Back up your data

It is not a matter of if your hard drive will fail but a matter of when. Back up your data with a free tool from Microsoft called, SyncToy. The problem with most software you buy is that it makes your backup a file you can not open or recognize, if there is a problem with the software, you cant read your data. With Microsoft’s SyncToy, you can back up your files as the same file which will be readable and usable. Another really great paid service is carbonite, carbonite backs up all data your request and it is unlimited for $50 a year.

1. Download SyncToy and install - Go to microsoft.com/download and download SnycToy. Follow the steps to install SyncToy and then run it.

2. Set up your left folder - Click “create new folder pair” and then click “browse” to browse for the left folder. Browse for a file or folder you want to back up and click “next”.

3. Set up your right folder - This is the folder where you will back up your files to. Either browse for a folder or create a new one.

4. Choose what type of back up - After selecting both your left and right folder you will have to choose how SyncToy will back up files. Synchronize will replace files on both ends so if you back up a file from the left folder and delete it in the right folder, it will be deleted in both folders. Echo will replace anything on the right folder with what is on the left including deleted files, (this is the best choice for me). Subscribe is the opposite of echo which copies files from the right folder to the left folder. Contribute will copy files from left to right but not delete files on the right folder if you delete them in the left. Combine copies files both ways and deletes nothing.

5. Create a name and finish - Finally, create a name for your back up and click “finish.” Now you can select “run” and back up your files or you can repeat steps 2-5 and create other back ups. When you click “run” all folders will back up.

6. Automate the process - We will use Microsoft’s included with Vista and XP, Task Scheduler to automate the process so you can forget about it. Open the task scheduler in Vista by typing “schedule” in the search area. When Scheduled Tasks is open click, “ create a basic task.” If you have XP, follow the instructions in task scheduler but before you you hit finish, click “open advanced properties for this task when I click finish.”

7. Find SyncToy - If you have XP, find the path to SyncToy.exe and at the end of the file path add a space and a dash and a capital R. ( -R) It will be a little harder to find the .exe file in vista because it is hidden but don't give up, you will find it. Depending on how much work you do, selecting weekly or daily might be a good choice. You will have to choose how many times you want to run the schedule and the time of day and make sure this is not when the computer will be in a lower power state or off or go into the advanced settings and allow it to wake the computer. Just remember, you must type “-r” in the “add arguments text box” which will run everything and backup all the folders you have created. Click Finish and you are done! You may want to test you settings to make sure that it works before you rely on it to back up your data.

Important note - There is no reason to back up your files on the same hard drive, you must be backing up you files to another internal hard drive, an external hard drive, or another computer on your network. It is not a matter of if your hard drive will fail but a matter of when.