Support :: Security :: Backing Up

Backing Up Important Data
There are many ways you can unintentionally lose information on a computer. A virus, someone playing with your computer, someone unintentionally deleting the wrong file, fire, flood and natural disaster. Occasionally a hard drive just fails!

If you regularly make backup copies of your files and keep them in a separate place, you can get some, if not all, of your information back in the event that something disastrous happens to your computer.

What Should I Backup?
Deciding what to back up is dependant on the value you place on your information. Anything you cannot replace easily should be backed up.

Make a checklist of files that need to be backed up. This will help you to know what is and should be backed up and also help you to remember all the items that should be saved when performing a backup.

Suggestions of things that may need to be backed up:

1. Bank records and other financial information
2. Digital photographs
3. Software you purchased and downloaded from the Internet
4. Music you purchased and downloaded from the Internet
5. Personal projects
6. Your e-mail address book
7. Calendar
8. Your Browser bookmarks

Types of Backup Storage Available

1. Writable and Re-Writable CDs
   • A pretty commonly used form of backup which has several things going for it and relatively few cons.
     For:
     1. You can hold up to 700 Mb on one disc.
     2. They are portable and easy to store.
     3. CD-RW discs can be used time and time again. (It is worth investing in Re-Writable discs for use as regular backup, though they are more expensive then simple Writ able discs they will save you money in the long term and are generally of a higher quality)
     4. The discs are relatively inexpensive.
   • Against:
     1. You would need to purchase a CD-RW drive if your computer does not come ready equipped with one.
     2. It is possible to record over a disc that you did not mean to. (It is vitally important to label your disc and to keep your important backups stored securely away from your every day items).
2. Writable and Re-Writable DVDs
   • DVD Writers are becoming more common in modern computers and have advantages for backup.
     For:
     1. You can hold several Giga Bytes of information on one disc.
     2. They are portable and easy to store.
     3. DVD-RW discs can be used time and time again. (It is worth investing in Re-Writable discs for use as regular backup, though they are more expensive then simple Writable discs they will save you money in the long term and are generally of a higher quality)
     4. The discs are relatively inexpensive.
   • Against:
     1. You would need to purchase a DVD-RW drive if your computer does not come ready equipped with one.
     2. It is possible to record over a disc that you did not mean to. (It is vitally important to label your disc and to keep your important backups stored securely away from your every day items).
3. USB or Firewire Flash Drives
   • A USB flash drive is a small portable solid state hard disc drive usually a few inches long.
     For:
     1. You can hold up to several Giga Bytes of information on one drive.
     2. They are portable and easy to store.
     3. Data can be stored, updated and deleted at will.
     4. Flash drives are relatively inexpensive.
   • Against:
     1. Because of their size and usefulness flash drives are easy to lose and unfortunately attractive to steal.
     2. It is possible to accidentally delete information that you did not intent to.
     3. There is a remote possibility that the data on a flash drive could become corrupted in the wrong conditions.
4. Online Backup Services
   • An online backup and storage service allows you to backup your files external to yourself.
     For:
     1. Stores Information out of your Home or Office.
     2. Potentially offers larger storage than some other backup devices.
   • Against:
     1. May require ongoing payments to maintain your files.
     2. If the storage service encounters problems such as a server failure you may lose or not be able to access your stored data.
     3. If the storage companies security is compromised then your information could be stolen or destroyed.
     4. If the storage company goes out of business you may lose all your backup information.

Linx Data Ltd. do not sell computers or computer peripherals, however as we are regularly asked by our clients and others what laptops, home or office computers are the best value for money.
Linx Data Ltd. Recommend Dell computers.

Dell Desktop Inspiron™ 530 ST (D115S01) | / Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core E2200 Processor (2.20GHz,800MHz,1MB cache)/ Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium with Service Pack 1, 32-bit - English/ 250GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive/ 2048MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]/ Display ... £ 417.99

Dell Desktop Inspiron™ 530 ST (D115S02) | / Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E7200 processor (2.53GHz, 1066MHz, 3MB cache)/ Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium with Service Pack 1, 32-bit - English/ 320GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive/ 2048MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]/ Display Not ... £ 437.99

Linx Data Ltd. Recommend and Use Dell Computers exclusively.

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