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Losing files and other data within your PC or laptop after a crash or because of a virus is one of the most common problems that a user is most familiar of. You might have anti-virus programs or other programs that will prevent such mishap but it's better to be prepared in this kind of situations or similar to this kind. To prevent losing your files, you should better consider this very common tip, “Backup Your Files”.


Before, file backup is such a pain in the butt because the only available tool were floppy disk. To those who are not familiar with this device, and simply said, “so what!?”. Floppy disk only hold megabyte of data (the biggest I've seen is 150 MB / 200 MB which is 3½-inch HiFD). Now, we got loads of storage preference of our choice. That includes CD-R, DVD+-R, External Hard Drive, Online File Storage Sites, and Flash Disk / Flash Drives. Our fast-pace technology already made backup-ing files (even the entire computer data) possible and easy.

But the question is “How to do it?” and “Where can I find the appropriate program to backup my files?”. We all know not all people know how to do this. While it is not “always” necessary, it is much smarter to backup your chosen files or the entire computer just in case of a possible system crash.

Well here is some of the steps I want to share with you guys.

1. Back-Up Your Files. Back-up all your files into your chosen back-up drive (except for C:, that is if you used the default OS drive, or where your OS resides in.) or any of the other proper backup media you choose, for example: CD-R, DVD+-R, External Hard Drive, Online File Storage Sites, and Flash Disk / Flash Drives.

2. How to go to the Back-Up Program. For Win XP, there is a built-in back-up program you can use. For Noobs. Just click Start on the lower left corner of your screen and then hover your mouse to Programs, then a new list will appear. Find Accessories in that list and hover your mouse so that it's list will appear. Find System Tools next and hover your mouse over it and a new list of programs will appear. After that find and click Backup.

For Advance Users. Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup and Restore Center

Noobs and Advance Users. For Windows Vista, it's just the same thing as XP. Just click Start on the lower left corner of your screen and then hover your mouse to Programs, then a new list will appear. Find Accessories in that list and hover your mouse so that it's list will appear. Find System Tools next and hover your mouse over it and a new list of programs will appear. After that find and click Backup and Restore Center.

However, you can just go to your Control Panel and go to Backup and Restore Center or simply center this address (Control Panel\Backup and Restore Center).

3. Wait till the program appears. Choose from the given choices: Back Up Files, Restore Files or Complete PC Backup. Since our topic is how to backup your important files, your only choices are Back Up Files and Complete PC Backup.

If you choose Back Up Files, proceed to step number (4) four. If you choose Complete PC Backup, proceed to step number (5) five.

Note: If your OS is Windows Vista, there is a Automatic File Backup option in Back Up Files, which is very handy for people who knows that they will have a hard time looking for this guide or even the backup application. If you haven't set up this option, the application will tell you something like “Automatic file backup is not set up”. Enabling automatic file backup will help you protect your files from loss or even accidental deletion.

4. You can choose first to change your backup settings under Back Up Files, so that you know what are the default settings and other configuration that is already done in the Back Up Application.

5. If you choose Complete PC Backup, click Create a backup now. It will backup everything needed to restore your system. A Windows Complete PC Backup image contains copies of your programs, system settings, and files. It is a complete backup that you can use to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk or entire computer ever stops working.

Note: When you restore your computer from a Windows Complete PC Backup image, it is a complete restoration. You can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced.

6.Last, but not the least, click Backup now. The application will scan for new or updated files and add them in your backup.

Rather than having to reinstall your operating system and all of the programs and utilities, restoring your entire computer from disk is much faster, easier, and will include anything and everything that you had on your computer, even the files that you had forgot it existed.

There are programs which you can utilize in conjunction with your backup disks, whatever they may be, that will allow you to restore your entire computer from disk in case of a system crash. Eventhough, file backup may take much time (it depends on how large your backup files is), its certainly worth it. It is a very powerful thing and a very important task that you should certainly look into undertaking.

Remember to backup as soon as possible. It is better to be prepared than never. But the sooner you backup your files, the better. Now we don't have any excuses not to backup important files, if not your entire system, into your backup drive or your preferred and chosen media tools.
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