You probably have heard this often, but you really should back up all your important files and data. Do it on a regular schedule, such as every Sunday morning, or the first Monday of the month (at least). Bad things happen in this world, and you must be prepared. A common voltage spike could damage or fry your computer, even if you have a surge protector.

Or a power failure could cause you to lose everything since your last save. Your computer may break down or get stolen (it happened to me), or in a moment of inattention you delete a file. Yes, it goes to the Recycle Bin from where you can recover it if you notice what happened and you do not empty the Bin. This is why I recommend you never skip this Recycle Bin step and delete stuff directly.

Did I mention you should always back up your important or main files? And do not forget those priceless photos, favorite music and videos.

You can make the process fairly quick and painless. Here is how I have set things up on one of my computers. On the Desktop, I have a folder called Master. Inside this folder are dozens of sub-folders containing all my main or important files, programs and data. To make a backup, all I have to do is plug in a little thumb drive and copy the one single Master folder. It takes 5 – 10 minutes, while I enjoy a well-earned coffee break!

You can your data on CDs or DVDs, but these deteriorate with time, and may not be suitable for long term storage. I suggest a thumb or USB drive, external hard drive or an online storage service, of which many are free.

You may even want to use two different backup methods for the really critical stuff you simply cannot lose. If you use a drive or disk, keep them in another house or building in case of fire, floods or other natural disasters. Bank safety deposit boxes are good.

A big advantage of the online storage services is of course that your data is off-site, far from your computer and potential dangers. A disadvantage is that the files and data are out of your control. Most of these services have redundant disk arrays, mirrored data in a second site, etc. Even so, data can get lost, corrupted, deleted, copied or stolen.

Here is another reason to back up your files. You may be working on a large document, make a mess of it and then save the mess. Microsoft Office has tools to help you recover an earlier version of your file. But your own actual backup is like a warm security blanket that will preserve your sanity, and maybe your job and marriage as well.

Backing up your files and folders is even more important for laptop users, because of the risk of loss or theft of the entire computer. Do not keep your backup media or drive in your laptop bag, in case it is stolen or lost along with the laptop. This is where your thumb drive proves its worth; just slip it into your pocket!

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here:
= > http://MyPCSecuritySite.com

You may include these Tips in your Web sites and publications provided they remain unchanged and include the above paragraph, with the author’s name and Web site. You can also get a direct URL to this post. Click the title, then copy the URL in the browser address bar.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!