Prologue
Wait up. I hear voices in the wind.
".... I didn't know how to work the program... nobody told me I had to do it... I didn't have any blank CD/DVDs... my friend who is a computer expert told me that it was unnecessary.. I never read all of that crap which pops up when the computer starts... "
What this means to you..
Great answers, but none will get back the photographs of your 'once in a lifetime world tour', or the poetry you painstakingly typed out as it came into your head. They are all gone, my friend, unless you are willing to pay $$$$$ to get them back. Will $$$$$ ensure their safe return? Probably not..
Info section #1
'Backing up' is a term used for the procedure whereby important data is saved to an external device or a device where the media can be removed and stored safely away from the computer. Backup programs are specialized and will save whatever is being backed up in compressed and proprietary formats.
What this means to you..
If you are going to take the trouble to learn how to use a specialized backup program, bear in mind one very important factor. You will ONLY be able to restore the backup file using the SAME backup program, and I do mean the 'SAME'. Same program, same version, same operating system, same configuration, same everything.
Please note that we are talking about backups here, NOT operating system images. There is a difference.
Info section #2
Backups = saves. OK, so rather than 'backup' which infers the use of a 'backup' program, think 'save'. You most likely have a program installed which is well able to save to a medium that can be stored away safely. Do you have any one of the following commercial suites/programs installed on your computer?
- Ahead Nero
- Roxio
- CyberLink
- Ashampoo
- Any other brand of CD 'burning' software
What this means to you..
If you do, then you have the capability to produce useful 'backups'. In all instances, they are as simple as 'drag n drop'. The results can be used in conjunction with almost any computer. What you drag n drop onto a CD/DVD can be as easily dragged n dropped back onto a hard drive.
There are video tutorials available on the installation media or Internet which take you step by step through the process. Look and learn..
Info section #3
If you are going to get into full system backups, purchase an external backup device, or get a second hard drive installed internally. There are 'One Touch' external backup devices which are supplied with software enabling you to do backups of both data and OS images. If you just go for a plain external USB hard drive, you will need to invest in a program like Acronis' TrueImage.
What this means to you..
Never again will you be left stuttering when the computer repair department tells you that all data was lost
Epilogue
Run backup tests to ensure that you know how to backup and restore from backups. Always make more than one backup. This applies to saving to CD/DVD too. Never rely on just one backup.
Also remember that backing up is an ongoing process, as is saving to CD/DVD. Get into the habit of doing regular backups.