1. Chapter 6 Protecting Your Files

2. Practical PC 5th 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

3. Practical PC 5th 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

4. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

5. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

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

7. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

8. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

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

10. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

11. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

12. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

13. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

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

15. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

16. 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

17. 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?
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

18. Practical PC 5th 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
Practical PC 5th Edition Chapter 6

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