Why You Should Use Backup Software

Almost everyone has heard of Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will. This is a good summary of why you should use backup software for all your valuable computer files. As an owner of a computer software business for many years, I have witnessed first hand the need to backup your computer software and data files on a regular basis. Here are a few experiences I’ve encountered.

First, it is not a matter of “if” you will have a computer problem. Rather, it is a matter of “when”. I’ve always recommended that users have at least two backup copies of their data files. You should backup up daily when large amounts of information are entered or edited. Rotate your backup media each time you backup. This will insure that you always have a current backup, even if it is a day earlier.

In many cases, it is wise to have a third backup copy of your data files. Then, once each week do your backup using this third copy. Be sure to keep it at another site or in a fireproof vault. There is some very good recovery software available on the market today. However, if your computer or software was in the building that burned down last night, you can’t recover it.

Here’s one more experience. If your hard disk crashes and cannot be fixed, you cannot recover your data. I thought I was being really smart and used a Jazz drive as a backup option. After all, it is portable and external to my computer. Well, it worked very well for many years. Then, one day I heard this awful screeching sound. I soon discovered my Jazz drive had crashed. It had literally broken and could not be fixed. I could not access the Jazz drive no matter what I tried. Thankfully, I could use my jazz disk in another jazz drive.

I cannot count the number of times a user called and asked for help. Their hard disk had crashed and there were no backups. In some cases, we could refer them to a company that specialized in data recovery. Sometimes they got the information off of the faulty hard drive… sometimes they did not.

Here’s the bottom line… if you don’t want to take the time and effort, not to mention cost, to reenter all your data, use some type of backup software. Ideally, your software program should have a backup option included. Use it faithfully. One day you will be glad. I promise. 

P.S. Check out BackUp MyPC.

About The Author:

Larry Andrew is an educational consultant, author and publisher of www.ez-software-review.com. Learn how to purchase cheap, reliable and quality software for your home, school and business.

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