Windows 7 includes a comprehensive backup and restore feature
Backing up the data on your computer is a task that you shouldn’t put off until it’s too late – if something serious should happen to your hard drive, or your PC or laptop should get stolen, then a backup could be the only chance you have of getting your precious files back. Thankfully, Windows 7 includes a built-in Backup and Restore tool that you can use to create copies of your media files, documents and other content – the application is straightforward to use, and offers a substantial improvement over the utility that came bundled with Vista. If you’re running the Professional or Ultimate version of Windows 7 you can back up to a network location as well.
For many IT professionals, a file isn’t backed up until it’s stored safely in three separate locations. This means that simply transferring files over to an external hard drive every now and again isn’t enough. Though you might think the chances remote, a fire or flood at your home, or a burglary, could leave you without any backups to restore from even if you have twenty copies of a file inside your house. We’d recommend keeping one of your backups online or in a separate location (on your PC at work, perhaps) – the more copies you have, the easier it will be to get your data back.
There are a number of commercial packages that you can use instead of Windows 7’s own backup software. These programs will typically add more features and functionality and make it easier to keep multiple backups in several locations. Many will also enable you to create complete images of your hard drive, so your operating system and any associated settings are backed up as well.
As broadband speeds have increased and storage has become cheaper, online backups have become viable for home users. This means that your important files are backed up securely on the Web, and can be safely downloaded again should something happen to your main PC or laptop. As with any backup, the initial copy can take some time if you’re working with a lot of data – and because Internet Service Providers often cap upload speeds, you might find the transfer rate disappointing – but once the first upload is out of the way, the incremental backups that follow should be much faster. When you’re looking for an online backup solution, compare features as well as the price. How well secured is your data on the Web? How useful is the Web interface (can you preview and edit your files online)? How intuitive is the desktop client that syncs files between your PC and the Internet? Two of our favourite online backup services are Humyo and Dropbox, but there’s plenty of choice available. To be safe, make sure that you run standard backups as well, rather than relying solely on an online service to protect your data.
(For a complete step-by-step guide to backing up files in Windows 7, look out for The Essential Windows 7 Handbook, on sale from Magnesium Media and newsagents now).
