Back Up Your Valuable Files

Summary: Backups are the ultimate protection for the information and files you care most about.

Introduction

Backing up your digital photos, music, documents, and other valuable files may be the most important thing you can do. It's also among the easiest. With all sorts of options and automated tools, creating regular backups does not have to be difficult or time consuming. It's not expensive either. However, if you lose any of the files you care about, you'll realize that regular backups are priceless.

Don't get burned

There's a saying among those who spend their days trying to recover data from damaged computers: "Most people have to get burned once before they'll make backups." And they would know. These are the people we go to when our laptop gets doused in coffee, dropped on the floor, or burned in a fire. They're the ones we hang our hopes on when our hard drive mysteriously fails after years of reliable use. Sometimes they can recover some files––other times they can't. And even when they can, recovery costs could be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Even though we all know that our most valued documents, photos and multimedia files could disappear in a flash, most of us don't act on it. We might back up from time to time, and maybe we have every intention of setting up a regular schedule. But in our fast–paced lives, it seems we just don't get around to it.

Regardless, don't be one of those people who wait until they get burned.

Backups 101

It's possible we procrastinate about backups due to the mystery of the process. Maybe we don't even know where to begin. However, backing up your most important stuff is actually straightforward. We recommend you follow these basic steps:

• Take inventory of your files. Sort through all your computers, external hard drives, storage disks, and anywhere else you might have files you'd like to keep. Make a list of everything you have and where it's located.
• Choose what's important. Once you know what you have, decide what you want to back up. As a rule of thumb, you'll want to back up anything that would cost you time, money, or heartache if it were lost forever.
• Consolidate as much as possible. Once you know what you're going to back up, put as many files as you can in one place. The fewer places you store your information, the fewer computers, drives, and folders you'll need to back up.
• Begin backing up. To make a backup, simply copy your consolidated files onto another computer, a removable drive, or Internet storage space. You can either create your backups manually or use an automated tool. In either case, you need to continue making backups on a regular basis. Otherwise, your newly acquired stuff – along with changes to old files – will not be protected.
• Automate your regular backups. Manual backups can be time–consuming, and requires a lot in terms of discipline. On the other hand, a tool like Norton® Save & Restore from Symantec automatically makes regular backups for you. It also walks you through the initial backup process, even recommending the best place to store your backups. And should you lose anything you've backed up, it will automatically restore your files. For complete PC protection, consider Norton 360, which provides comprehensive, automated protection for everything computer users care about.

Conclusion

When it comes to protecting the information and files you care about, there is no substitute for a regular backup routine. So no matter what happens to your computer, backups ensure you'll never lose what's most important to you. So, don't wait for a wake–up call. Start backing up your computer today.


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Article Courtesy of Symantec Corporation, a partner in Security by Staples.
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