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Analysis of your Backup Needs

What should I back up?

There are 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. Casual or beginning user: Your computer skills are rudimentary. You don't have much at risk. You've only installed a few programs or services since you bought your computer. Suggested: Make sure you've organized your key files and documents, and back them up regularly.
     
  2. Intermediate user: You have good computer skills. You use your computer extensively and have a significant number of files and documents to protect. You have installed several key programs since you bought your computer. Suggested: Organize your key files and documents, and back them up regularly, including the ones that get saved under individual "Program Files" folders. You may need to "export" such things as email, address books and Favorites.

    Collect everything you'd need to reinstall Windows, your key programs and your online services -- CDs -- software or other files you've downloaded -- software keys & serial numbers -- ISP account details, etc. Make sure they'll still be available if worst comes to worse, like a hard drive failure.

     
  3. Cautious or advanced user: You have solid computer skills. You use your computer extensively. You have installed many programs since you bought your computer. You have invested a lot of effort in setting up your computer the way you want it. Suggested: In addition to what's suggested for intermediate users, I highly recommend drive images.
Potential Problem Analysis
Event Normal 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.
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.) Avoid infection by having an effective online defense.
Back up your Windows directory by creating a drive image as a backup defense (pun intended).
Your computer won't start at all. Could be caused by malicious software, a failed program installation, 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.) Back up your 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 your 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.
"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." -- Sidney J. Harris
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