Back up your files.

July 15, 2004

With the ever-increasing possibilities for data loss on a personal computer, the only effective defense is to back up your critical files. Bank records, databases, documents … toast these files to a CD for safe keeping.

I found that having a second hard drive for back-ups is effective as well. It’s speedy, and has a greater storage capacity than a CD or DVD. Special cables allow you to attach an internal hard drive to another computer’s USB port in case your primary hard drive or computer fails to boot one day. Files can also be overwritten, which prevents storage of mutiple copies and versions. And you can store it inside your computer, which is MUCH better than having miscellaneous, just-in-case disks floating around your desk.

Regularly scheduled updates are priceless and there are cables for everything out there. It’s worth the investment to be prepared.