How to Backup Onto a Flash Drive
Backing up your files onto a flash drive allows you to recover files almost instantly. Both Mac and Windows systems contain helpful built-in tools for this purpose. In previous decades the limited storage capacities of floppy disks and CDs prevented a simple backup, but the advent of portable flash drives that can hold from one to 32 gigabytes of storage space or larger means that you can keep most, if not all, of your files in one place.
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Instructions
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Windows
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Insert your flash drive in a USB port on your computer.
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Open the Backup and Restore program. In Windows 7, open the Control Panel and click "Back up your computer" from the "System and Security" section. If using Windows XP, click "Start", go to the "All Programs" list, and then to "Accessories." Slide your mouse down to "System Tools" and click "Backup".
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Select the details of your backup. Click "Set up backup" in Windows 7. Select the drive letter of your flash drive and click "Next". In Windows XP click "Next" in the Backup and Restore Wizard. Select the "Back up files and settings" radio button and click "Next".
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Select pre-defined settings to enable Windows to backup default Windows folders and directories (e.g., My Libraries folders) or select the "Let me choose" radio button. Click "Next". Select your flash drive letter from the drop-down menu if using Windows XP, and click "Next".
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Select the items to back up if you've told Windows you want to choose on your own. Place a checkmark in the boxes next to each folder or directory location you want to back up onto your flash drive. Click "Next".
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Click "Finish" or "Save settings and run backup" to start the backup. Wait for Windows to alert you that the backup process has completed. Click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the taskbar next to the system clock and select your flash drive to eject it. Wait for the Windows notification telling you that it is safe to remove your flash drive before removing it from the USB port.
Mac OS X
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Insert a flash drive in a port on your Mac.
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Select "System Preferences" from the Apple menu. Click "Time Machine" from the "System" section to open the Time Machine application.
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Click "Choose Backup Disk". Select your flash drive from the list, and then click "Use for Backup".
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Click "Options" in the Time Machine application. Select the files and folders which you want to exclude from the backup process. Click "Done".
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Select "Back Up Now" from the Time Machine menu. Wait until the backup process is complete. Drag the white USB drive icon to the Trash located on the Dock to eject the drive. Remove the flash drive from your Mac after its icon no longer appears on the desktop.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a regular backup schedule so that you can preserve current information and files.
References
Resources
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