How to avoid losing your data
With most operating systems, people have the tendency to install the OS on the same drive or partition where their data will be stored. The problem with this approach is that, if something happens with the operating system and the drive or partition needs to be reformatted, you could lose your data. This can be avoided.
Data on a separate partition
If you only have one hard disk, split it up in at least two separate partitions. Most OSes have software to do this. Make the first partition 10 to 20 GB larger than is minimally required by the operating system, for future use. This is where you install your operating system. Use your second partition to store your data. If something happens to your operating system, and it needs to be reinstalled, you can safely reformat your first partition, without touching the information on the second partition.
Data on a separate disk
Although having the data on a separate partition can be helpful with operating systems that regularly crash (read: Windows), it doesn’t guard your data against hard disk failures. If for some reason your hard drive gets corrupted and or useless, there’s virtually no way to get your data from that disk without risk of losing some, if not all.
With this in mind, having your data on a separate hard disk is a better option. In this case, replacing a defective hard drive where the operating system resides can be done without fear of losing the data.
Backups to external media
Yes, of course, the disk holding your data could also crash. We don’t dare to think of the day that happens. Just be prepared! Backup, backup, backup!
Depending on the amount of information you keep, you will have to decide upon the type of backups you need to make, the media you will use and the frequency.
Types of backups
There are two types of backup used frequently:
- Full backups: With this type you actually make a copy of everything that needs backing up. Sometimes it’s compressed (zipped), sometimes it’s just placed as a real time copy.
- Incremental backups: With this type, you first make a copy of everything you need to backup. From that point on, when you make a backup, the first backup is updated with any data that has been added, deleted or updated since the last backup.
Backup media
The type of media you will use to make backups of your files will depend on the type and amount of information that needs backing up. Architects or print designers may needs Tera Byte external hard drives to store their backups, while a secretary, who only creates documents in Word and Excel, may find a 2 GB USB stick or a DVD sufficient.
A very important fact to remember is that no media has everlasting life. Just to be safe, replace your backup media every year or two.
Backup frequency
This is a very important factor to consider. The more often you plan to make backups the more wear and tear you can expect on your media, which gives your media a shorter life span.
Backup frequency is usually dependent on how the amount of work you produce in a given interval. Content publishers who write new content daily may choose to backup on a weekly basis.
Restoring your data
Before you even start backing up your data, make sure you know how you will be able to restore it. A backup is of no use if you can’t restore it. Before you restore your data, verify that the media you will be using to restore to is clean and without defects.
Whatever choice you make concerning the storage of your data in relation to the operating system, the best defense against data loss is to remember to make regular backups of your data on dependable media sources.
