Are You Prepared For A Hard Drive Crash?

Its just a matter of time before you experience a hardYou will also want to include your email data. Don't
drive problem. Are you prepared to loose your data? Ifforget to write down the email accounts you have.
your hard drive crashed right now do you have anYou 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 afterevery directory to see if it has information that you
they experience a problem. Don't set yourself up for awould need.
data loss disaster.Make a list of all the software programs you are using.
Your data integrity action plan should consist of theIf you have the physical CDs put them all together in a
following:safe location.
1) How often you will back up your dataDon't forget the CDs for your peripherals like your
2) What data you will back upscanner, digital camera, PDA etc... Collecting these CDs
3) What back up procedure you will usemay remind you of additional data that you need to
How often you back up your data can only beback up.
determined by how important you feel it is. AnswerIf you are running software that you installed from
this question "If my hard drive crashed right now, Idownloaded 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 couldWhat procedure you use to back up your data can be
have the data from 1 month, or 6 months ago woulddetermined by the amount of data you want to back
that be sufficient? Whatever time is sufficient mark itup. Your data might fit onto a CD or DVD in which
on your calendar both a hard copy and set up acase 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 youconsider 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 somethen you can purchase an external hard drive to back
holidays or special dates that happen close to theup your data.
timeframe you want to back up your data so youThe 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 usingwhat information they can from your hard drive, then
Windows, are the My Documents, Favorites andtake a few minutes right now and create your back
Desktop directories.up action plan.
Remember if you are using multiple profiles on yourIf you ever have a data emergency your action plan
PC then the three directories above can be differentwill be your insurance policy. If you adhere to it, your
for each profile and each one would need to bevaluable data will adhere to you!
backed up.