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Jan's Working with Windows 10:

    Files: Backup Data

Now that you have created some documents, you need to consider how to safeguard your files. Nothing is like that horrible sinking, sick feeling that you get when you realize that you've destroyed/damaged/lost the one and only copy of something that took days to create. You need to do some basics on your own to avoid a lost-file disaster.

Since removable disks are easy to lose or damage, you should have at least one copy of your work besides the working copy on your Class disk. Such a copy is called your backup, so we will call this disk the Backup disk.

When working with your own computer at work or home, your files will normally be stored on that computer's hard disk or SSD disk. To back up those files, you have several choices. Each is useful in certain circumstances. The more copies you have, the more protected you are from lost or damaged files.

General Backup Choices

These could be done manually or automatically.

• Same computer: Copy files to a separate folder on the same computer.
  
• Different local device: Copy files to an external hard drive, a removable USB disk, or a rewritable CD or DVD.
• Disc: Burn a set of finished files to a CD or DVD.
  (No longer can be edited)
• Network: Upload the files to network storage space, to another computer on the network where you have logon privileges, or to storage at a course management site.
• Online: Upload the files to online storage, like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive.

Recommended for this class: Have three copies that you keep synchronized

1. Working copy on a USB flash drive
2. Backup copy on a different USB flash drive
3. Online copy on a service like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive

Think about how important the files are and hard it would be to do the work over again. The more difficult it will be to recreate the file, the more copies you need in more locations.

The hardest part of any backup plan is remembering to do it! That's why apps that do this automatically are so popular.

File History: Windows 10 comes with the File History feature, which can automatically make copies of changed files in your Libraries folders. You must turn this feature on. By default Libraries includes the current user's Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders. You can make Libraries show in File Explorer and then add other folders to the Libraries to make File History keep track of them. But...the copies are saved to an external hard disk, which you will have to purchase. Get as big a drive as you can! File History can fill up a drive fast.

Online storage: Many free online storage services will automatically synchronize files in a folder that the app puts in your User folders. That keeps your local hard disk copy and your online copy matched up. Very important! Such sites also let you access your files from any computer that has Internet access, including a tablet or smart phone. You need apps on the device that can open and edit those files. Each account will have a user name and password.

Dropbox: 2 GB free with several ways to earn extra free space.

OneDrive: 15 GB free with a free Microsoft account.
Subscribers to Office 365 have 1 TB free.

Google Drive: 15 GB free to share with your Google Drive, GMail, and Google Photos. A Google account through school or work has 30 GB.

Note: GB = gigbyte = about 1000 MB, TB = terabyte = about 1000 GB

Backup software: If you have a lot of files to backup, you will want to think about using some kind of backup software that will do the work automatically in the background. Backup software can do local backups to a separate drive or even online backups. There are free and paid versions. The online features usually require using a paid version. You might get unlimited storage with a paid version of an app like Carbonite.

Warning: Losing access
Do not store the only copy of important files in locations where you might lose access. You might quit your job or get unexpectedly fired. You will eventually finish a class or graduate from school. An online storage company might go out of business or you might forget to pay the bill.