Backing up computer ~ First time?

Question

Thanks for your earlier answers. I can get a memory stick but I have DVD's and thought to try that route first. However, I went into the Start menu to back up just now and it wouldn't let me (?) I have Nero too. It said..... "The backup file name could not be used. D:\backup.bkf" Please ensure a vialid path & sufficient access...(??)

Answer 1

why did you use the start menu? why not try your burning app and drag files on it. then insert a dvd. then click burn?

Answer 2

Backing up: what a sensible idea. Such a good thing to do that you really should do it properly.

In my opinion the best place to back up to is an external Hard Drive. So you should go buy one soon. In fact I have 2. One at my house, so I can access it quickly and one in a [secret] location where I go occasionally. Why 2? well what if I have a house fire, or someone burgles me and sees a shiny HD,they'd have that away for sure. Belt n Braces...

I use a great free application called syncexpert from: http://syncexp.com/

This is amazingly easy to do [if your back up procedure is not easy, you simply wont do it often enough]

Set up which folders you want to store. Remember the folder 'documents and settings' in C:\ holds all your important data, all the settings for all your applications and all your documents etc. [assuming you didn't move any of them!]

So you can simply copy this [c:\documents and settings] to your disk.

The thing with Syncexp is that it will update the files you've changed and ignore the ones you didn't, intuitively, from the rules you set up.

I use this everyday. And am glad I did. When I killed my laptop last week all I lost was money. All data there waiting to be uploaded and restored. Phew

Remember:

Your data is only as good as the last back-up.