Backing UpBacking UpYour Computer Hard Your Computer Hard

DriveDrive

Lou KochLou Koch

June 27, 2006June 27, 2006

Tonight’s ProgramTonight’s Program

• Introduction – Why?Introduction – Why?• Terminology – conceptsTerminology – concepts• Methodology – software, media, Methodology – software, media,

etcetc• Tips and suggestions – Tips and suggestions –

organization, preparation, organization, preparation, frequency, etc.frequency, etc.

• DemoDemo

Why Backup?Why Backup?

• Hardware FailureHardware Failure• Most serious … generally cannot easily Most serious … generally cannot easily

recover anything from damaged hard diskrecover anything from damaged hard disk• VirusesViruses

• Can target specific files or erase entire Can target specific files or erase entire drivedrive

• Accidental deletion Accidental deletion • Single or few filesSingle or few files

• Software ProblemSoftware Problem• Generally lose program but not filesGenerally lose program but not files

Types of BackupsTypes of Backups• File or data backupsFile or data backups

• Backs up individual files Backs up individual files • Typically you can back up personal files Typically you can back up personal files

or key data onto a CD using a file backupor key data onto a CD using a file backup• You can just highlight and copy the files You can just highlight and copy the files

to your backup media ORto your backup media OR• Lots of software to do this which can Lots of software to do this which can

automate and execute the backupsautomate and execute the backups• Typically does not back up OS or open Typically does not back up OS or open

files.files.

Types of BackupsTypes of Backups• System RestoreSystem Restore

• A restore point backs up key files (registry, A restore point backs up key files (registry, drivers, etc) to allow your to restore your PC to drivers, etc) to allow your to restore your PC to previous configuration.previous configuration.

• Typically this is done automatically by Typically this is done automatically by Windows when you install new software or Windows when you install new software or drivers.drivers.

• You can access System Restore to either You can access System Restore to either restore your computer to a prior configuration restore your computer to a prior configuration or to manually create a restore point byor to manually create a restore point by

• START START All Programs All Programs Accessories Accessories System Tools System Tools System Restore.System Restore.

• This is valuable protection but it consumes This is valuable protection but it consumes hard drive capacity – default is 6% of hard hard drive capacity – default is 6% of hard drive … you can adjust this.drive … you can adjust this.

• My Computer My Computer View System Information (or properties) View System Information (or properties) system restore system restore select drive select drive settings settings

Types of BackupsTypes of Backups

• Drive Image or Mirror BackupDrive Image or Mirror Backup• Copies Copies all all files from PC to backup … including OS files from PC to backup … including OS

and boot sector filesand boot sector files• Allows you to restore system to look exactly like it Allows you to restore system to look exactly like it

is at the time of the backup without installing files is at the time of the backup without installing files one at a timeone at a time

• INCREMENTAL and DIFFERENTIAL backups can be INCREMENTAL and DIFFERENTIAL backups can be done after a full backup to reduce space and timedone after a full backup to reduce space and time

• Incremental – all files since last incremental or fullIncremental – all files since last incremental or full• Differential – all files since last full.Differential – all files since last full.

• Restoring with incremental or differential backups Restoring with incremental or differential backups requires multiple steps but will still provide full requires multiple steps but will still provide full restorerestore

What should you back up?What should you back up?

• CRITICAL - Personal files or dataCRITICAL - Personal files or data• These are files and documents that you These are files and documents that you

create or obtain from some outside create or obtain from some outside source – documents, music, pictures, etcsource – documents, music, pictures, etc

• For most people this is the most For most people this is the most important category since it is the most important category since it is the most personalpersonal

• Use file backup utilityUse file backup utility

What should you back up?What should you back up?

• Software/ProgramsSoftware/Programs• Typically you can reinstall software that Typically you can reinstall software that

becomes corrupted but it is time becomes corrupted but it is time consumingconsuming

• Also most software allows customization Also most software allows customization that will be lost if it is reinstalledthat will be lost if it is reinstalled

• Software backup is less critical because Software backup is less critical because it can be recreatedit can be recreated

What should you back up?What should you back up?

• Operating systemOperating system• Generally WINDOWSGenerally WINDOWS

• Includes your preferences and customizationIncludes your preferences and customization• What opens when you start upWhat opens when you start up• What the desktop looks like …. etcWhat the desktop looks like …. etc

• Hardware DriversHardware Drivers• Every user has different monitors, printers, modems, Every user has different monitors, printers, modems,

scanners, etc that have to be configured to your scanners, etc that have to be configured to your preference using these drivers preference using these drivers

• Boot sector files Boot sector files • Tells PC how to start up before Windows is loadedTells PC how to start up before Windows is loaded

• This info is mostly contained in Restore Point.This info is mostly contained in Restore Point.

HardwareHardware

• Large choice of media for backupsLarge choice of media for backups• CD’sCD’s

• Cheap and will hold most personal dataCheap and will hold most personal data• Almost all PCs come with burnersAlmost all PCs come with burners• Burner software allows you some ease of useBurner software allows you some ease of use

• DVD’s DVD’s • More expensive but still not bad More expensive but still not bad • Will allow you to store significant number of Will allow you to store significant number of

audio and image filesaudio and image files• Many PCs have burners and software.Many PCs have burners and software.

HardwareHardware• Additional MediaAdditional Media

• Flash DrivesFlash Drives• Easy to useEasy to use• Can handle short term backups and file transfersCan handle short term backups and file transfers

• Internal Hard DriveInternal Hard Drive• Can hold multiple image backupsCan hold multiple image backups• Fairly expensive but prices are droppingFairly expensive but prices are dropping• Susceptible to Power surge failure in PCSusceptible to Power surge failure in PC

• External Hard DriveExternal Hard Drive• Similar to Internal Hard Drive but can be unplugged Similar to Internal Hard Drive but can be unplugged

from PC/power and not be susceptible to power surges.from PC/power and not be susceptible to power surges.• Easy to connect via USB portEasy to connect via USB port

• OTHER OTHER • diskettes and tapes … obsolete?diskettes and tapes … obsolete?• On line … available … I prefer to physically control my On line … available … I prefer to physically control my

mediamedia

SoftwareSoftware• File Backup UtilitiesFile Backup Utilities

• Microsoft Backup Utility Included in Windows Microsoft Backup Utility Included in Windows START START All Programs All Programs Accessories Accessories System Tools System Tools Backup Backup …… use backup wizard…… use backup wizard

• Note: during the presentation I learned that this backup utility is not Note: during the presentation I learned that this backup utility is not automatically loaded when Windows is installed but it is included on automatically loaded when Windows is installed but it is included on the Windows disk. The following link explains how to load it … the Windows disk. The following link explains how to load it … http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx

• CD R/W utility you can generally save a backup CD R/W utility you can generally save a backup profile and use it often to save info.profile and use it often to save info.

• Lots of commercial software (including free Lots of commercial software (including free utilities) that help you configure and schedule utilities) that help you configure and schedule file backupfile backup

• Check freeware sitesCheck freeware sites• Image BackupsImage Backups

• Plenty to choose fromPlenty to choose from• http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.cohttp://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.co

m/m/• http://data-backup-software-http://data-backup-software-

review.toptenreviews.comreview.toptenreviews.com//

Tips and SuggestionsTips and Suggestions• Determine your backup needsDetermine your backup needs

• Not everyone needs Image backupsNot everyone needs Image backups• Back up just personal files if you are a casual userBack up just personal files if you are a casual user

• You use computer for Email and internetYou use computer for Email and internet• You have installed only a few Software programsYou have installed only a few Software programs

• Do image backup if you use your PC for a lot of tasksDo image backup if you use your PC for a lot of tasks• You have a lot of software installedYou have a lot of software installed• You You createcreate a lot of files a lot of files

• Organize your Hard DriveOrganize your Hard Drive• Save Save ALLALL personal info to MY DOCUMENTS personal info to MY DOCUMENTS

• Most Microsoft documents are saved hereMost Microsoft documents are saved here• Other Software may save to a different default location … Other Software may save to a different default location …

change default to MY DOCUMENTSchange default to MY DOCUMENTS• You can create subfolders in MY DOCUMENTS to locate You can create subfolders in MY DOCUMENTS to locate

files.files.• Then back up MY DOCUMENTS frequently … weekly Then back up MY DOCUMENTS frequently … weekly

Tips and SuggestionsTips and Suggestions• Clean up before you backupClean up before you backup

• If your plan is to do a full backup or image If your plan is to do a full backup or image then take a few minutes to delete junkthen take a few minutes to delete junk

• Run Disk Cleanup Run Disk Cleanup • START START All Programs All Programs Accessories Accessories System Tools System Tools

Disk Cleanup … read description and follow Disk Cleanup … read description and follow suggestionssuggestions

• Clear any files that you don’t wantClear any files that you don’t want• Run Image Backup about monthly … Run Image Backup about monthly …

incremental backups weeklyincremental backups weekly• If you are paranoid about losing data … run If you are paranoid about losing data … run

more frequently.more frequently.Note: While it should not effect the backup this would also be a good time to Note: While it should not effect the backup this would also be a good time to

check to see if your disk is fragmented … check to see if your disk is fragmented … START START All Programs All Programs Accessories Accessories System Tools System Tools Disk Defragmenter …. Disk Defragmenter …. Run AnalyzeRun Analyze

Acronis True ImageAcronis True Image

• DemoDemo