http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998 We all use computers for many activities. Some use it for entertainment purposes or keeping in touch with friends or family, while others may use it as their primary business tool to store their critical information. Whatever the reason may be, your data is very important to you and losing it especially in a business environment, can really be frustrating. PCs can become infected with Viruses or Spyware that can possibly wipe out many files on your hard drive, or perhaps you may have accidentally deleted files you thought you would never have any intended use for again. When in the future you find out you really did need those files, this is when using computers for storing data can put a hamper on you and your work. Which is why backing up your data could never be less important. But there are ways to back up your data safely, and there are ways to back up your data which are not safe. The easiest ways of safely backing up your data easily is to buy a CD with a large quantity of free disk space available or possibly think of investing in an external hard drive that is compatible with your USB which will be large enough to hold your data. Even using web sites with uploading services are a great free alternative. Depending on a user's storing habits, every two to four weeks would be a great time to backup data on your PC. Every user that is using their PC on a regular basis and has alot of important or confidential data, needs to be backed up routinely. Next week I will cover the dangerous ways and bad habits users can pick up when backing up their data. We all use computers for many activities. Some use it for entertainment purposes or keeping in touch with friends or family, while others may use it as their primary business tool to store their critical information. Whatever the reason may be, your data is very important to you and losing it especially in a business environment, can really be frustrating. PCs can become infected with Viruses or Spyware that can possibly wipe out many files on your hard drive, or perhaps you may have accidentally deleted files you thought you would never have any intended use for again. When in the future you find out you really did need those files, this is when using computers for storing data can put a hamper on you and your work. Which is why backing up your data could never be less important. But there are ways to back up your data safely, and there are ways to back up your data which are not safe. The easiest ways of safely backing up your data easily is to buy a CD with a large quantity of free disk space available or possibly think of investing in an external hard drive that is compatible with your USB which will be large enough to hold your data. Even using web sites with uploading services are a great free alternative. Depending on a user's storing habits, every two to four weeks would be a great time to backup data on your PC. Every user that is using their PC on a regular basis and has alot of important or confidential data, needs to be backed up routinely. Next week I will cover the dangerous ways and bad habits users can pick up when backing up their data. en-us HEHEH ive had a mac for 15 years and had not have problems with viruses or spyware, with the new Macbook pros able to run windows maybe people should reconsider SWITCHING. But i do agree u should back up regulary because even thou the computer is safe, a bad hard drive stinks. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9170 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9170 HEHEH ive had a mac for 15 years and had not have problems with viruses or spyware, with the new Macbook pros able to run windows maybe people should reconsider SWITCHING. But i do agree u should back up regulary because even thou the computer is safe, a bad hard drive stinks. <p>Good blog&nbsp;msgherzi.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is good advice people should pay attention to. Most people learn the hard way about the importance of backing up. Another good solution is to install a second physical hard drive. It is cheap insurance. And automate everything you can. For instance, I use MS Money for banking. I have it set to back up the data file to my second hard drive every time I close the program. Also you can use XP's backup utility to schedule regular backups of selected files or the whole hard drive if you wish. There is also freeware out there that will do the same thing. <br /> Hey Sparks....You're a geek...you should make this blog a place where you add&nbsp;some wisdom. Sounds like msgherzi is going to pick a different topic each week. I'd like to see you here.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9298 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9298 <p>Good blog&nbsp;msgherzi.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is good advice people should pay attention to. Most people learn the hard way about the importance of backing up. Another good solution is to install a second physical hard drive. It is cheap insurance. And automate everything you can. For instance, I use MS Money for banking. I have it set to back up the data file to my second hard drive every time I close the program. Also you can use XP's backup utility to schedule regular backups of selected files or the whole hard drive if you wish. There is also freeware out there that will do the same thing. <br /> Hey Sparks....You're a geek...you should make this blog a place where you add&nbsp;some wisdom. Sounds like msgherzi is going to pick a different topic each week. I'd like to see you here.</p> <p>Blaze, you trying to keep me outta twubble by keeping me busy?&nbsp;&lt;grin&gt;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sure I can open up a computer Q&amp;A Blog, although it seems like yaso is the smart one... he has a MacIntosh!!!!&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p>OK, let me see if I can add to this topic:</p> <p><strong>Keep the&nbsp;software that came with your computer in a safe place.</strong>&nbsp; This is very important in case you do get a virus and have to restore your computer back to it's original state.&nbsp;<strong>Buy a&nbsp; thumb drive</strong>.&nbsp; Thumb drives are truly as small as your thumb, you can carry them in your pocket, you can add to/delete&nbsp;from, and edit your files on thumb drives. AND, they only cost about $10.00.&nbsp; (You can get a thumb drive that has up to 1 gb of space).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Simply insert the thumb drive into a free usb slot and drag whatever pictures, media files and documents that&nbsp;you want to save over to it.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is the simple way of saving some data, although not the best or most complete way.&nbsp; <strong>Doing a complete back up as suggested by Mathew will insure that you will not lose any new software that you installed&nbsp;after you first bought your computer.</strong></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9304 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9304 <p>Blaze, you trying to keep me outta twubble by keeping me busy?&nbsp;&lt;grin&gt;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sure I can open up a computer Q&amp;A Blog, although it seems like yaso is the smart one... he has a MacIntosh!!!!&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p>OK, let me see if I can add to this topic:</p> <p><strong>Keep the&nbsp;software that came with your computer in a safe place.</strong>&nbsp; This is very important in case you do get a virus and have to restore your computer back to it's original state.&nbsp;<strong>Buy a&nbsp; thumb drive</strong>.&nbsp; Thumb drives are truly as small as your thumb, you can carry them in your pocket, you can add to/delete&nbsp;from, and edit your files on thumb drives. AND, they only cost about $10.00.&nbsp; (You can get a thumb drive that has up to 1 gb of space).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Simply insert the thumb drive into a free usb slot and drag whatever pictures, media files and documents that&nbsp;you want to save over to it.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is the simple way of saving some data, although not the best or most complete way.&nbsp; <strong>Doing a complete back up as suggested by Mathew will insure that you will not lose any new software that you installed&nbsp;after you first bought your computer.</strong></p> That's great advise Sparks...Thumb drives are very durable too. I lost mine one time and found it in the wash. IT STILL WORKED! Try that with a hard drive! :-) http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9305 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9305 That's great advise Sparks...Thumb drives are very durable too. I lost mine one time and found it in the wash. IT STILL WORKED! Try that with a hard drive! :-) <p>Blaze you are too dayum cute...&nbsp; lol</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9306 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9306 <p>Blaze you are too dayum cute...&nbsp; lol</p> I don't know about that. Just look at my picture...I could use some braces! (or brace) :-) http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9308 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9308 I don't know about that. Just look at my picture...I could use some braces! (or brace) :-) In reply to yasobich, Macintosh's are great machine's, I have one myself. And while having a Macintosh I've learned some about how they operate and fixing some different errors and issues, but I don't know if having people switch from a windows machine to an entire new operating system is a viable solution to fixing issues like spyware, and adware, etc. If you are an experienced user when using windows, or even a novice, these problems are easier to solve than you might want to believe. I think today as more and more people use windows you almost 'have' to have some knowledge in protecting yourself. The best protection is to not get infected to begin with, but this could be another whole other topic that I'll leave for a future point and time. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9319 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9319 In reply to yasobich, Macintosh's are great machine's, I have one myself. And while having a Macintosh I've learned some about how they operate and fixing some different errors and issues, but I don't know if having people switch from a windows machine to an entire new operating system is a viable solution to fixing issues like spyware, and adware, etc. If you are an experienced user when using windows, or even a novice, these problems are easier to solve than you might want to believe. I think today as more and more people use windows you almost 'have' to have some knowledge in protecting yourself. The best protection is to not get infected to begin with, but this could be another whole other topic that I'll leave for a future point and time. <p>For FREE data recovery tips visit <a href="http://www.datarecoveryi.com">data recovery</a> forum.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9434 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_9434 <p>For FREE data recovery tips visit <a href="http://www.datarecoveryi.com">data recovery</a> forum.</p> Hey msgherzi, are you going to have a part 2 and 3 etc? I thought this would be a good on going blog about do's and don'ts of computing. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_10040 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_10040 Hey msgherzi, are you going to have a part 2 and 3 etc? I thought this would be a good on going blog about do's and don'ts of computing. I work with both Macs and PCs and there are benefits to both. I have a PC at home because for me, gaming and internet are easier. But for graphics, Macs are far preferable. I've found myself wanting to throw my PC out the window far more often than my Mac at work, but each have their own little problems. I have lost data on both and in either case, it all came down to my own stupidity for not backing up what's important. Anything I value, I make sure I copy. And because I have lost data enough times to learn, I try to keep all my computers at the point where nothing is irreplacible, so wiping out my hard drive and starting from scratch if I absolutely have to is a piece of cake. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_10044 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_10044 I work with both Macs and PCs and there are benefits to both. I have a PC at home because for me, gaming and internet are easier. But for graphics, Macs are far preferable. I've found myself wanting to throw my PC out the window far more often than my Mac at work, but each have their own little problems. I have lost data on both and in either case, it all came down to my own stupidity for not backing up what's important. Anything I value, I make sure I copy. And because I have lost data enough times to learn, I try to keep all my computers at the point where nothing is irreplacible, so wiping out my hard drive and starting from scratch if I absolutely have to is a piece of cake. Yes I'll be finishing this in a few days. I'm trying to get it published in the actual newspaper as of right now. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_10050 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/msgherzi/998/#c_10050 Yes I'll be finishing this in a few days. I'm trying to get it published in the actual newspaper as of right now.