Learn How to Back Up Your Computer
The more we rely on computers, the more valuable the data on them becomes, and the more painful it is when something goes wrong. While data recovery is possible after a crash, it's far better to back up regularly before disaster strikes. Here's how.
Use an External Hard Drive
External drives offer a lot of storage for relatively little money. They connect via USB 3.0, FireWire, or Thunderbolt and make it easy to back up your most important data quickly.
Drives range from a few gigabytes up to 8TB, so one large drive can handle backups for multiple computers. Just keep in mind that hard drives can fail too; if you have critical data, use multiple smaller drives rather than putting everything on one.
Use Your Computer's Built-In Backup System
If you're using an external drive, take advantage of your operating system's built-in backup tools:
- Mac: Time Machine clones your entire drive, including settings and user data, and takes regular snapshots so you can restore to a specific point in time.
- Windows: Backup and Restore does the same, though it's slightly less intuitive than Time Machine.
- Linux: No built-in tool, but plenty of free options are available for download.
Automated backups take the guesswork out of the process. Set it and forget it: everything is copied without you having to remember.
Use Online Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is best suited for your most important files and folders. Your data is stored on a professional server (far less likely to fail than an individual hard drive) and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Most providers offer automatic sync, so your backed-up data is never more than a few hours old. The main downside: you need a reliable internet connection to both upload and retrieve files.
Use an SD Card or USB Flash Drive
Flash drives and SD cards are highly portable and inexpensive. A flash drive on your keychain gives you a copy of critical files at all times.
Buy a reputable brand like SanDisk or Kingston, and choose a design with a cap or retractable connector to protect against damage. SD cards offer faster write speeds and higher reliability, and many tablets include an SD card reader, giving you more ways to access your data in a pinch.
Back Up Regularly: That's the Most Important Part
Whichever solution you choose, consistent backups matter more than the method. A good approach:
- Set your computer's automatic backup to run at least once a day.
- Keep a second copy of your most important files on a portable device.
- Test your backups occasionally to confirm they actually work.
Once the habit is formed, it's barely any extra work, and it can save you enormous stress and expense if your computer ever fails.
By David Molnar