Files & Folders:
Backup

 Title: Jan's Illustrated Computer Literacy 101

Now that you have created some documents, you need to consider how to safeguard your files. Nothing is like that horrible sinking, sick feeling that you get when you realize that you've destroyed/damaged/lost the one and only copy of something that took days to create.

Since removable disks are easy to lose or damage, you should have at least one copy of your work besides your Class disk. Such a copy is called your backup, so we will call this disk the Backup disk.

When working with your own computer at work or home, your files will normally be stored on a hard disk. To back up those files, you could just copy individual files to the removable disk as you complete each one.

Backup floppy disk: For a classroom situation the simplest method for floppy disks is to use the Copy Disk command to duplicate your Class disk. While this command also copies the blank space on the disk, it ensures that you have up-to-date copies of ALL the files on the disk.

Backup removable disk: Save one copy to a removable disk and one copy on your  home computer's hard disk. For important data, more than one backup is a really good idea!

Do not use Copy Disk for large capacity disks. It will take a LONG time. It is easier to copy the changed files to the Backup disk. Just look at the timestamp in an Explorer window for the files and copy the new ones to the Backup disk.

If you have a lot of files to backup, you will want to use some kind of backup software that will manage the files so that both disks have the same versions.


Where you are:
JegsWorks > Lessons > Windows

Before you start...

Project 1: Windows BasicsTo subtopics

Project 2: Files & Folders
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    Removable MediaTo subtopics
    Names
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    Files Subtopics display    
    icon-footprintText: Create & Save
    icon-footprintText: Edit & Print
    icon-footprintImage: Create & Save
    icon-footprintImage: Resize & Print
    icon-footprintBackup Data
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    ExercisesTo subtopics

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    Glossary
Icon Step-by-Step 

Step-by-Step: Backup a Floppy

  Icon Step-by-Step
What you will learn: to create a backup disk of a floppy disk

Start with:Desktop  Class disk  Blank Floppy disk

*****For floppy disks only, not USB or Zip!*****

Format the Backup Disk

  1. Insert your blank second floppy disk into drive A.
     
  2. Open an Explorer window for drive A.
     
  3. Right click Right click on drive A and from the popup menu choose  Format . This will make sure that your floppy disk is free from damage. Wouldn't it be silly to count on this disk for your backup and then find out it was damaged already!?

    WarningBe VERY sure that you have put the correct disk into the drive!!!
     

  4. Do a Full format so that the disk is checked for errors.
     
  5. Backup disk When you finish going through the Format sequence, eject the disk and label it as Backup. Include your name and the course, too.

Create the Backup Copy

  1. Class disk Insert your Class disk into drive A.
     
  2. Choose from the menu bar  View  >  Refresh . This refreshes the listing in the window to show the contents of the current disk in the drive.

     Keyboard tip  It is much faster, once you can remember it, to use the F5 key to refresh the file display.

    Be sure that the disk is your Class disk. This is your source disk for the Copy Disk sequence to follow.
     

  3. Right click Right click on drive A in the folder tree and select  Copy Disk . A Copy disk dialog appears. Unlike older computers, Windows can copy from A to A. Of course you have to swap disks in the floppy drive halfway through the process.

    Copy Disk dialog

    If you have more than one drive for removable media (floppy, SuperDisk, Zip, Jaz ...), you may have to choose the drive to copy from and the drive to copy to.
     

  4. Left click Click on the Start button.

    The progress bar at the bottom will gradually fill in as the disk is copied. It will stop at the half way mark when the source disk data has been read.
     

  5. Left click Click the OK button.
     
  6. Follow the instruction to insert the destination, or target, disk. (This means the disk you labeled Backup.)

    Message - Insert destination disk

    Warning Be sure you have these disks in the right order or you will lose all the documents on your Class disk!
     

  7. Disk copy is completeLeft click Click the OK button.
     
  8. When the Copy Disk sequence is finished, eject the Backup Disk. Mark the date on the label.

Make it a habit to have at least one backup copy of every important file. Consider just how much trouble it would be to have to recreate it. The minute or two it takes to make a copy can save you from data disaster!