Backing Up Your Data – Part 3

June's Article dealt with the backup devices available to you. If you missed the article you can read it and all back articles online at here.
I've been remiss in posting the online versions of these articles but should be caught up shortly.
Backup Devices
As recommended in my previous article the ideal solution for backup is an external hard disk and if possible a NAS version. This is only part of the solution as the most common problem I come across is that people fail to use the drive correctly or worse still put the backup process on the long finger. Even more startling is the amount of computer owners who never bother to backup.
Here are the three simple rules for choosing an external backup drive.
Rule #1. Choose a drive that has sufficient capacity to backup your entire system easily. Thus if you have a 100 gigabyte hard disk you should purchase a drive with a minimum capacity of 250 gigabytes.
Rule #2. Choose a quality brand. There is little point purchasing a cheap device that may fail when you need it most. Don’t skimp on your backup!
Rule #3. Install the drive and backup! Seems obvious but I know from experience that people simply do not backup their data. Set aside an hour, turn off your mobile, turn off the tv, make yourself a cup of tea and backup your drive.
Backup Software
Depending on the operating system you are using your pc may or may not come with backup software installed. You can use either the built-in software or use the software that came with your external drive. If you are unsure seek professional advice in setting up and using your backup device.
Backup And Recovery Strategy
You should maintain several backups of your information on your external drive. I recommend at a minimum you backup once a month and maintain at least three months of backups. Once you have backed up your data have a competent technician check that your backups are valid and that you are indeed backing up all of your data. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express you need to ensure that the mail files are included in the backup process.
Common Mistake With Backup Drives
There is one caveat with regard to using any external hard drive and this relates to how you use the drive. Do not use your external backup drive to store ANY information other than your backup files. The reason for this is simple. Any information stored on your external drive is never backed up and when it fails you will lose whatever was stored on there.