5 Tips for Getting Started with Data Backup
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For Wylie Wong, it was over within two days.
First, his laptop started making whirring and grinding noises. Then his browser kept crashing. "I kept wondering why my computer was acting up," he recalls.
 Then, in a flash, his hard drive crashed and he lost everything.
Sad thing is he's not alone. Just 57 percent of people who store personal data on their computers back up, according to software maker Symantec. Whether it's laziness, lack of concern or confusion that prevents file backup, it's time for a behavior change. Here's a disaster-preventing strategy to help you get started.
1. Prioritize.
Make a list that reflects the files on your computer that you could not live without. For most people, the irreplaceable includes photos and videos, word files and data stored on financial applications like Quicken.
2. Weed out the unnecessary.
It is better to focus on the essentials than to be overwhelmed into inaction by feeling like you need to save everything.
Software programs like Outlook or Microsoft Word are a hassle to lose, but they're easy to install again. Copying hundreds of CDs to your hard drive would be a pain but you could do it if you had to. Are you a stickler for saving old email? Decide how far back you want to go.
3. Keep a schedule.
 Experts recommend backing up weekly if you use your computer only occasionally. For heavy users, a daily backup is best. However, the key to effective backup is to automate the process.
4. Get some help.
After compiling a list of priorities, check out a few websites devoted to making backup easier. Lifehacker.com has a great series of tutorials and tips on backing up data.
Many external hard drives now come pre-loaded with backup solutions.
For Windows XP users with smaller storage needs, SyncToy is a free and handy backup application that can be used with the Scheduled Tasks utility in Windows to run regular backups.
5. Pick a backup medium.
 The easiest backup solution is an external hard drive connected to your computer through a USB port. With steadily falling prices, it is getting cheaper every day to have convenient access to massive amounts of backup capacity (100 GB to 500 GB drives are within easy reach of most consumer budgets).
There are several other storage options that have the added benefit of being easy to take off-site for an extra measure of protection.
CDs and DVDs provide a fast, easy and affordable way to create backup (700 MB to 8.4 GB), particularly if you're transferring files from home to work.
Key-chain sized USB flash drives hold between 512 MB to 4 GB of data.
For more substantial backup jobs, consider a portable drive that connects to a USB port and can store up to 60 GB.
Bottom Line:
The key to a successful backup plan is to keep it simple, automate the process and do it regularly.
Begin from the assumption that you will suffer a total data loss. But don't panic; just put a basic backup strategy in place. Then, move on with your life, secure in the knowledge that if and when such an occurrence takes place, you'll recover quickly.
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