 |
External drive makes backups easy, fast
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, June 27, 2008
I'm not currently backing up my computer, but I want that to change.
I have a Dell laptop running Windows XP. My internal hard drive is 80 gigabytes, and I have about 20 gigabytes free.
What's the easiest way to back up my stuff, and what should I be backing up?
S.W., Frisco
The quickest, easiest way to back up your data is to buy an external hard drive that connects to your USB port.
Many external hard drives come with bundled software that allow users to back up their data with the touch of a button.
If you already have a drive and want to start backing up, both Windows XP and Vista have backup software built in.
If you use Vista, you'll find the backup software in the System and Maintenance control panel. There is a tab called Back Up Your Computer. You can choose a full backup of the operating system and all your data or just certain files and folders.
Windows XP Pro users will find the backup tool in the Start menu under All Programs, then Accessories and then System Tools.
XP Home users will have to find their original XP install disk, as the backup tool is included, but it's not installed by default.
For instructions on working with Windows' backup tools, go to www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/ data/backup.mspx.
Macintosh users with Leopard (Mac OS 10.5) have backup software included called Time Machine.
The first time a Mac user plugs in any external hard drive, the system will ask if you'd like to use it to start backing up with Time Machine.
If you say yes, that's all there is to the configuration. The system will start an immediate full backup and do an incremental backup every hour.
As for choosing specific files to back up, of course you'll want to start with files that can't be replaced, such as digital photos and data files like you produce using Microsoft Office.
Important work or personal projects, including your résumé, would be good choices to back up.
If you have room on your external drive, you can expand your backup to include your MP3 collection, but some of that music should at least exist on your CDs. With more of us buying music online, those files should be backed up immediately.
Jim Rossman is technical manager for Macintosh support for A.H. Belo Corporation.
Check Screen Name Availability
Screen names can only consist of letters and numbers.
 |
 RSS
|
|
 E-Mail newsletters
|
||
More Columnist Jim Rossman
Spotlight
You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register Now!
You are logged in as screenname | Log Out
You are logged in, but do not have a "screen" name. Update Your Profile