is a series of unique bytes that identify a virus – If a virus slips through it can sometimes be removed, but not always – Your final protection against viruses is regular backups

8Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 What tools can I use to recover corrupted files and lost data? Recovery tools – The Windows Installation disc can be used to start your computer if it doesn’t boot – System Recovery discs return your computer to its factory- new status – System Restore repairs operating system files and reverts settings back to a point in time when the computer was working correctly – Backup combines selected files into one large compressed file stored somewhere other than its original location

9Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 What tools can I use to recover corrupted files and lost data? Creating system recovery files

10Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 How do I use restore points? Windows creates restore points that are a snapshot of your computer’s system files at a specific point in time – Windows automatically sets restore points at certain times, such as before updates are installed – You should also set manual restore points – Restore points do not affect your data files – You cannot use restore points to retrieve data

11Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 What are the most effective backup strategies? Backups make sure important data exists in more than one place You will want to backup Documents, Pictures and Music Also backup Internet connection information, folders and addresses, favorite URLs, downloads, validation codes and configuration information It is easy to copy backed up files from CDs, DVDs and UFDs onto your hard disk – If your files are too large for portable storage you can use Backup software

12Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 What are the most effective backup strategies? Backup software – Backup software combines the files into a single large file then compresses it – Incremental backups copy only files with changes – A full system backup is a mirror image of your entire hard disk

13Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Hardware: Backup devices Backup devices include CDs, DVDs, UFDs and external hard disks Information on CDs and DVDs – CDs and DVDs can save some of your files, but will not have room for the entire contents of your personal folders – Store discs in a safe place – CDs and DVDs are suitable for making a one time system recovery disk

14Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Hardware: Backup devices Backing up files to a CD or DVD

15Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Hardware: Backup devices Information on UFDs – UFDs are useful because you can reuse them and easily carry copies of files with you – UFDs can malfunction so you may not want it to be your only backup – Some backup programs will not write to a UFD – A UFD left plugged in may be affected by power surges, although always unplugging the UFD can cause wear and tear on the port – Unplug a UFD when transporting computer since it can be knocked off

16Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Hardware: Backup devices Information on external hard drives – External hard drives are affordable, large enough for full backups, and fast – The risk is there is only one external hard drive – Be careful because internal and external hard drives can both malfunction at the same time – Disconnect the external hard drive when not in use – Keep a rotating set of backups rather than overwriting one backup each time

17Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 What about a “good” virus? What do you think? – Have you ever used a computer that had a virus? – Have you ever lost a file because of a virus? – Do you think the benefits of “good” viruses outweigh their risks?

18Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Chapter Summary You should now know: − The facts about losing data − How to reduce the risk of losing data − How to protect files from viruses − How to use tools to recover corrupted files and lost data

19Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 6 Chapter Summary You should now know (continued): − How to use restore points − The most effective backup strategies − About different backup devices