| As much as every computer wants to deny the | | | | up your files. For backing up with CDs and DVDs, you |
| inevitable, your data is only as secure as your | | | | will need a CD or DVD writer, respectively. For any |
| backups. Every hard drive is eventually going to fail | | | | of these backup methods, you can still use backup |
| (and malicious software frequently targets data files), | | | | tools that sometimes come with the backup data |
| and you will lose years' worth of files, documents, | | | | storage media. |
| programs, and all other information that you have | | | | Another method for onsite external backup is using |
| kept and stored in your computer unless you have a | | | | network servers in the same office building or |
| good backup. Following are some of the best | | | | workspace dedicated to backing up data for the |
| methods of data backup that you can use. | | | | whole network. This backup method can be done |
| Internal Backup, One Disk | | | | automatically if the network administrator has set it |
| For a particularly large hard drive, the hard disk can | | | | up for individual clients. The network administrator |
| be partitioned so that one partition may be used as a | | | | can also do this manually, or each user can do his or |
| repository of backup data. For this type of backup, | | | | her own data backup manually. |
| you can use automatic backup software, which will | | | | Off Site, External Backup |
| do daily backups of data you have specified or a full | | | | The key to this method is backing up data and |
| backup of your active partitions. You can also | | | | storing the backup data storage device somewhere |
| manually copy your files from your active drive | | | | else. This type of backup method is done to protect |
| partition to your backup drive partition as long as you | | | | not only from drive failures but also from |
| do this regularly. This is one of the least advisable | | | | catastrophes like fire, flood and earthquake. |
| forms of backup out there, because the backup | | | | Off site backup allows you to backup your files on a |
| partition becomes as useless as the main partition if | | | | web-based server located far from your own |
| your hard drive ever crashes. | | | | physical location. You can also store backup data in |
| Internal Backup, Multiple Disks | | | | discs and external drives which will be kept in a data |
| You can also set up another hard drive for backup | | | | storage vault that is physically located in a different |
| within your computer. This hard drive is a separate | | | | building, city, state, or even country. There is no |
| entity from your active hard drive, so it presents | | | | backup more secure than an external backup, but |
| greater protection and data security in case your | | | | web servers can be expensive, so you may want to |
| active hard drive is corrupted. In this case, you can | | | | simply use your on site backup media and carry them |
| use the methods listed above, or you can use a | | | | home (or even store them in a safety deposit box). |
| technology known as RAID 1 to create a mirror | | | | This still allows you to have a full backup without the |
| image of one hard drive on the other hard drive. The | | | | hassle and cost of using a web server for your |
| advantage of RAID 1 is that your data is completely | | | | backups. |
| safe if you suffer a hard drive crash, but this will not | | | | Please, check out these recommendations for the |
| protect you from a virus or spyware infection, as | | | | best notebook computers. |
| the infection will be written to the backup drive right | | | | This article may be republished freely as long as this |
| along with the good data. | | | | copyright notice and box of resource links are |
| On Site, External Backup | | | | included at the bottom. |
| A more secure form of backup, external backups | | | | Copyright © 2007 MALIBAL, lLc |
| allow you to backup your files using external storage | | | | MALIBAL is the Home of the World's Fastest Laptop! |
| media like USB hard drives, CD-R(W)s, DVD-R(W)s, | | | | Headquartered in Las Vegas, this groundbreaking |
| and high-capacity flash drives. Flash drives and | | | | company has transmuted the world of mobile |
| external hard drives can be conveniently connected | | | | computing with its nonpareil laptops and unrivaled |
| to your computer's USB port when it is time to back | | | | 24-hour USA-based support. |