Nowadays, people regularly use computers to store their memories in digital format, create and manage important documents and process sensitive and personal data and many other information that should be kept safe for a long period of time. To prevent this data from being lost, it is a good idea to back up your computer on a regular basis.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Computer (Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10)
Step 1. Find an appropriate memory drive for backup
You need to use a storage device that can host all the data you want to back up. As a general rule, it is good to have a memory unit with at least double the capacity of the hard disk where the data to be saved is present. The best option is an external hard drive. It is a very simple type of device to find and purchase.
Alternatively, you can partition your computer hard drive and use one of the partitions as a backup drive. In this case it should be noted that this is a risky and unsafe solution, since the files would still be exposed to risks related to viruses, malware or hardware failure
Step 2. Connect the memory drive to the computer
Use the USB data cable that came with the device at the time of purchase (or the type of connection linked to the drive you are using) to connect with the computer where the data to be saved resides. Once the physical connection is established, the drive should be automatically detected by the operating system and a dialog box showing possible actions should appear on the screen. One of the options available should allow you to use the memory drive to back up your computer using the "File History" program. Choose this option.
If the indicated dialog box does not appear automatically, you will have to manually configure the backup procedure by starting the "File History" program. It is one of the icons in the Windows "Control Panel"
Step 3. Configure Advanced Settings
When the "File History" program is running you may need to change some configuration settings found in the "Advanced Settings" section. Its link is located in the upper left part of the "Control Panel". This will give you the ability to change how often to back up your data, how long the backup files need to be kept on your system and how much storage space to dedicate to them.
Step 4. Select the backup drive
After configuring the "Advanced Settings" correctly, make sure the right memory drive is selected to back up (the external hard drive you just connected to your computer should be selected automatically).
Step 5. Press the "Activate" button
After you have successfully configured the backup settings, press the "Activate" button. This way the data backup process should start automatically. Remember that the first time you back up it will take a long time for the procedure to finish. It might be best to start it at night or before going to work so you don't need to use your computer while backing up your data.
Part 2 of 6: Mac (OS X Leopard and Later)
Step 1. Find an appropriate memory drive for backup
You need to use a storage device that can host all the data you want to back up. As a general rule, it is advisable to have a memory unit with a capacity at least double that of the hard disk where the data to be saved is present. The best option is an external hard drive. It is a very simple type of device to find and buy.
Alternatively, you can partition your computer hard drive and use one of the partitions as a backup drive. In this case it should be noted that this is a risky and unsafe solution, since the files would still be exposed to risks related to viruses, malware or hardware failure
Step 2. Connect the memory drive to the computer
Use the USB data cable that came with the device at the time of purchase (or the type of connection linked to the drive you are using) to connect with the computer where the data to be saved resides. Once the physical connection is established, the drive should be automatically detected by the operating system and a dialog box should appear on the screen asking if you want to use it to back up using "Time Machine". Choose whether you want to encrypt the disc or not, then press the "Use as backup disc" button.
If the backup drive is not automatically detected, you can perform the procedure manually. Start the "Time Machine" program from the "System Preferences" window
Step 3. Wait for the backup process to finish
The process of saving the data on your Mac will take place automatically, so do not intervene and let it do its job. Remember that the first time you back up it will take a long time for the procedure to finish. It might be best to start it at night or before going to work so you don't need to use your computer while backing up your data. This way you won't have to wait to be able to use your Mac again.
Step 4. Change the "Time Machine" configuration settings
Access the control panel using the "System Preferences" window. Press the "Options" button in the lower right corner of the program window to choose which items to exclude from the backup, manage application notifications and configure battery power saving.
Part 3 of 6: iPad
Step 1. Connect your device to your computer using the appropriate USB cable, then launch iTunes
Make sure you are using the most up-to-date version of the program created by Apple. Also remember that the computer you will use to back up the data on the iPad will also be where the resulting files will be kept, so be sure to choose a suitable machine for this purpose.
Step 2. Access the "File" menu
Step 3. Select the "Devices" option, then choose the "Backup" item
Step 4. Choose the folder to store the backup file
On the left side of the "Backup" section you can choose whether to transfer the backup file to the cloud or to keep it on your computer.
Step 5. Press the "Back Up Now" button to start the automatic backup procedure
Part 4 of 6: Galaxy Tab
Step 1. Launch the Device Settings app
Step 2. Choose the "Accounts and Synchronization" category
Step 3. Make sure all the data you want to backup is checked
Remember that in this case, you can only save certain categories of specific items. If you need to backup a certain file, you will need to use the next method in the article.
Step 4. Press the green button to start synchronization
It is placed next to your Google account name. All selected items will be synchronized with the latter. Once the sync is complete, press the "Back" button to resume using your device normally.
Part 5 of 6: Backing Up Specific Files
Step 1. Locate a memory drive suitable for the purpose
You can use a USB stick, an external hard drive, a clouding service, a CD / DVD or any device that can store data. The choice of the medium to use for the backup depends on the amount of data to be saved and the level of security you need.
Step 2. Copy the files to save into a folder
Copy all the files and data you want to back up into a folder on your computer. Depending on your needs you can opt to use a multiple folder structure in which to store data, for example based on their nature.
By grouping the files into a single folder, it will be much easier to transfer them and will decrease the chances of accidentally excluding some items from the backup in the case of a large number of files. Also in this way you can isolate the backup data from all other information already present in the memory unit you are using
Step 3. Create a compressed archive
If you want the backup files to take up as little disk space as possible, you can compress them into a ZIP archive. This step is very useful especially if you need to save a large amount of data or have to manage large files.
Step 4. Secure your information
You can choose to encrypt the data or to protect access to the folder or ZIP file with a password. The choice depends on your needs. This is a recommended step if the data is of a sensitive nature or refers to personal information. Remember to keep your password in a safe place.
Step 5. Copy the folder or ZIP file to the backup device
After creating the folder or compressed archive for the data to be saved, transfer it to the drive you have chosen to back up. You can copy and paste them inside a folder on your device or you can transfer them to the clouding service you have selected (if you have opted for this solution).
Step 6. Connect the backup drive to another computer
If you have stored the backup files inside a USB stick or external hard drive, you can copy them to a second computer if you need to use the memory drive for other purposes or just to make sure that are not lost or destroyed.
Part 6 of 6: Using a Clouding Service
Step 1. Choose a good clouding service
Storing personal data online is an ever-expanding field because it allows users to save their files on remote servers and always have them available wherever they go. Using this solution as a data backup procedure allows you to increase its security and always have a backup available in case there is a need to restore a document, since all you need is a simple internet connection. On the web there are countless sites that offer this type of service, both free and paid, also including a large number of features:
- BackBlaze - offers unlimited space for your backups, but requires the payment of a small monthly fee;
- Carbonite - is one of the most established online backup services and offers unlimited space to store your backups. Also in this case, a small monthly fee is required. Carbonite is also famous for the automatic backup solution it offers to its customers;
- SOS Online Backup - this is also one of the first online backup services to appear on the web and offers unlimited storage space for all accounts.
Step 2. Understand the difference between an online data storage service and an online backup service
Tools such as Google Drive, SkyDrive (OneDrive) and DropBox offer the possibility to store your data online, but do not provide automatic procedures that allow you to keep them updated. Files are synced with all devices linked to the user account, which means that when a file is removed from the cloud it is automatically deleted on all synced devices. This type of service doesn't even offer a file versioning feature, which means you won't be able to restore a previous version of a given file.
These are certainly excellent services for free archiving of your data on the web, but they cannot be compared or used as real online backup services. In this case you will have to perform and manage your backups completely manually
Step 3. Check the security level of the service you want to use
Any reliable online backup service worthy of the name should encrypt all files passing through its servers. In other words, they will only be able to access the backup metadata in clear text, such as the names of the folders or files and their size, but not the content that should only be accessible by the end user, that is you.
Many backup services use private keys for data encryption. This means that the security level is very high. However, when you forget your password, you will no longer have access to the data. In this scenario, the private key, used to encrypt the data, is not recoverable in any way, so if it is lost or forgotten, the data will no longer be usable by anyone
Step 4. Schedule the backup to run
Almost all online backup services have a software client or web interface that allows the user to set when and how often the backup is to be performed. Schedule data backup according to your needs. If you make a lot of changes to your data and you do it frequently, you may want to opt for a daily nightly backup. If you rarely use your computer, you could opt for a weekly or even monthly backup.
It is important to schedule the backup to run at a time of day when you don't need to use your computer. Remember that the backup procedure requires a great deal of time and hardware resources to complete
Advice
- Before resuming normal use of your computer, make sure that the backup procedure has been completed successfully.
- Plan to back up all your important files on a regular basis. Depending on how often you use your computer and the changes that your files undergo, most backup programs can be configured to start automatically as often as you like. Simply make sure that the drives that will host the backup files are always ready for use and that the computer is up and running at the time you plan to back up.
- Keep your backup drive and all your electronic devices away from environmental hazards. Based on the importance of the data, it can be helpful to keep it in a fireproof and safe environment. If you are dealing with files that are not of critical importance to your work and private life, you can opt to keep them in a normal desk or filing cabinet. Consider using backup systems that do not reside in the same location as the original data.
- Backing up an entire computer can take a long time, especially if you have a lot of data to keep. Plan to back up your data at a time when you can leave your computer on without needing to use it.
- Set a reminder on the electronic calendar so you know each month when to back up your data and test its correctness and functionality. There is nothing worse than thinking that you have your files correctly saved on a backup drive and find that in reality this is not the case or that the backup is not up to date or has not been done when a device breaks down irretrievably (e.g. computer hard drive).
- A good backup strategy is to use several methods by which to save your data and to always check the correctness of the backup files and the restore procedure.
Warnings
- While the backup procedure is running, do not use the computer. By modifying the file system structure of the hard drive during the backup phase you will not be able to know which version of a given file was included in the backup or not and you risk interrupting the saving procedure or corrupting the resulting files. Furthermore, the normal functioning of the system will be slower than usual.
- Do not leave the drive on which you have saved the backups in an unsuitable environment (for example that tends to get wet during rains) and not air-conditioned. Computers, like any other electronic device, are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity of the environment, so if left in particularly adverse conditions there is a real possibility that the backup files will become corrupted.
