Are you really sure you can restore data created with your computer backup software?

Business contacts, PowerPoint presentations, contracts, emails, client databases and text documents are all vital information for individuals who perform business using their computers. Bad thing do happen! Are you sure you can restore your data from your computer backup correctly and can you be back in business fast? Do you have a working backup strategy which is adapted to your business? Let's look at what can happen! There are three different scenarios to consider here. 1. Specific files or folders you are working with are deleted by accident or failure. 2. Your hard disk stops working. You have a hard disk failure. Or you get a virus infection on your computer which destroys your data. 3. You find that your computer is no more. This can be caused be a natural disaster, a house fire or by someone stealing you computer. Due to the very nature of the data loss. The action and preparation is different in each different case. It also depends on your specific circumstance. For example how valuable are your different types of data?

1.

In this case you are dealing with files which you are working with on a daily basis. These are files that you need to include in a pc backup on a regular basis. These are also likely to be data vital to your business.

Identify which these files are in advance. Most likely they are found in folders like MyDocument, your outlook emails or the database file you are using.

Identify good data backup software products from which you can make backup of your vital data on a regular basis. Make sure you store these vital data in a safe place.

For extra security, one option is to store your computer business data on a web server or to a computer online backup company. You have to make sure the data is decrypted if you use one of these options.

2.

In this case you have to buy a new hard disk if you have a hard disk failure. And you have to format or reformat the disk, maybe with the help of a technician from your local computer store.

The work involved reconfiguring the computer by installing Windows or an operating system can be extensive. Then you have to restore the data from your data backup.

To avoid this you may consider using a hard disk image computer backup solution. Then you will be able to restore from your computer backup of your hard disk directly to your new disk.

3.

This is of cause the most serious situation.

But, because you already have computer backup of your vital data that you are working with on a daily basis, you are now able to restore your business data to any configuration on a new computer.

The problem you are facing is that in order to restore all your computer hard disk data you need to have the same or similar configuration for everything to work as before.

Maybe the type or operating system you were working on is not available to buy. In any case you probably want the latest version.

This is where you may have problems!
You can install the old operating system if you have the installation CDs available.
If you install the computer storage program and install the data from the backup you can run into problems.

If you move to new operating system then you will run into problem. This is because, in the case of Windows, specific setting stored in registration files becomes entangled.

It is often not enough to use the same operating system as in the installation. This is because the backup from your computer can be stored with a different version than is used in your computer because you or someone installed an upgrade fix. Microsoft calls these upgrades Service Packs and the deep level data such as the registry and the operating routines are different.

You face the risk of losing the software you have installed from the Internet. You may therefore have to purchase new version of your application programs.

There are two actions to take depending on the values of the products you use in your business.

One: You find that the products you have downloaded or the application products you have bought, either is not of high enough value to you or you can always try to purchase them again.

Two: You keep record of all you products you have downloaded and purchased on the Internet so that you can contact the vendor for a replacement. You store all installation product and documentation so that you are able to install the products from the saved installation CD you have purchased.

Conclusion:

1. Make regular security data backups of the data you are working with on a daily basis and have the backup stored on a safe place. Preferably at a remote place.

2. Do make a backup of your hard disk when you have installed new software. This ensures that you can be back in business in the case of a corrupted hard disk or hard disk failure.

3. Document all your purchases and passwords. Keep records and store all installation software's. Keep all this in a remote location.

Learn the limitations of NT Backup

Larger companies using LAN networks need another solution!

Backup MyPC a backup solution for Windows!