A power outage. A fire. An unexpected explosion.
No, it’s not on a movie screen – it’s on your desk. Your precious computer has bit the dust.
Gone are the files, the photos, and a lifetime of mp3’s… or are they? Wait. You have a backup.
What is a “backup” you may ask? It’s a copy of all of your files. Some backups cover the entire operating system. Some just cover the files you’d like to save. It’s generally recommended that you ALWAYS backup your files – you never know when disaster will strike.
Backups don’t occur without your intervention, so if you DO have a backup, you’ll know it. Still confused? Well, let’s go over the process.
Items needed:
An external drive: This may be an external hard drive, a usb thumb drive, a dvd (multiple may be necessary), or a network drive located on a server. (If you aren’t familiar with these terms, talk to your local tech-hero.)
Software:
- If your computer is a Mac (the one with the Apple), you’ll likely want to use TimeMachine. You can find the instructions here.
- If your computer is NOT a Mac, you likely have Microsoft Windows on it. Most versions of Windows use “Backup and Restore”.
- If you’re using an external Hard drive, many come with their own built-in software that may launch when you plug the device in.
Your Computer: This is the device you wish to back up. If you would rather back up a cell phone or tablet, you can do so by connecting it to your computer first (and following any prompts) or by backing up your files to the cloud.
Instructions:
If you have a physical external drive, plug it into a USB port (ie. The verticle rectangle on the computer box) and a new folder should pop up. Follow any backup prompts or utilize one of the software options above. If you have a network drive (these are more common in office settings), navigate to the drive in question and copy the desired files into it. If these instructions are too vague, enlist the help of your local tech-hero. There’s no shame in asking for help – it’s better than accidentally losing all of your files.
(As a tech-hero, I typically copy the C:\Users folder (at minimum) as it contains all of your files, photos, and mp3’s.)
Note: Please understand that every machine, situation, and backup is unique. If I were to try and cover every scenario in detail, I would fail miserably and you would stop reading. You NEED to back up your digital life if you want to save it. Trust your tech-heroes, enlist your teenagers, Google how to do it yourself… do whatever you need to do to prepare for a disaster BEFORE it strikes.
Then when the smoke clears and the machine is replaced, you will still have your precious memories.