How to Backup Your Files and Why It is Important

Backing up files on a device is a good habit. Many times, we don't loss data to theft or because of damage to our machines but because we didn't take time out and backup the important data on our devices. Whenever there is system failure that leads to data loss, there is a chance that the computer needs a fresh copy of the OS. So, backing up data is important and can save you a lot of time and hassle.

There are few things to consider so that you can properly plan on when and how to backup data. First, the type of file matters. Simple plain files are easy to backup and require fewer resources when compared to media files such as pictures, presentation materials, and videos. Second, you will have to determine when you will be making the backup. Last but not the least is the backup solution you decide to go with.

Let's look at the various solutions available:

Email a File to you

This might sound strange but it offers a very quick and reliable way to store data. This backup solution is ideal for small or individual files only. Many free web-based email services offer free storage space and you can use that to make a quick backup.

Disk Cloning

Cloning is one thing we do often but just don't realize it. It is simply copying all data files from one source to another. For example, we may want to copy an entire hard drive to a DVD or a second hard drive.

External Drives

This is one of the most common ways to backup data. Many external drives are plug-and-play and they come in various sizes to fit your needs. This can be anything from a small external thumb drive to a full-fledged large external hard drive.

External Server

Using an external server is another reliable way to backup data. Most free services, as well as paid cloud-based servers let people store data online. The main advantage is that you can access your data anytime and anywhere in the world. Another advantage of this backup solution is that you don't control the storage device, so you don’t have to worry about losing or damaging the backup. All you need to access your data is the login credentials and website address.

DVD, CD, or Zip drive

You can also backup your data to a CD or DVD, Zip disk, or a floppy disk. The floppy and Zip disk solutions are starting to become outdated though. The disadvantage to this backup solution is that you have to keep the CD/DVD/etc in a safe place to keep it from being lost or damaged.

Check to see which backup solution is most convenient for you. The external server backup solution, emailing yourself, and disk cloning are powerful ways to backup your data. Start backing up today and you won’t regret you did.

Steps to Build a Computer

You have done your research and you are convinced as to what computer parts to use to build a computer. You have bought the parts; the next thing is to learn how to put them all together.

Tools Needed

-Motherboard manual
-Needle nose pliers (Not needed, but recommended)
-Philips head screwdriver
-Anti-static wrist strap or grounding mat
-flashlight

It is recommended to have a second computer so you can view look for further help online and possibly even download drivers.

Before you start putting all the parts together, you will need:

-A well lit room
-A space without carpet to help eliminate static energy.
-Put on your anti-static wrist trap
-Place all the parts on the anti-static bags they came in

As a safety precaution, do not plug in your computer until all the parts are in place and the case is closed up. Put your computer case on the work surface. Open up the case with the Philips screwdriver. Some cases come with a power supply. If you already bought a power supply, then you may want to remove the power supply that came with the case to retrofit the new one.

Next, screw the motherboard to the case. Now that the motherboard is in, you can now start to put other parts in place.

Plug in the CPU. Make sure you follow the manufacturer manual religiously. You can use the second computer to get tips on how your particular CPU is installed. Generally, you will need to place the CPU into the motherboard first. Then you will need to apply thermal paste, usually just a dab, to the top of the CPU. Last, you will need to install the heat sink on top of the CPU.

Now is time to add your RAM. The memory is pretty simple to install. It just snaps in. Check the motherboard manual for instructions on which DIMMs to install the memory into.

Next, if you purchased a video card, install your video card into position by placing the video card into the socket. This will either be a pci-express socket. However, older motherboards may still have an AGP slot. Most video cards will also need a connection from the power supply as well.

Next, install the hard drive and optical drive. These will both need a connection to both the motherboard and to the power supply.

It is time to add PCI cards. PCI cards are network cards, video cards, TV tuners, and sound cards. You may or may not have any of these to install.

Last, you will need to hook up your motherboard to the computer case power on, reset, etc buttons. You will need to consult your motherboard manual to see how these all connect to your particular motherboard.

Now, we can close up the computer case, plug it in, and boot up your computer. Listen for any beep sound; if there is any, turn off the computer, and check your motherboard manual for troubleshooting tips.

If everything starts up ok, you may want to configure your Computer's BIOS. You can do this by pressing the Del or F1 key almost immediately after you boot your computer. Check your motherboard documentation to learn how to configure computer BIOS. The default setting should be fine but you can configure using your motherboard manual as guide.

Finally, you can go ahead and install your operating system, Windows Office, drivers, and security software. Keep in mind that all hardware on your computer needs a driver to function.

Startup Optimization

If your windows XP or Vista machine takes way too long to startup, you may need to cut down on the number of program that start at windows startup. I found the this guide to optimize startup programs in Windows. This guide is one way to help your computer startup faster.

The second thing that could be slowing down your computer from starting up quickly are unneccessary services. Here is another guide from the same website that can help you to disable unneccessary services.

By both cutting down on unneccessary services and startup programs you can make it so your pc starts up much faster. These tips should also help your computer to run faster as well.

All about Computer Firewalls

Here is a great article by John talking about firewalls, what they are, and how to use them. This is great information for any computer user.

Computer Firewalls
By John Browning

A firewall is a computer software that provides protection from hacking attempts from the Internet. It is very important to install a suitable firewall software to protect the computer from spyware and virus infections. A large number of security companies have developed firewall software. Some of these software are free for personal use.

A firewall software is basically a "packet sniffer". Data that gets transferred via the Internet moves in the form of packets. The firewall software intercepts these packets, analyzes its contents and determines if it is harmful to the computer. If the packet contains malicious content, the firewall blocks it from accessing code on the computer, thus preventing damage to the computer.

Most spyware, malware and virus programs can be prevented by installing a suitable firewall. Firewalls can also prevent software from accessing the Internet and transmitting information without the user's knowledge. Thus even if a virus program gets installed on the computer, it still won't be able to access the Internet and transmit sensitive information like credit card numbers, etc.

The latest version of Microsoft Windows i.e. Windows Vista has an inbuilt firewall in it. This means if you are using Vista, you don't have to download and install additional firewall software. However, if you still want to install a third party firewall, you can do that for added protection.

For maximum protection, it is advisable to invest in an "Internet Security Suite". This is a software bundle that combines a virus scanner, email scanner, spyware protection and a firewall. By installing such software, you can get complete protection from all sorts of malware programs that spread via the Internet.

More information: Free spyware removal

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