Backup Data For Your Computer In Simple English

Along the way, more and more data are stored into your computer hard disk. (The hard disk is the place where all your computer data are stored.) A lot of them are valuable to you. You do not want to lost them. So, it make sense to make extra copy of them and stored it into a different location (not on the same hard disk). This is backup of your data.

There are several methods of backup.

One, is to make an exact copy of your computer hard disk. Like a mirror image of the hard disk. This way, when the computer crushes or the hard disk just refuses to work properly. You can take the extra exact copy of the backup and copied it into a new or formatted hard disk. Now, you can continue using the computer from the time that you last made the backup. This method saves a lot of time by not having to reinstall all the software and running the software updates again. You do not need to create or copy all your data files again. However, this type of backup take a longer process to complete. Example, you have already used 50GB of your hard disk space. To make a 50GB of backup, you need another 50GB of hard disk or 11 DVD disks or 72 CD disks. Almost all backup are done by compressing your existing data and stored into another storage media (DVD, CD, another hard disk etc.). So, you may not need to many instead, but you get the idea. It takes a longer time to compress and store all your 50 GB of data.

Another type of backup requires you to one full backup (the method above). After a full backup is done, the next time, it will only backup the changes that you have made from the time that the last backup and now. Only the first backup takes a longer time, whereas the subsequence backup takes a shorter period of time. Time are saved on the subsequence backup. However, you may require a lot of storage media. The subsequence backup stores all the existing new and updated data. So, your backup media will store both old data, from previous backup and new data from the new backup. To save storage media used, you still need to do a full backup, maybe after every 10 subsequence backup. Example, on your 11 backup, after 1 full backup and 10 subsequence backup, its time to do a full backup again. You need to use a new storage media during this backup process, after the backup is successful. You can recycle and used the old storage media for your subsequence backup again.

Choosing The Best File Recovery Solution

All file recovery solutions are not created equally. But, choosing one specific software or service company can be overwhelming from the sheer numbers available. For starters, why do some file recovery software cost as low as $29.99, while others range as much as $400? Before addressing these details, and how to choose the best file recovery solution for your situation, let's make sure your files have the best chance to be recovered.

Safety First...

If you are reading this article on the computer you are trying to recover files from, do the following steps immediately (Your computer is always running in the background, and could be overwriting the data you are trying to recover):
1. Close any important documents that are open.
2. Print this article to follow off-line.
3. Unplug your computer (Do not turn off your computer, unplug it now.).
Note: Unplugging the computer stops the computer from running all together. Turning off or shutting down your computer might make the computer go through a process that could overwrite data - your files.

What not to do...

1. Do not run the system recovery disk from the computer manufacturer. This software is designed to get your computer running again with no regard to your data. In other words, it is not designed as a file recovery solution. Just ask the manufacturer if there is a possibility that you could lose data. Yes, is always the answer.

2. Do not install file recovery software on the computer you are trying to recover files from, for this could overwrite the files you are trying to recover. You must have a secondary storage device (i.e. hard disk drive, USB device, etc.) to install the program and to recover the files.

Note to Advanced Users: Even if you are trying to recover a particular partition, and already have a separate partition to install the file recovery software on, do not do it. Since there is possible corruption within the file system at this point, you run the risk of overwritting the partition and files you are trying to recover during the installation process. Better safe than sorry. Install the program on a secondary drive.

File Recovery Software...

Which file recovery software you choose depends on what has happened:
1. Have you accidentally delete a file that you want back?
2. Have you lost a file, or found it damaged upon opening it?
3. When starting your computer, has it failed to boot to the desktop,
invoking a blue or black screen, or an error message (write that message down)?

Accidentally deleted files can usually be recovered by File Undelete software, which lucky for you is the cheapest solution at about $30 USD. If you cannot locate a file after running the program, the file system (where the files lie) may have been altered, deleted, or damaged. This means, File Undelete software cannot work, and you should use a "complete" file recovery product.

Lost or damaged files require a "complete" file recovery software, which usually costs about $100 USD. (Professional grade recovery software which include multiple recovery functions costs as much as $400). If you cannot locate a file after running the program, or if your computer failed to boot to the desktop, you may need File Recovery Services.