Backing Up Your Files

Why should I make a backup copy of my files?

A backup is a duplicate copy of a file (or files) that has been made to protect against the loss of the first file. Remembering to back up your files 20 milliseconds after your hard drive crashes is not the most opportune time to do so. Backing up files does take time, but nowhere near as much time as recreating lost material.

What files should I back up?

The most important files to back up are your data files, such as files you created in applications like Word (.doc), Excel (.xls), or PowerPoint (.ppt). You should also back up your "Local Mail" (.pst) files that are saved on your hard drive.
If you are not sure what folder you have been saving your data files to, you should search your hard drive. In Windows XP, you can easily search your hard drive by going into the Start Menu and clicking Search. However, your files are most likely located in My Documents.

How often should I back up my files?

Using these two questions as guidelines, you may decide to backup certain files once a day, once a week, once a month, or once every few months. The decision is up to you.

How Critical are your data files?
How often do you update your data files?

How do I back up my files?
How to backup