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Backing up your files
Backing up your files can prevent alot of hassle if you are unfortunate
enough to be affected by a virus. Yet how do we go about backing
up our files?
Back up what?
Specific Things to backup
Backup to where??
How to Backup
Back up what??
1. EVERYTHING ON THE HARDDISK
Or
2. At a practical level, backing up your email files, word processor
files, databases, web bookmarks, and any other files you directly
create will provide you with sufficient backups to make recovery
possible in the event of a crash.
3. Always turn on autosave feature
Specific Items to back up
Macintosh
You should create a single folder (with subfolders) to store all
of your data files: word processor files, spreadsheets, etc. This
is the most important item to back up, as it contains information
that is literally irreplaceable. Other items to back up include:
Your email files. You should determine where your email program
stores your email. (If you're using Eudora, you'll find your mail
files in a folder called "Eudora Folder," which is generally
located in your System Folder.)
The Preferences folder in your System Folder. This is where all
of your applications store their settings. If you use Netscape,
your web bookmarks are also in here. Backing up this folder can
save you a lot of trouble when you reinstall your application software.
Windows 95/98
The My Documents folder. This is where we recommend that
you store all of the files you create: word processor, spreadsheet,
database, etc. This is the single most important item to back up.
The Windows folder. This contains the Windows 95/98 operating
system, the Windows Registry, and all of the additional drivers
and configuration information required to support the hardware and
software you've installed. Your email files may be stored in here
as well. (If they're not, you need to find them and back them up
as well.)
Windows NT/2000
The Documents and Settings folder. This is where your My
Documents folder resides, as well as many settings and preferences.
Outlook email is usually stored here too. (in user/Local Settings/Application
Data/Microsoft/Outlook/outlook.pst)
The WinNT folder. This contains the Windows NT/2000 operating
system, the Windows Registry, and all of the additional drivers
and configuration required to support the hardware and software
you've installed.
Backup to where??
Floppy
Floppy disks are a convenient back-up medium because they are readily
available and can be used in any computer on campus. They are ideal
for backing up individual documents and small folders; if you have
a large number of documents in one folder, you may need to split
the contents of the folder among two or more floppy disks
Zip Disk
Because one Zip disk holds more than 70 times as much information
as a floppy disk, Zip disks are the ideal medium for backing up
large amounts of data such as graphics files, large spreadsheets,
and databases. Faculty and staff members may check out portable
Zip drives from the Science Library. Some departments also have
Zip drives available for check-out; contact your department's administrative
assistant for more information
· Others : Castlewood Orb 2.2 GB drive , Travan TR-4/5 format
tape drive, OnStream ECHO ADR format tape drive, DAT DDS-2/3 format
tape drive, CD-R or CD-RW drives, Iomega Jaz 2 GB
How to backup?
There are programs in the market that help you to back your
files up.
Macintosh: We recommend that you store all of your personal files
in a single master folder and back that entire folder up each
week by simply copying the file to your Zip drive. If you'd prefer
to automate the process, or want the added security of backing
up your entire hard disk, we recommend Retrospect Express ($50),
from Dantz. Retrospect Express is a simple, inexpensive and powerful
backup program that should meet all the needs of a single user
or small office network.
PC: We recommend using Veritas Backup Exec Desktop ($60). Veritas
Backup Exec desktop is a powerful and easy to use backup program
that will help you manage your backups quite effectively. Some
drives also ship with adequate backup software, often from Veritas.
Another choice is the Windows version of Retrospect Express, similar
in feature set and price. We also note that the backup software
that comes with Zip disks, Iomega Backup, is much improved of
late, and is freely downloadable from the Iomega Web site.
Or you could :
Organize your files
1. Find all the documents you have created using applications
such as Word, Excel, etc and organize [Most PC users prefer to
store their files in the My Documents folder.]
2. Also search for data files created by application which you
believe to be useful.
Prepare your back-up disks
1. Make sure you have enough new, blank disks to back up all your
work (usually between two and ten floppy disks or one Zip disk;
if you have graphics files, large spreadsheets, or large databases,
you may need more disks
2. If you are using a portable Zip drive, connect the drive to
your computer.
3. Format your disks
Back up your files
1. Save your work and exit all open applications.
2. Insert a properly formatted floppy disk or Zip disk into the
appropriate drive.
3. Double-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop.
4. In the My Computer window, double-click on the C: icon to view
the contents of your hard drive.
5. Find the first folder containing your documents. Drag the folder
from your hard drive onto the icon for your floppy drive or Zip
drive in the My Computer window. When the floppy drive or Zip
drive icon turns dark, release the mouse button to drop the folder
onto your back-up disk.
6. If you receive a message that the disk is full, eject your
back-up disk, insert another, and click OK.
7. Continue dragging folders onto your back-up disk, inserting
new disks as needed, until you have copied all the folders containing
your documents.
8. Also copy all files found on your desktop. Except for program
files and shortcuts. When you have finished, eject your last back-up
disk and close all open windows.
9. Label each disk with your name, the date, and the contents.
Verify that your files have been copied
1. Insert your first back-up disk into the appropriate drive.
2. Double-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop.
3. Double-click on the icon for your floppy drive or Zip drive
in the My Computer window.
4. Make sure that the files and folders you have copied onto the
disk appear in the floppy disk or Zip disk window.
5. Close the disk window and eject your disk.
6. Repeat with each back-up disk.
7. When you have finished, close all open windows.
Backing up your Netscape bookmarks
You should also back up your Netscape bookmark file.
1. Insert a properly formatted floppy disk or Zip disk into the
appropriate drive.
2. Double-click on the My Computer icon.
3. In the My Computer window, double-click on the C: icon.
4. Open the Program Files folder.
5. Open the Netscape folder.
6. Open the Users folder.
7. Open the folder for your user profile (usually labeled with
your user name or "default").
8. Drag the bookmark.htm icon onto your floppy disk or Zip disk.
9. Close all open windows.
Verify that your files have been copied
When you have finished backing up your files, take your backup
disks to a different computer to confirm that all your files have
been copied correctly.
1. Insert your first back-up disk into the appropriate drive.
2. Double-click on the My Computer icon on the desktop.
3. Double-click on the icon for your floppy drive or Zip drive
in the My Computer window.
4. Make sure that the files and folders you have copied onto the
disk appear in the floppy disk or Zip disk window
5. Close the disk window and eject your disk.
6. Repeat with each back-up disk.
7. When you have finished, close all open windows.
Your files are now safely backed up. To transfer them to a new
computer or to restore them following a hard drive format ("IC3")
or accidental data loss, see Restoring your PC files.
Restore your files
1. Save your work and exit any open applications.
2. Insert your first back-up disk into the appropriate drive.
3. Double-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop.
4. Double-click on the icon for your floppy drive or Zip drive
to view the contents of your back-up disk.
5. Copy the files and folders from your back-up disk to their
proper locations on your hard drive. (Most PC users prefer to
store their files in the My Documents folder.)
To copy a folder to the top level of your your hard drive:
Drag the folder from your floppy disk or zip disk onto the C:
icon inside the My Computer window.
When the C: icon turns dark, release the mouse button to drop the
folder onto the hard drive.
To copy a file or folder into a folder on your hard drive:
Double-click on the C: icon inside the My Computer window. Find
the folder where you wish to place the file but do not open it.
Drag the file from your floppy disk or Zip disk onto
the folder where you wish to place the file.
When the folder icon turns dark, release the mouse button
to drop the file into the folder.
If you are asked whether you want to replace files, click Yes to
All.
6. When you have copied all the files from your back-up disk onto
your hard drive, close the disk window and eject the disk.
7. Insert the next back-up disk and continue until you have restored
all your files except your Eudora mail and Netscape bookmark files.
8. When you have finished, close all open windows except the My
Computer window.
Verify that your files have been copied
1. Double-click on the C: icon inside the My Computer window.
2. Open each folder into which you have restored files and check
to be sure they are all listed.
3. Close all open windows.
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