Backing Up Your Computer Hard Drive Lou Koch June 27, 2006

Tonight’s Program Introduction – Why? Introduction – Why? Terminology – concepts Terminology – concepts Methodology – software, media, etc Methodology – software, media, etc Tips and suggestions – organization, preparation, frequency, etc. Tips and suggestions – organization, preparation, frequency, etc. Demo Demo

Why Backup? Hardware Failure Hardware Failure Most serious … generally cannot easily recover anything from damaged hard disk Most serious … generally cannot easily recover anything from damaged hard disk Viruses Viruses Can target specific files or erase entire drive Can target specific files or erase entire drive Accidental deletion Accidental deletion Single or few files Single or few files Software Problem Software Problem Generally lose program but not files Generally lose program but not files

Types of Backups File or data backups File or data backups Backs up individual files Backs up individual files Typically you can back up personal files or key data onto a CD using a file backup 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 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 Lots of software to do this which can automate and execute the backups Typically does not back up OS or open files. Typically does not back up OS or open files.

Types of Backups System Restore System Restore A restore point backs up key files (registry, drivers, etc) to allow your to restore your PC to previous configuration. 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. 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 You can access System Restore to either restore your computer to a prior configuration or to manually create a restore point by START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools  System Restore. 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. This is valuable protection but it consumes hard drive capacity – default is 6% of hard drive … you can adjust this. My Computer  View System Information (or properties)  system restore  select drive  settings My Computer  View System Information (or properties)  system restore  select drive  settings

Types of Backups Drive Image or Mirror Backup Drive Image or Mirror Backup Copies all files from PC to backup … including OS and boot sector files 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 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 INCREMENTAL and DIFFERENTIAL backups can be done after a full backup to reduce space and time Incremental – all files since last incremental or full Incremental – all files since last incremental or full Differential – all files since last full. Differential – all files since last full. Restoring with incremental or differential backups requires multiple steps but will still provide full restore Restoring with incremental or differential backups requires multiple steps but will still provide full restore

What should you back up? CRITICAL - Personal files or data CRITICAL - Personal files or data These are files and documents that you create or obtain from some outside source – documents, music, pictures, etc 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 For most people this is the most important category since it is the most personal Use file backup utility Use file backup utility

What should you back up? Software/Programs Software/Programs Typically you can reinstall software that becomes corrupted but it is time consuming 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 Also most software allows customization that will be lost if it is reinstalled Software backup is less critical because it can be recreated Software backup is less critical because it can be recreated

What should you back up? Operating system Operating system Generally WINDOWS Generally WINDOWS Includes your preferences and customization Includes your preferences and customization What opens when you start up What opens when you start up What the desktop looks like …. etc What the desktop looks like …. etc Hardware Drivers Hardware Drivers Every user has different monitors, printers, modems, scanners, etc that have to be configured to your preference using these drivers Every user has different monitors, printers, modems, scanners, etc that have to be configured to your preference using these drivers Boot sector files Boot sector files Tells PC how to start up before Windows is loaded Tells PC how to start up before Windows is loaded This info is mostly contained in Restore Point. This info is mostly contained in Restore Point.

Hardware Large choice of media for backups Large choice of media for backups CD’s CD’s Cheap and will hold most personal data Cheap and will hold most personal data Almost all PCs come with burners Almost all PCs come with burners Burner software allows you some ease of use Burner software allows you some ease of use DVD’s DVD’s More expensive but still not bad More expensive but still not bad Will allow you to store significant number of audio and image files Will allow you to store significant number of audio and image files Many PCs have burners and software. Many PCs have burners and software.

Hardware Additional Media Additional Media Flash Drives Flash Drives Easy to use Easy to use Can handle short term backups and file transfers Can handle short term backups and file transfers Internal Hard Drive Internal Hard Drive Can hold multiple image backups Can hold multiple image backups Fairly expensive but prices are dropping Fairly expensive but prices are dropping Susceptible to Power surge failure in PC Susceptible to Power surge failure in PC External Hard Drive External Hard Drive Similar to Internal Hard Drive but can be unplugged from PC/power and not be susceptible to power surges. 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 Easy to connect via USB port OTHER OTHER diskettes and tapes … obsolete? diskettes and tapes … obsolete? On line … available … I prefer to physically control my media On line … available … I prefer to physically control my media

Software File Backup Utilities File Backup Utilities Microsoft Backup Utility Included in Windows START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools  Backup …… use backup wizard Microsoft Backup Utility Included in Windows START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools  Backup …… use backup wizard 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 … 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 … CD R/W utility you can generally save a backup profile and use it often to save info. 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 Lots of commercial software (including free utilities) that help you configure and schedule file backup Check freeware sites Check freeware sites Image Backups Image Backups Plenty to choose from Plenty to choose from

Tips and Suggestions Determine your backup needs Determine your backup needs Not everyone needs Image backups Not everyone needs Image backups Back up just personal files if you are a casual user Back up just personal files if you are a casual user You use computer for and internet You use computer for and internet You have installed only a few Software programs You have installed only a few Software programs Do image backup if you use your PC for a lot of tasks Do image backup if you use your PC for a lot of tasks You have a lot of software installed You have a lot of software installed You create a lot of files You create a lot of files Organize your Hard Drive Organize your Hard Drive Save ALL personal info to MY DOCUMENTS Save ALL personal info to MY DOCUMENTS Most Microsoft documents are saved here Most Microsoft documents are saved here Other Software may save to a different default location … change default to MY DOCUMENTS Other Software may save to a different default location … change default to MY DOCUMENTS You can create subfolders in MY DOCUMENTS to locate files. You can create subfolders in MY DOCUMENTS to locate files. Then back up MY DOCUMENTS frequently … weekly Then back up MY DOCUMENTS frequently … weekly

Tips and Suggestions Clean up before you backup Clean up before you backup If your plan is to do a full backup or image then take a few minutes to delete junk If your plan is to do a full backup or image then take a few minutes to delete junk Run Disk Cleanup Run Disk Cleanup START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools  Disk Cleanup … read description and follow suggestions START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools  Disk Cleanup … read description and follow suggestions Clear any files that you don’t want Clear any files that you don’t want Run Image Backup about monthly … incremental backups weekly Run Image Backup about monthly … incremental backups weekly If you are paranoid about losing data … run more frequently. 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 Demo Demo