SELF HELP > DATA BACKUP

Disclaimer: These instructions are in no way fool-proof or all-encompassing. In no way should these instructions be relied upon as any guarantee that you will successfully and correctly back up your data, that you will not lose or erase your data, or that you will not damage your computer. 

DATA means documents, spreadsheets, emails, browser bookmarks, photos, audio, movies, mp3's, information, certificates, passwords, encrypted files and many other personal items.

Always have not one but  TWO safety backups of your data (for a total of 3 copies), and always verify the integrity of your backups. Don't rely on just one backup method either (such as online backup services). Why? There are all kinds of nightmare scenarios that can happen. You might use a corrupted backup to overwrite your original copy. You might accidentally overwrite your "new" data with your "old" data. You might think that you properly created a backup but did not. Online backup companies have LOST people's data before and therefore they should never be fully trusted. It has been reported that Carbonite lost over 7,500 customer's data. I personally know of a case involving another online backup company in which a supposed "software problem" caused a customer's data to be lost. Their files were all "saved" but as useless blank 1 MB files. Having a 2nd backup is an added line of defense.

NOTE: Most software programs cannot be "backed up". They must be reinstalled with the original discs and product keys (if any). There is a new software program that can apparently back up and migrate software programs. An entire drive (including Windows and software programs) can be "imaged" or "cloned" with software such as XXClone or Ghost, but this method will unfortunately also save all of the bad software-related things (such as viruses, registry damage, etc) that may exist your computer system. The instructions below are not imaging or cloning instructions, but rather SIMPLE raw data backup methods... 

RAW DATA BACKUP

On a Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer most if not all of your critical data should be located in the "Users" folder, but just to be sure you should ALSO look inside the C drive for any other critical data that you may have manually stored stored there. For example there are a few obscure programs that save documents and / or settings inside the "Program Files" folder, such as Intuit's QuickBooks. Others that store critical user data in unorthodox locations include MicroSoft Money 2003, eMule, older versions of Quicken, Cam Studio, Media Studio Pro, and World of Warcraft (downloaded patches and mod folders).  You or someone else who uses the computer may have also saved something of importance in a non-default location such as just inside the C drive, or inside of a different folder other than "Documents and Settings" or "Users". To be sure you should look around and check. If you happen to find something then copy and paste it into a new folder in the "Documents and Settings" or "Users" folders.

On a Windows XP computer most if not all of your critical data should be located in the "Documents and Settings" folder, but just to be sure you should look inside the C drive for any other critical data that you may have manually stored stored there.

Beware that some critical files or settings may be stored OUTSIDE of XP's "Documents and Settings" folder or Vista / Windows 7's "Users" folder!! 

NOTE: Did you know that even items found on your desktop are all contained within "Documents and Settings" or "Users"? Beware that items on the desktop may be merely "shortcuts" to the actual files, which may be located outside of "Documents and Settings" or "Users".

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do you have secure data such as encrypted folders or stored Internet Explorer passwords? Backing up this type of data requires special attention in order to properly migrate this data OR that data will be lost if your computer ever becomes unbootable. Then you should DEFINITELY export (save) your certificate(s) if you have encrypted folders and files, critical Internet Explorer passwords or other secure data. This can only be done while logged on as the user who has rights to the secure data.

 

Why the "Ubuntu method" of data transfer makes sense for most beginner to intermediate computer users

If you use the basic Windows copy and paste function to copy data over to an external drive, you may very likely encounter error messages such as "File in use" errors, which completely halts the transfer and with no explanation. There are methods that work past these errors. For example the command prompt will not be halted by Windows errors. Unfortunately the command prompt is very confusing and complicated to the average computer user. Instead I recommend the "Ubuntu method". The Ubuntu method does involve some work and headaches, but it's the easiest method for most intermediate and advanced computer users. So you would download Ubuntu and burn a boot CD ( using the freeware ImgBurn ) in order to back up your critical data. One thing to remember is that Ubuntu cannot back up secure data.  Sure it will copy secure data, but that data will be UNREADABLE and will NOT OPEN without the associated cryptographic key(s).

 

THE UBUNTU DATA BACKUP METHOD

Even if your computer won't boot to the desktop, you can still back up your data by downloading and burning yourself an Ubuntu boot CD (Free) and then backing up your data to an external hard drive (such as USB drive). Follow the link to Ubuntu's site, download the .iso file,

 

 

Next download ImgBurn CD buring software (free), install and use it to create your own Ubuntu boot CD. Then connect an external drive (such as USB drive) to your computer, restart the computer with the Ubuntu CD in the CD tray (you may need to change your BIOS boot order so that the computer checks the CD drive first), choose to run Ubuntu without installing it on your computer...

 

then click "Places", select your hard drive, then copy & paste your files to your external drive... 

NOTE: This "Ubuntu method" will not backup "secure data". Furthermore if your hard drive is seriously damaged then this method will likely fail. If your hard drive doesn't even appear under "places" or just won't open, then that is a hallmark sign of a damaged hard drive.

For more detailed instructions on using Ubuntu click here.

 

Don't have time to burn your own Ubuntu boot CD? PCR can also create a boot CD for you to pick up for only $3.00. You can also buy Ubuntu boot CD's off of Ebay for about $5.00 including shipping.

 

ANOTHER OPTION BESIDES THE RAW DATA BACKUP DESCRIBED ABOVE:

Some people rely on the Windows XP "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard".  It's OK to use this wizard if you have important "settings" to save from the list below, however PCR does NOT recommend relying 100% on this wizard alone! By default this tool ignores many file types unless you manually instruct the wizard to save those files. Also when actually performing the migration, it is absolutely critical that you are logged in as the user who has ownership of the files and settings you need to back up. If there are multiple user accounts using your "old" computer, then you can ONLY migrate one user's files and settings at a time! As a final note, most of these settings (below) are not critical or they can simply be manually reset after a Windows reinstall.

Using the Windows XP "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" you can back up the following:

Internet Explorer settings - This includes items such as your home page URL, favorites or bookmarks, cookies, security settings, dial-up connections, and proxy settings.
Outlook settings and store - The settings that you need to connect to your mail server, your signature file, views, mail rules, local mail, and contacts.
Outlook Express settings and stores - The settings that you need to connect to your mail server, your signature file, views, mail rules, local mail, and contacts.
Dial-Up connections

Outlook Express settings and stores

Dial-Up connections

Phone and modem options

Fonts

Folder options

Taskbar settings

Mouse and keyboard settings

Regional options

Network drives and printers

Desktop folder

My Documents folder

My Pictures folder

Favorites folder

Cookies folder

Accessibility

Screen saver selection

Sounds settings

Office settings

Common Office file types

The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard does NOT backup secure data such as certificates, passwords, encrypted files and folders. A certificate (if any) must be exported manually from a bootable computer.

 

 

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