Back Up Your Computer

“My hard drive crashed, and I lost everything! Now what do I do?”
 
It's a situation you don't want to be in. Computer hard drives are notoriously fickle, even in this modern age, and many are singing the sad song of devastating data loss of years or even decades of the pictures and documents that make up your life. That’s why having a backup plan is vital in case something goes wrong.
 
Below are some tips for backing up your files. If your eyes glaze over while reading these, it may be time to call Asheville Digital Lifestyle, and we can ensure your data is protected.

• Many people are choosing to back up their data using a cloud backup service like CrashPlan or Carbonite. You’ll pay an annual fee, but your files are backed up in a secure data center. This means that even after a natural disaster, your files are safe and can be downloaded from the Internet onto a new hard drive.
• If you choose to use a hard drive to back up your files, be sure to plug it in and use it regularly. Laptop owners are notorious for neglecting to plug their drive in frequently enough to ensure reliable, recent backups.
  • Mac users can use Time Machine to do regular backups. Plug your drive in, leave it running, and your Mac will schedule regular backups. Just be sure your backup drive is twice the size of your hard drive.
  • Windows users can use File History or Windows Backup for up-to-date backups. Just set up your drive, and let it work in the background.
  • Make sure your backup hard drive isn’t a dinosaur. Hard drive failure rates increase sharply after a hard drive enters its third year of service.
• Check your backups quarterly. Open your backup program and be sure you’ve got a recent backup, and if using a hard drive check the disk for errors.