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 Backing up your PC

Things to do: (discussed below)

• Buy a USB Hard Drive - Click here for the one I recommend, or use an online backup (see above)
• Move all important files into My Documents
• Move Outlook to My Documents - Click for instructions Click to print
• Move other programs "data" to My Documents
• Organize My Documents (yes, this can wait....)
• Create shortcuts to files and folders - Click for instructions
• Backup! - Click for instructions  Click to print
• Verify your backup - Click for instructions

I have a very simple method for backing up the important data on your computer.  So. let's define "important".  In my opinion, "important" covers all the files you created using programs on your computer, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher documents, pictures from your camera, files you downloaded from the internet.  "Important" also includes data from other programs.  Example:  Outlook and Quicken.  Simply put, if you had to reload Windows and all your other software, what would you be missing?  That's what we want to back up!  You don't need to backup MS Office, MS Publisher, Norton Anti-Virus...those programs can be re-loaded from the CD's.  Sound simple?  It is!

Now that we have defined "important" we have to get "organized".  I'm not going to define that!  But it's simple.  Get all your "important" files moved to My Documents.  It's that simple.  Eventually, you need to "organize" everything in My Documents, but for now, just having every file in there is good enough.

Your Desktop:  Most users have 20 - 50 icons on their desktop.  Some of these icons are "shortcuts" and some are files and folders.  Anything that is not a shortcut needs to be moved to My Documents.  How do you tell the difference?  A shortcut always has a small arrow. 
  This is a shortcut to a program.

  This is not a shortcut.  There is no arrow.  This is a word document (file) that is on the desktop and not stored in My Documents.  It needs to be moved.

  This is a shortcut to a file.  You need to verify that the original file is in My Documents.

  This is not a shortcut.  There is no arrow.  This is a folder (with files in it!) that is on the desktop and not stored in My Documents.  It needs to be moved.

  This is a shortcut to a folder.  You need to verify that the original folder is in My Documents.

Now that the "important" files are in My Documents, and it is somewhat "organized", it's time to backup.  It's simple.  Follow below, step by step:

Backup! Click Here to print backup and verification instructions
Close all programs (especially Outlook!)
Open “My Documents”
Click on “Edit”, “Select All”
Click on “Edit”, then “Copy”.  Be careful!  Do not click on “Cut”!
Close “My Documents”
Open “My Computer”
Open the drive letter for the Flash drive you connected (probably “E” or “F”)
Click on “File”, “New”, “Folder”
Name the folder “the date & computer name" i.e. 04192007 Notebook or 03192007 Desktop
Open this new folder
Click, “Edit”, “Paste”.
You’re my documents should be copying to this new folder.
That's It!  A very simple backup.

Verify your backup!
Open "My Documents"
Click on "Edit", "Select All"
Click on "File", "Properties"
Write down the number of "Files" and "Folders" it shows
Open the folder you just created your backup in on your USB Drive
Click on "Edit", "Select All"
Click on "File", "Properties"
The number of "Files" and "Folders" should match what you just wrote down!
If they match...close everything...you're done!

Remove your USB Drive and don't store in the same space (house or office) that your computer is in!
 

Creating a shortcut on your desktop to folders or files in "My Documents"
Open "My Documents"
Find the file or folder you want a shortcut to on your desktop.
Right Mouse Button on that file or folder.
Choose "Send To", "Desktop (Create Shortcut)"
You should now have a shortcut to that file or folder on your desktop!