Posts Tagged ‘Methods’

Windows Backup Methods

Windows backup or Microsoft backup software helps create a copy of the information on the hard disc to be used, in case, the original data accidentally becomes inaccessible, due to hard disc malfunction or overwriting or any other cause.The backup storage medium can be a hard drive, a removable disc or a full library of disks or tapes organized into a media pool. Using Windows backup software, it is possible to archive selected files and folders on the hard disc, restore them to any other accessible storage, make a copy of the computer’s system files, registry and other components, or make a copy of the boot partition and the files needed to start the system.Windows backup has five methods of backing up the data:Copy backup: This copies all the selected files but it does not mark the files that have been copied.Daily back up: A daily backup copies all selected files the day it is performed and as in copy back up, the archive attribute (marking backed-up files) is not cleared.Differential back up: This backup copies files that have been created since the last normal or incremental back up. The archive attribute is not cleared.Incremental back up: This backup backs up only those files created or changed since the last normal or incremental back up and here the archive attribute is cleared.Normal backup: This is used when a backup set is created for the first time.Using Windows backup, data can be copied to a file or a tape for which a file name should be designated to a file and a tape device is necessary for copying to a tape.To run back up in Windows, click start programs, accessories, system tools and then backup. For the first time in creating a backup, “All selected files “should be chosen and for subsequent backups, “New and changed files only? should be chosen.The quickest method is to use a combination of normal backups and incremental back ups which requires the least amount of storage space but the recovery time is more and difficult. The unique feature of Windows back up software is the ability to back up locked files.Also, windows back up creates a volume shadow copy of the data to create an accurate point- in -time copy of the contents of the hard drive. This ensures that data can be continuously written during back up, opened files are no longer omitted, and backups can be done at any time without locking out users.The System State Data, which comprises the registry, the directory service and other key system components, can be backed up using Windows Back up Software. If an alternate location is not designated to the restored data, Windows Back up will erase the current System State Data on the computer and replace it with the restored System State data.

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Best Methods to Backup Files

As much as every computer wants to deny the inevitable, your data is only as secure as your backups. Every hard drive is eventually going to fail (and malicious software frequently targets data files), and you will lose years? worth of files, documents, programs, and all other information that you have kept and stored in your computer unless you have a good backup. Following are some of the best methods of data backup that you can use.

Internal Backup, One Disk

For a particularly large hard drive, the hard disk can be partitioned so that one partition may be used as a repository of backup data. For this type of backup, you can use automatic backup software, which will do daily backups of data you have specified or a full backup of your active partitions. You can also manually copy your files from your active drive partition to your backup drive partition as long as you do this regularly. This is one of the least advisable forms of backup out there, because the backup partition becomes as useless as the main partition if your hard drive ever crashes.

Internal Backup, Multiple Disks

You can also set up another hard drive for backup within your computer. This hard drive is a separate entity from your active hard drive, so it presents greater protection and data security in case your active hard drive is corrupted. In this case, you can use the methods listed above, or you can use a technology known as RAID 1 to create a mirror image of one hard drive on the other hard drive. The advantage of RAID 1 is that your data is completely safe if you suffer a hard drive crash, but this will not protect you from a virus or spyware infection, as the infection will be written to the backup drive right along with the good data.

On Site, External Backup

A more secure form of backup, external backups allow you to backup your files using external storage media like USB hard drives, CD-R(W)s, DVD-R(W)s, and high-capacity flash drives. Flash drives and external hard drives can be conveniently connected to your computer?s USB port when it is time to back up your files. For backing up with CDs and DVDs, you will need a CD or DVD writer, respectively. For any of these backup methods, you can still use backup tools that sometimes come with the backup data storage media.

Another method for onsite external backup is using network servers in the same office building or workspace dedicated to backing up data for the whole network. This backup method can be done automatically if the network administrator has set it up for individual clients. The network administrator can also do this manually, or each user can do his or her own data backup manually.

Off Site, External Backup

The key to this method is backing up data and storing the backup data storage device somewhere else. This type of backup method is done to protect not only from drive failures but also from catastrophes like fire, flood and earthquake.

Off site backup allows you to backup your files on a web-based server located far from your own physical location. You can also store backup data in discs and external drives which will be kept in a data storage vault that is physically located in a different building, city, state, or even country. There is no backup more secure than an external backup, but web servers can be expensive, so you may want to simply use your on site backup media and carry them home (or even store them in a safety deposit box). This still allows you to have a full backup without the hassle and cost of using a web server for your backups.

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