[Hidden-tech] Backing up your work

[Jan Werner]

This seems to have sparked a lot of discussion, so here is an expanded 
version of some comments I had sent directly to Amy.

1) Saving is NOT the same as backing up. If you want to keep your work 
safe, you must back it up to a different file than the working file. 
Most programs overwrite the working file when saving, so earlier 
versions are normally permanently destroyed each time you save.

2) In Microsoft Word, you can set an option (Tools/Options/Save) to make 
a backup copy each time you save the file. This keeps the second most 
recent version of the file as a copy (deleting the previous one). Most 
text editors provide a similar capability, although very few enable it 
by default.

3) There are many automatic backup programs (GoBack, Autosave, Second 
Copy, etc.) that will copy changed files to a different location or 
device while you work on a preset schedule. These can cause problems 
because of conflicts with the way some programs use disk work areas, so 
check thoroughly before installing one of them.

4) Undelete (http://www.undelete.com -$40) is a program that greatly 
expands the capabilities of the Windows Recycle Bin and allows you to 
save multiple versions of selected document types instead of letting the 
originating program overwrite them when saving. I personally consider 
Undelete to be a critical investment for anyone who writes on their 
Windows computer.

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Aside from that, if your computer hard disk contains your livelihood, it 
is suicidal not to plan a backup strategy BEFORE you need it. My first 
choice for most Windows users is Acronis True Image ($50), which offers 
the flexibility of both disk/partition imaging and file by file backups, 
with individual file recovery from both types. It also allows you to 
create bootable emergency recovery media which support virtually any 
kind of external storage media, local or networked, and is easy enough 
for even complete novices to use.


Jan Werner