| Its just a matter of time before you experience a hard | | | | You will also want to include your email data. Don't |
| drive problem. Are you prepared to loose your data? If | | | | forget to write down the email accounts you have. |
| your hard drive crashed right now do you have an | | | | You should also write down any username and |
| action plan to follow? | | | | passwords so they are not lost. You should look at |
| Most people only think of backing up their data after | | | | every directory to see if it has information that you |
| they experience a problem. Don't set yourself up for a | | | | would need. |
| data loss disaster. | | | | Make a list of all the software programs you are using. |
| Your data integrity action plan should consist of the | | | | If you have the physical CDs put them all together in a |
| following: | | | | safe location. |
| 1) How often you will back up your data | | | | Don't forget the CDs for your peripherals like your |
| 2) What data you will back up | | | | scanner, digital camera, PDA etc... Collecting these CDs |
| 3) What back up procedure you will use | | | | may remind you of additional data that you need to |
| How often you back up your data can only be | | | | back up. |
| determined by how important you feel it is. Answer | | | | If you are running software that you installed from |
| this question "If my hard drive crashed right now, I | | | | downloaded files, burn them to a CD-R and add it to |
| would be alright if I had the data from at least (time) | | | | your collection. If you use a CD-R or DVD-R you can |
| ago". | | | | update it as you download and install new applications. |
| Of course you would want everything but if you could | | | | What procedure you use to back up your data can be |
| have the data from 1 month, or 6 months ago would | | | | determined by the amount of data you want to back |
| that be sufficient? Whatever time is sufficient mark it | | | | up. Your data might fit onto a CD or DVD in which |
| on your calendar both a hard copy and set up a | | | | case you just need to burn it and you're done. |
| meeting on your PC to remind you. | | | | If it spans multiple DVDs then you might want to |
| You change your smoke detector batteries when you | | | | consider getting a second hard drive to copy your |
| turn your clock back and when you turn it ahead right? | | | | data onto. If you are not comfortable with adding a |
| Well back up your data then too. | | | | second internal hard drive or you are using a laptop |
| If you don't change your clocks then pick some | | | | then you can purchase an external hard drive to back |
| holidays or special dates that happen close to the | | | | up your data. |
| timeframe you want to back up your data so you | | | | The information you have on your hard drive could |
| won't forget. | | | | disappear in a flash. If you don't want to spend up to |
| What data you back up depends on how you use | | | | $3,000 to have a data recovery company retrieve |
| your PC. Some of the key directories, if you are using | | | | what information they can from your hard drive, then |
| Windows, are the My Documents, Favorites and | | | | take a few minutes right now and create your back |
| Desktop directories. | | | | up action plan. |
| Remember if you are using multiple profiles on your | | | | If you ever have a data emergency your action plan |
| PC then the three directories above can be different | | | | will be your insurance policy. If you adhere to it, your |
| for each profile and each one would need to be | | | | valuable data will adhere to you! |
| backed up. | | | | |