What do you backup

Patti:

Regarding dates and having multiple copies of your data and not getting confused:

Make a folder on the new external drive. Name it Patti-backup-092911. That stands for Sept 29, 2011.


Make a new copy and paste from your user folder to this new folder. That way you know what date it was made.

If you want to make another backup tomorrow, make a new folder on the external drive called 093011, for September 30, 2011. Then copy to that folder.

Confirm to your own satisfaction that you can go directly to the external drive folder and find and open a backed up file--such as your Excel tax info file. Just as you can open the original version on the C drive user folder.

It's up to you to decide how long to keep any particular backup folder. You have plenty of space, so you may as well keep several dates.

How often you should backup depends on how often your data changes--how often you make new files or change old files in your user folder. Most people do it at least once a week.

You can eventually graduate to using software to make the process easier, but I wouldn't worry about that now. Just do the copy and paste periodically.

Regarding your issue with System Restore, I would start a new topic in the "Backup and Restore" section of this forum.
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
Here is a good source. There is e.g. a 500GB Seagate for $39.99 at Newegg which looks like a good deal. Seagates are as good as any - although I personally prefer the Japanese makes.
Storage Devices Deals - Deals2buy.com

Just wondering, which models are Japanese? I've had a horrid time with Seagate external HD and now WD hard drive which I got a RMA after I broke it. IT's so slow its freaking painful.

P.S. i have all the important files on my Desktop, Laptop, External Drive, and the first generation IPOD (140gb - can't use all that space for music so might as well use it for this)
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron E 1505
OS
Windows 7 Professional 32 Bit
CPU
Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2080 @ 1.73GHz 1.73 GHz
Motherboard
DELL
Memory
2GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
Sound Card
High Definition Audio Device
Screen Resolution
1280 by 800
Hard Drives
136 GB
Recovery 10 GB
Back
Top