B a c k i n g   U p   Y o u r   C o m p u t e r

Schedule
This class is currently not scheduled. 
However, a 45 minute version of it will be offered Feb 15, 2007 at NYPC 
If you are interested in the full class, contact NYPC
Topics below:  Overview   Additional Details    Class Topics  Links 

Overview

It goes without saying that if you have important files on your computer, then it is imperative to make copies of them. Do you have important files? The more you use a personal computer, the more files you accumulate. Some of them, you probably would not want to lose. 

In June 2006, the New York Times reported that Microsoft research showed that 9 out of 10 PC owners do not regularly back up their files. Perhaps they don't know where to begin. If that's you, you've come to the right class. 

The class covers the choices and options involved in making backups. It provides an overview of different types of backups, reviews some software in each category and covers the pros and cons of various hardware used to store backup files. It is not a hands-on class. That is, the class does not offer training in using any particular backup program. The goal is for students to understand the issues, options and trade-offs, so they can chose a backup plan (hardware and software) that works for them. 

The most common type of backup is of your data files. The class covers full, incremental and (my favorite) replication type backups for data files. In addition, we cover backing up critical Windows system files and also "image" backups of entire partitions. For each of these three types of backups, a handful of software programs are reviewed. Almost all the software discussed in the class is free. 

As for backup hardware, the class covers CDs, DVDs, USB flash drives, four types of external hard disks and more. We also cover Internet based or online backups. Don't trust yourself to make backups? There are automatic backups too, that is, backups that take place without your having to initiate them. 

Everyone knows backing up your computer is important, yet most people don't do it. After this class, you will. There will be software demonstrations as time and facilities allow. 

This is a 4 hour class. The material covered applies to Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. The class comes with an 88 page handout.

Don't wait for the next hurricane to back-up:

FYI: This class got mentioned in Newsday on December 2, 2003 (Disk That Go, and Disks to Throw by Lou Dolinar). Quoting: "This class is highly recommended, judging from his Web site and some comments in an e-mail to me ... He's a big fan of Replicator, a free backup program from Karen Kenworthy. Many features, but the neat thing is that it creates backups in the same format as the input, meaning they can be read directly by the program that created them. Definitely worth a look..."  
 

Additional Details  TOP

The class starts by categorizing the files on a computer into: Operating System (Windows) files, temporary files, application files and user data files. The backup requirements for temporary and application files are briefly touched on.

Class Topics TOP

  • Introduction
  • Different Types of Files 
  • Backing up Windows System Files 
    o ConfigSafe
    o System Restore
  • Data File Backups
    o Bottom of the Line: Windows Explorer, Zip, XCOPY
    o Scheduling Backups
    o Backup Profiles 
    o My Backup Script
    o Replicator
    o SyncToy
    o Second Copy 2000 
    o Top Tier Backup Programs 
  • Backup Hardware 
    o Cheat Sheet 
    o External Removable Media Backup Devices 
    o External hard disks: very small, small, full size, CMS, iPods 
    o Internet Based Backups (Online or Off-Site) 
    o Network Attached Storage (NAS)
  • Flash RAM Backup Hardware  
    o Flash RAM Floppy Disks
    o Thumb Drives
    o Flash RAM vs. CDs 
    o Flash RAM vs. Small Hard Disks
  • Using CDs For Backups 
    o CD-R and CD-RW
    o CD Burners
    o CD Problems 
  • Using DVDs for Backups 
  • Copying Partitions
    o Disk Image Software
    o Partitioning Software
    o Laptop Hard Disk Backups 
  • Backing Up Email 
    o Outlook and Outlook Express
    o Thunderbird, Mozilla and Netscape 
  • Backing Up Favorites and Bookmarks 
  • Automatic Backups
    o Single Applications 
    o System Wide Automatic Backups
  • One-Two Punch - Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files
  • Examples of Personal Backup Systems

 

Links  TOP

Data File Backups | Automatic backups | Where to Backup toNAS | Flash Ram Backups | External Hard Disks | Online Backups | Backup to CDs | Backup to DVDs | System File Backups | Copying Partitions | Miscellaneous | 

Articles mentioned in class:

Backing up data files  TOP

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Where to Backup to?  TOP

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Automatic backups  TOP

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Network Attached Storage (NAS)  TOP

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Flash Ram Backup Devices  TOP

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External Hard Disks  TOP

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Online (aka off-site) Backups  TOP

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Burning (creating) CDs for Backups  TOP

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Burning (creating) DVDs for Backups  TOP

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System File Backups  TOP

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Copying Partitions  TOP

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Copying Partitions with Partitioning Software 

Copying Partitions with Disk Image Software

Miscellaneous  TOP

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