How to Backup Your Computer Files

Once data is lost, it is difficult to recover. Having a good backup provides you with an important safety net. To backup your files simply means copying files to a second medium as a precaution in case the first medium fails.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Floppy disk, hard disk, zip disk, CD, or tape.
• Computer

1. Insert floppy disk, hard disk, zip disk, CD, or tape into your computer.

2. Select and right click the documents you would like to backup or save.

3. Select copy.

4. Go to my computer and open up that file.

5. Find the device that you would like to save it to (i.e. floppy disk, hard disk, zip disk, CD, or tape).

6. Once you have found the device right click it and select paste.

7. Give your computer time to download or compy the information you are backing up and remove the device.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your backups. Make sure that the tape or disk actually contains the files you think they do. Test your backup by trying to restore a file or two.

• Keep four or five disks, tapes, or sets of disks or tapes for your backups.

• Proper labeling is also an important part of backing up. Be sure to label your tape or disk with the date and contents.

• Keep all of your program disks together so you can find them when you need them.

• Keep your backups in a safe place. If you consider your data extremely important, you should keep a copy offsite, in a safe deposit box, or another location protected from theft or fire.