Introduction:
All PC users are provided with a hard drive in order to store their local data. To assure that important information is not lost in the event disk drive disaster, each person must establish a strategy to back up their own data. “Back up” is the process used to duplicate files on an alternate storage device such as a secondary disk / partition, diskette or tape. These backup can later be used as a means of recovery in the event of hardware or software failure, or mistaken erasure. What is considered “important” enough to be backed up must be determined by each individual PC user and the section head. It depends upon such things as:

• What would be the impact if this information were irrevocably lost?

• How quickly can the data be recreated by external means (such as re-entering from paper copy)?

• How much data is involved?

• How many people rely on this data within your section and outside your section?

In cases where a substantial amount of data is critical to the business of the section, special consideration should be given to backup requirements. In those cases, Your IT department should be consulted to determine the best place to store the data and the best means to assure that it is backed up and readily recoverable in the event of a disaster.

Backup techniques are not a clear-cut for the “average” PC user. Most users don’t think that the data on their PC is critical UNTIL the PC dies. Although PC hardware is generally very reliable, it can fail at any time, and therefore users are strongly advised to consider the consequences in advance and invest the time it takes to insure data against loss. In most cases, it is not necessary to back up the entire hard drive.

Workstations; The files on the C: drive are typically operating system files that can be recreated by a reload / refresh of the OS or a ghost, in the event of failure. Data not restored as part of a reload is email, IE favorites, personal documents etc… It is recommended that the primary partition (C:) be partitioned to allow a secondary partition (D:), for backups (fat32 / ntfs) or a better second option is a second physical drive for which user created files etc… be stored.

The content of the D: drive, however, is typically where the user stores their data. It is recommended that you back up important files regularly, depending upon the frequency of updates and the impact on you if files are lost. This can be monthly, weekly, after “batches” of important work are done, etc.

Servers; In some cases, programs and data need to be shared by several people in one section, or data volume is so large, or the potential impact of data loss is so significant that programs and data should be stored on a network server. In such cases, it is necessary to coordinate the program and data installation process and develop a customized backup process with IT to assure the adequate backup and restore procedures are properly implemented.

In most cases user created files that you will need to backup will reside on the D: drive. However, there are some files that are associated with the standard software products that are stored on the C: drive by default. The following is a list of files that you should include with your backup.

Note: That some file locations have changed on Windows 200x / Windows desktop platforms

The following are some alternatives for backup devices for Workstations:

Copy to data to USB

Backup to External Drive

Backup to CD / DVD