If I could impart one aspect of my computer knowledge to everyone who uses a computer, it would be the ability to understand file management.
File management, in the computer world, means how information (files) are stored and utilized on a computer system. Understanding file management, means understanding:
One of my favorite programs of all time is SecondCopy. SecondCopy offers a flexible and easy to use automatic backup program for any Windows computer user. You need to have a spacious backup drive that will hold what you want to backup like an external hard drive, flash drive, etc.
I recommend using this product for automated daily or weekly backups, but I still think it is imperative that you copy the backups this program makes to optical media (CD-R or DVD’s_ that can’t have electrical or mechanical failures on a regular basis as well.
Watch this short 3 minute video to learn how to use this great data saving program, Second Copy:
I’m late in writing my daily Shotgun report because I have four computers sitting in my office in various forms of failure. Fortunately, at some expense to the owners, I was able to extract some valuable data from two of the machines. The other two machines didn’t fair as well and nothing was salvageable.
Today’s lesson? BACKUP!!!!!!!
I just searched HelpMeRick.com and found no less than 15 articles and tips directly related to
You can back up your address book very simply to a floppy disk or USB Flash drive and the heartache it has the potential to prevent far outweighs the thirty seconds it takes to complete the task. Follow these steps depending on the program you use:
Outlook Express Windows Mail Users
Windows Mail Users(Vista)
Thunderbird Users
AOL Users
Version less than 6.0, Start AOL, open the address book, insert a floppy or USB flash drive and use the “Save/Replace” button to save your address book.
Versions greater than 6.0 do not have the option of saving to a floppy because the address book is actually saved on AOL’s computers.
Juno Users
Refer to the instructions at Juno’s web site for details if you are using Juno 5.0 or earlier. Juno Platinum users can retrieve email in Outlook Express and use the instructions above.
I ran into a problem today with a Windows Vista machine that apparently isn’t unique. This tip only applies to Windows Vista users who use Windows mail.
Problem: Can’t delete any messages in Windows Mail…which also prevents new messages from being read.
Symptom: When you try and delete a message in Windows Mail, you get an “Internal Error” message then have to restart the program.
Solution:
That is a direct quote from a Freshman in college that I helped with her computer today. She purchased it just three days ago and already has Lime Wire installed. For those not familiar with Lime Wire, it is a service that many people use (especially college aged kids) to download free music, movies and more. In addition to be legally questionable (or downright illegal by some accounts), downloading free music is the single best way to completely screw-up a normally functioning computer.
Over the years, when we got calls from listeners with “slow computers”, our first question was “do you have any teenagers in the house?”. The reason we asked was that most unrestrained teenagers with Internet access will eventually install programs like Lime Wire and start downloading the free stuff.
I worked with three customers today who all used floppy disks as their main backup. All three users had Windows XP machines, but felt that floppy disks fit their needs the best. The picture I took here was from a consultant’s desk…there must be 20 floppies in that box. I explained to all these folks how simple, efficient and spacious a USB Flash drive could be for them. Whether they ‘bite’ or not only time will tell.
In my humble opinion, there is no good use for floppy disk any longer unless you happen to be using a DOS or Windows 95 machine. Flash drives are too inexpensive, reliable and easy to use not be using them. This weekend, I saw 2 GB (that’s nearly 2000 floppy disks worth of space) USB Flash Drives on sale for less than $20!
USB Flash Drives work best for backing up data that changes often. Data like Quicken, Quickbooks, email files, address books, bookmarks/favorites, word processing or spreadsheet documents all are perfect candidates. I don’t recommend using them to backup static data like pictuers and music. As cheap as USB Flash Drives are getting, they still aren’t anywhere near as cheap as DVD and CD media.
Adam and I first mentioned this nasty little virus earlier this spring on our radio show. The email that spreads it poses as an electronic greeting card from your friend or relative. Because the email is so poorly constructed, is never from a known address, and the link it displays in the body of the message is a number (NEVER, EVER Click a link that is constructed of a number, ex: http://91.188.176.15/) we didn’t put much credence in how much damage it could do.
I have seen a number of people lately who have insisted on backing up on USB flash drives and floppy disks.
Having two backups is always a good idea, but the era of the floppy has come and gone.
What’s wrong with floppies?
1. They scratch
2. They bend
3. Even a small particle of dust can hurt them
4. Almost any magnet can corrupt them – such as setting them too close to a computer speaker
5. Any accidental spill of any liquid will ruin them
None of these things are generally true about USB flash drives or CD-ROMS.
I have one flash drive that I intentionally let go through the wash on a regular basis. I have had it for three years and I still use it often.
So, if you want to make multiple backups of something, use
I will keep bringing this topic up again and again until every visitor to HelpMeRick.com makes a regular habit of backing up their valuable data. Already this week I have received three calls from computer users who lost valuable data due to a computer crash. In addition to the calls, I received another four or five emails from computer users in the same situation.
I know backup is monotonous, but it is also vital to protecting your digital information. For more than ten years I have written and soap boxed about backup and provided many tips on how to best approach this misunderstood and often forgotten computer skill. Establishing a backup routine is not difficult and once it is up and running is painless to maintain.