Article by Stephen R. Renfrow :
When Was The Last Time You Backed-Up Your Data? Coming from several industries, (Banking, Real Estate, Insurance, Engineering) and having been a Computer Operator in each of them, I became accustomed to back-ups. Back-ups are the copying of your critical and important data files under all of your programs. You can re-install programs, but not the data files you created while using those programs. Have you heard of anyone having a crash? When was the last time your Service Co. told you, "I'm sorry - that information is currently unavailable ... Our computers are down!". Well, believe it or not, it happens all the time. In fact, I have just recently been a victim myself. After installing a new hard drive 7 months ago, it failed again. Luckily I had all my critical files backed-up to CDRom. After 3 1/2 weeks and 5 Operating System Re-Installs, our main system is back online and functioning smoothly. It seems I had to slow down the speed of the motherboard. Go figure. !?!?!? You never know when it will happen to you. Do you have your Data Backed-Up? Don't know how? Here's a few tips . . . 1. Keep a log of backups - Date, files incl., backup name, media. 2. Use MS Backup in order to compress the files and save space. 3. Or use WinZip to compress the files into a reusable single file. 4. Use a different media than your main hard drive - CDRom, Floppies, another hard drive just for backups, Zip drive, Tape backup, etc. 5. Use two different alternating sources. Example - use A and B for alternating days or weeks. Reason - if you have a bad backup, or a virus, you'll need to restore the previous backup. 6. Spend the time necessary to create your "backup file". Look in every program directory for your stored data files. 7. Create a backup of your Windows directory for safe keeping. If you have a utilities program that searches for missing or needing to replace corrupted files, you can search this backup to restore it. 8. Make sure you have created a Start-Up disk. This is the only way you will be able to restart your computer if your hard drive crashes or goes bad. Run monthly "Scandisk" and "Defrag". 9. If in doubt as to back-it-up ? ? ? Back-It-Up! 10. DO NOT Restore Windows or Registry files unless you know what you are doing. This is the quickest way to mess up your... comput-a-bility. Final Word: Backups are a MUST - Get used to it. You will love the Peace of Mind it will bring. And if your hard drive is approaching 3 years of age . . . You had better be Prepared! About the Author Stephen R. Renfrow - attributes include skills in computing (PC & Mainframe), marketing, sales, customer service, time mgmt., and personnel management. These skills were utilized in the fields of Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Engineering, and Nursing Home Management. Director of CONSOLIDATED INVESTORS GROUP - a private investment firm.
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