Why and how should you back up your computer?

Answer 1

Here is why
1. you have a project and when you are just about to print it out, your computer blows up (hard drive dies, file gets corrupt you know what I mean :)
2. you have pictures from two years ago and your computer dies (hard drive)
basicly, if the hard drive dies, your info is lost
you never know when it will happen, you could delete it unintetionaly, get a virus, anytime. always be prepared.
as for how
1. norton ghost
2. copy your files to a usb, put them in your email, save to another computer
hope I helped!

Answer 2

WHY is easy, so that if you have a problem that requires reloading the operating system, you have a copy LATER than the "base" system supplied by reloading the OS.

HOW depends on several things. Most windows OS's have a "backup" program on the CD if not on the system. You can back up to a file on the HD, an external drive (HD, Tape); and/or make CD backups with some systems.

Myself, I have several partitions on my HD. I put the OS (and anything that HAS to load on the same drive) on the "C" drive. I put EVERYTHING else on other drives (partitions), such as transfers and downloads on "D", applications on "E", data on "F". I keep a "BASE" "C" backup and a MONTHLY complete backup of "C,E,& F" (except the backup files), and weekly "differential" backup in a file called "backups" on the "F" drive.
I ALSO make external copies of critical and data files regularly.
I ALSO keep a "tape" backup of the "C" base system for a "bootable" tape drive; AND a "recovery" disc on a RW CD for EACH of the TWO recovery programs on the system which I "update" monthly.

That way IF there is an OS problem, I can FORMAT the "C" drive and the "boot" sector, WITHOUT losing anything else. Then reload the base and then "update" it from backup, to the point it was at the time I made the last backup before the problem.

THIS procedure saves a WHOLE LOT OF TIME over having to reload everything separately, AND I don't loose my data either!

Of course, businesses SHOULD run DAILY backups of some type, on MULTIPLE media.

Answer 3

The onlything to really backup on your computer is if you download music, pictures, any documents you have on your hard-drive, etc. The best reason to use mydocuments to store all of your work as it will make backup easier. If your computer has a CD or DVD burner use it, if not you can use a USB thumb drive.

If you have ever typed anything and printed it and closed your wordprocessing program without saving and kicked yourself in the butt for doing so, then that's a huge reason for backups, in case your hard-drive crashes, your system crashes, or your computer is infected with a virus.

Answer 4

You should always keep backups of your data, a virus or disk failure will lose everything you have. The best backup method is to copy all your data (documents folders) to an external hard drive. You can set it up just by using drag and drop. The programs are not worth backing up, they will not run correctly without the full installation being run.

Answer 5

Read all the other answers and I will cut to the heart of it.
YOUR HARDDRIVE IS A MECHANICAL DEVICE AND WILL FAIL AT SOME POINT.
I would use software such as Ghost, and copy it to an external hard drive. You will end up with a carbon copy of your drive, one that can be Ghosted to another drive, and be up to date at the point at which you back up.

Answer 6

why? b/c say you have important data there and a virus gets is or you HARD DRIVE crashes what will you do....? nothing but cry i will say....
how there are website that allows you to back up your documents pics....you also have Cd's you can burn them and store them if you have a older computer you have Floopy disk although they are not the way to go...they can still help...

MOREOVER YOU CAN BUY AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE AND BACK UP YOU DATA THAT WAY THAT IS THE BEST WAY HOWEVER.....USB DRIVES ALL WILL WORK.....
AND WITH TECHNOLOGY ADVANCING SOON YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE BLUE RAY WHICH HOLDS 3-8 GIG TO BACK YOU DATA UP....SO THEY ARE OPTIONS....YOU CHOOSE THE BEST AND EFFECTIVE ONE....

Answer 7

norton ghost