The Chronicles
April 2010
Salutations dear readers and fellow Laurentian neighbors,
In February, I wrote about migrating to Microsoft's new Operating System - Windows 7. (http://www.monamilordi.com/english/reviews/2010/10-02.html ) Amongst other things, I mentioned that "if you are a WinXP user, you'll need to have your Technician do a complete re-install of the OS, however if you're a Vista user, it's considered an Upgrade." Though true, many technicians believe that it is better to do a complete re-install whichever OS you have been using. If you do a complete re-install, all the programs and data you have need to be taken out of the old computer and put back into the new computer (even if it is the same machine). This got me thinking ... how many of you out there have a complete back-up of your computer?
Ever thought about this before? Well, my Friends, you should. You really, REALLY, should.
Quite a few of my clients have said to me when we've had this discussion that they don't have very much "stuff" in their computer - just a few photos or documents. My point is that even if you have stored only one item of importance to you, then you should have a back-up. There are a couple of ways of doing this back-up. The hard and the easy way!
Let's explore each scenario:
1. The HARD way ... get a USB key or CD (DVD) and manually copy your "My Documents" folder onto it. Why do I consider this the hard way? Because if you later add to any (or many) of the folders contained within My Documents, you'll need to either delete everything off your USB key then re-copy everything onto it, or throw away your CD (DVD) and create a new one. Why the need to throw away everything and start again? Because, as a general rule, you'll only do a back-up every month or so and it is very difficult to remember in which Folders you've added new info.
2. The EASY way ... get a USB key or External Hard Drive, install a free (and easy to use) program in your computer and let it do the work for you. Back-up programs are designed to create exact copies of your filing cabinet in the back-up device of your choice. Not just of your documents, photos, music, etc, but equally, for example, of your Internet Favorites (something you wouldn't necessarily have with the first method mentioned above). The exciting thing about this way of proceeding is that the next time you perform a back-up, the program will scan both your computer and your back-up device and will automatically add the new elements you've added, delete those you've deleted and rename those you've renamed. Fantastic!!!
Whichever method you choose, remember this ... never keep your back-up next to your computer because if, God forbid, you should get robbed or your house should burn down, all this will have been done in vain. Keep your precious back-up information off-site in a safe place. There you have it, ladies and gents, food for thought...
Take good care of yourselves,
questions.monamilordi@gmail.com
This article originally appeared in Main Street – The Laurentians' English Language Community Newspaper.
