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Depending on your approach, backing up your files, emails, or your entire hardrive can be a time consuming nightmare. Most people are not even aware of all of the different things that should be backed up let alone how to do a backup. Every situation is different and so should your method to secure your files in case of a melt down.

Here's a quick look at some of the types of backups solutions that can be performed:

• Backup of your entire Operating System
• Hardrive Duplication, Cloning
• Backup to CD/DVD, USB / Memory stick
• Backup to External Hardrive
• Backup to a second Internal Hardrive
• Automated Scheduled Backups
• Synchronisation

Top 10 Things To Backup?
1) Pictures
2) The entire Operating System
3) Partition Tables
4) Computer Registry
5) Boot Files
6) Most Important Drivers and Software Installation files + Product Keys
7) Email Messages, Attachments, and Contacts 
8) Documents, Databases, Working Files, Accounting data files
9) Saved Game data 
10) Bookmarks and favorites

Backup Strategies - Separating your operating system from where you store your files
You never know when you operating system or hardrive will fail. If all of your data resides on the same hardrive as your operating system, there tends to be an increased risk of data loss. But just because you have your data on a separate partition or a separate hardrive all together, it doesn't guarantee that it is completely safe.

Here is an example of an effective backup strategy:
Hardrive 1 – Operating System (Connected)
Hardrive 2 – Data / Files / Pictures (Connected)
Hardrive 3 – Clone of the Operating System (Disconnected)
Hardrive 4 – Backup of Data on Hardrive 2 (Connected or Disconnected)

If Hardrive 4 is left connected, then it is easier to synchronize or schedule automatic backups but it is not as safe as being disconnected. For ex – I lightening strike would affect all connected drives.

Hardrive 3 can store either an image of Hardrive 1, or an exact clone. To achieve an exact clone, you will of course need another blank hardrive of equal or greater value. Then you would use cloning software to do a bit by bit clone of Hardrive 1, onto Hardrive 3. In the end, you will have two hardrives that are exactly the same and that are both capable of booting up your operating system.

The cloning method has other uses as well. If you suspect your drive is filling up, or maybe failing due to bad sectors, then cloning your entire drive onto a nice new larger hardrive is a great solution. If your initial hardrive was physically damaged, cloning onto a new hardrive would eliminate that problem all together. Another bonus of cloning onto a newer drive is that the drive you purchase will likely be newer in technology allowing it to run faster. That way you will be able to copy data to it faster as well as allow your operating system to run a bit faster. Cloning also buys you the time you need to do further analysis and repairs to the file system.

To backup the operating system: (Hardrive 1)
To backup your OS, turn your computer off, pull the power cord, wait 30 seconds, and disconnect all other hardrives except your OS drive and a blank hardrive or equal or greater value. Next your would boot your computer using your cloning software of choice. That way when you initiate your cloning procedures, there will only be the 2 hardrives to choose from. One to set as your target and one to set as your source. This prevents wiping out the wrong hardrive. After the cloning is finished, disconnect the original OS hardrive and boot off of the clone. That way you will have tested the clone. You may choose to leave the clone installed and place the original somewhere safe or just leave it disconnected. Never keep both the clone and the Original Operating System connected at the same time to avoid problems.

Now if something ever happens to your system, you can swap out the hardrive and be up and running in 1 min.

To backup your data drive: (Hardrive 2)
You can clone your data drive but it is not as practical since your data drive is constantly being added to. Instead, it is better to synchronize your data drive or partition with another partition that has enough space to hold all of the data it contains. You can also set up an automatic backup that runs once a week or whenever you have done a lot of work. You should always have 3 backups of your most important hardrives or partitions. Each backup should be on a different hardrive.

Why Backup?
You could lose all of the files that you have ever created including documents, pictures, emails, and notes, music, address books, bookmarks, software licenses, saved game data, or videos.
You could lose all of your software, updates, virus definitions, hotfixes, patches, drivers, and not to mention your entire operating system that you may not have an installation disk to replace.
You could lose all of the time it took to tweak your computer, organize everything, get the bugs worked out, install all of the security, the money you put out to have it serviced, and the massive collection of software and games you had all working nicely together.

Why not start fresh?
You will reach a point where starting fresh is no longer really an option. Downtime can really cost you especially if you are running a business. Why not repair the problems and fix the damage. Then prevent the viruses from getting in altogether. If you have a good tested backup in place, you can fix the problems thoroughly and if something goes wrong along the way, you will have another chance of restoring your data or operating system.

You can set up regularly scheduled backups that will allow you to sleep at night once again.

If you need assistance in these matters, please let me know. Thanks for reading. Do you know anyone who could use this info?
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Computer Problems - How to tame your computer
Does your computer have a mind of its own? For many people, daily computing is a nightmare. In order to solve the problems you are having right now, we need to separate them and identify exactly what you are having a problem with. Computer problems tend to fall into one of these two categories:

* Software Issues
* Hardware Issues

Often it is a software related issue that will cause problems with your hardware. In the case of physical hardware failure, the most likely devices to fail are the ones with moving parts such as your fans or even your hardrive.

Now lets look at some of that problems people usually struggle with:

* security related
* Internet connection issues
* Internet browser problems
* performance issues
* gadget/ peripheral related

Its amazing that our computers run as good as they do when you consider all of the different hardware and software that is trying to run harmoniously. From day one, your computer will go through many changes and will need maintenance from time to time. If you are not hooked up to the Internet, then your computer can run pretty much the same for a long time. The problems usually start when you hook up to the Internet.

Here are some possible culprits:

* unwanted programs and services might get installed
* you could get an update that might render a program useless
* an update may cause your computer to get a blue screen of death
* your computer might get attacked by spyware, malware, or other viruses
* a program you install could conflict with existing hardware or software

What if your computer was working just fine yesterday
If you are sure you never installed anything or changed any settings, then one of the culprits mentioned above is likely to blame. There is a reason for every computer problem. The key to finding the solution is to look for clues and learn all that you can about the problem. Clues can be obtained by changing the problem slightly to see if there is any improvement. Another way to find clues is to look on-line for people who had similar problems. Even people with completely different hardware and software can provide you with an idea as to what maybe causing the problem.
What if your computer will not turn on any more? There are so many reasons why this might happen but here are the ones that seem to happen the most:

* an important system file gets corrupted
* the hardrive is starting to fail
* the computer has a bad virus or several
* the power supply has failed
* a fan quit and is causing the computer to overheat and shut down

Luckily there is an really good chance that these problems can be fixed relatively easily. Even if your hardrive is failing, you could have it backed up using a technique called hardrive cloning or imaging. In this process, everything would be copied to a new hardrive. The faster you deal with a failing hardrive the better. If you suspect such a failure is imminent and occurring, have your tech run a hardrive integrity check. It is good practise to check from time to time anyway even if everything is running fine.Conclusion:
There is always a way to fix a computer problem. Even the most stubborn problems have a solution waiting to be discovered. If a program is always giving you grief, it might be time to look for an alternative. If after reading this article you find yourself still fighting through it, I will be happy to assist.