| If you have a computer for home use or for | | | | I also use a data backup software and create |
| your business and don't take comprehensive | | | | a full backup of the hard disk on consecutive |
| backup for full protection then you are in | | | | DVD's. |
| the danger-zone. Maybe you do not take any | | | | |
| backup at all. | | | | This is a standard disk backup. With this |
| | | | backup I'm able to restore any files and/or |
| You can find in Windows a basic backup | | | | folders. |
| utility which are installed during the | | | | |
| installation. | | | | I can also move the data to another computer. |
| | | | |
| I should say for all Windows...,but in fact | | | | 3. Regular scheduled backup of files and |
| it is not included during the installation of | | | | folder. |
| Windows XP Home Edition. | | | | |
| | | | Here I use the same software product I use |
| It is as if Microsoft thinks that data | | | | for the full disk backup. I make with this |
| protection is not necessary for home | | | | software regular schedule backups of the |
| computers and computers used by small | | | | files and folders I work with. |
| businesses. | | | | |
| | | | In my case they include My Documents, Outlook |
| It is true that hard drives are becoming less | | | | emails and other files that are modified over |
| prone to hard disk crashes. | | | | time. |
| | | | |
| But, if you consider not only hard disk | | | | I do this by keeping a permanent rewritable |
| crashes, but also virus infection, theft plus | | | | DVD inside the DVD burner. |
| other treats, then you realize the importance | | | | |
| of implementing a full-proof backup strategy | | | | I then rotate a number of DVD's for this |
| for your computer. | | | | purpose so I can keep copies away from the |
| | | | computer. |
| Today many computers are equipped with a DVD | | | | |
| burner, yet most do not use it to manage | | | | Whenever I install important new programs |
| their vital data backup. The amount of data | | | | from the Internet or I make other major |
| you can store on a single DVD is several Giga | | | | changes to my system I'll also create a new |
| Byte. | | | | disk image backup and a full hard disk |
| | | | backup. |
| There are many types of backup you can make. | | | | |
| | | | You should use a DVD burner that is built for |
| Here are the steps that I take myself to | | | | rewritable DVDs. |
| fully secure my data against data loss: | | | | |
| | | | Unfortunately there are several competing DVD |
| 1. Disk image backup. | | | | standards on the market. |
| | | | |
| I use a disk image backup software and make a | | | | The DVD-R, DVD-R and DVD-RAM standards |
| complete image backup of the disk on | | | | supports DVDs which only can be written to |
| consecutive DVDs. | | | | once and can't be reused and those standards |
| | | | should be avoided. |
| I also create an emergency rescue CD. | | | | |
| | | | The DVD player should instead support at |
| If I have a hard disk crash I'll use this | | | | least one rewritable DVDs standard. |
| emergency CD to boot from. | | | | |
| | | | Either DVD-RW or DVD+RW. |
| But, first I have to install and setup a new | | | | |
| hard disk that is working. | | | | Conclusion: |
| | | | |
| Then I can recreate the data directly back | | | | I use regular schedule backup to backup the |
| from this backup stored on the DVDs. | | | | data files I work with on a daily basis. |
| | | | |
| This work is made fast and without the need | | | | I'll make a disk image backup so that in case |
| to spend time installing both the operation | | | | of a hard disk failure I will be back in |
| system and the backup software. | | | | business fast. |
| | | | |
| Everything is instead copied directly into | | | | I also create a full disk backup so that I |
| the hard disk from the DVD's. | | | | will be able to restore individual files or |
| | | | folders. It makes it also possible to move |
| 2. Full hard disk backup. | | | | the data to another computer. |
| | | | |