Analyze your Backup Needs

Consider three factors in deciding what to back up: What do you have at risk? What are you're willing to lose? How good are your computer skills. You'll probably find that your situation is a pretty close fit to one of the three cases described below:

  1. Basic: You're a casual or beginning user: Your computer skills are not extensive. You don't have much at risk. Make sure you've organized your key files and documents, and back them up regularly.
  2. Strong: You're an intermediate user with good computer skills. You use your computer extensively and have a significant number of files and documents to protect.

    Organize your key files and documents, and back them up regularly, including those files that get stuck in folders under individual programs. You may need to "export" such things as email, address books and Favorites to back them up.

    Also, make sure you have everything you'd need to reinstall Windows -- your key programs -- your online services -- CDs -- software or other files you've downloaded. Make sure you have software keys & serial numbers -- ISP account details, etc. Put the key items in your backup too. You may not be able to get to them if Windows dies, or your hard drive fails.

  3. Robust: Cautious or advanced user: In addition to what I suggest for intermediate users, I highly recommend that you make drive images so you'd be able to recover the present state of your computer. Some people like to make drive images frequently to protect all the little incremental changes they make. I only do it about once a month. I should do it more frequently, but I do back up the registry frequently because it's a quick and easy to get almost the same protection.
Potential Problem Analysis
Event The Standard Recovery Action What you Could Lose How to Avoid Loss
A simple user mistake There may not be one. The current version of the file you were working with. Back up working documents frequently, say once each 15 minutes.
Program Failure Reinstall the program. Any documents that were saved under the program's folder. Know where your program stores documents and make sure you've backed them up at another location.
Failed program install or uninstall, or a serious user error. You'll probably need to use your "recovery" CD or reinstall Windows. Everything. (You might be able to recover your documents if you get "professional" help before you reinstall Windows.) At least back up the Windows Registry.
Better yet, back up the entire Windows directory by creating a drive image.
Spyware, or other malicious software infection(s). (Your computer won't run correctly, and you may be at risk for financial loss.) You might be able to remove the infection(s) with heavy duty Anti-Malware programs. Otherwise, you'll be forced to use your "recovery" CD or reinstall Windows. Everything. (You might be able to recover your documents if you get "professional" help before you reinstall Windows.) An effective online defense can prevent infection in the first place.
Just in case, back up the entire Windows directory by creating a drive image.
Your computer won't start at all. Could be caused by malicious software, a failed Windows update or some unknown reason. If it's not a hardware problem (CPU, memory, etc.) you'll probably need to use your "recovery" CD or reinstall Windows. As in the case above -- you'll lose everything. (You might be able to recover your documents if you get "professional" help before you reinstall Windows.) At least back up the Windows Registry.
Better yet, back up the entire Windows directory by creating a drive image.
Hard drive failure Replace you hard drive and use your "recovery" or Windows CD. (You may require manufacturer assistance because the recovery files were also on the failed hard drive.) As in the case above -- you'll lose everything. (You might be able to recover your documents if you get "professional" help.) Don't rely on just your hard drive for backup. Use CDs or a second hard drive.
Back up the entire Windows directory by creating a drive image. You can use it to reload your new hard drive.
Everything :: All your documents and email, software you've downloaded, any programs or services you've installed, your ISP connection, your system settings, your address book -- everything.