Topic 3

Managing digital information on a Computer:

 

How and why we need to back-up our information.

 

Backing-up information basically means making a copy of all your information into a different source of storage such as an external hardrive, a usb, or using online storage services like skydrive and dropbox.

 

We can back up all sorts of information such as documents(excel spreadsheets, microsoft word, powerpoint presentations, cv's), music files, videos, pictures and so on.

 

Basic instructions of backing-Up data: 

• Use a backup drive e.g usb.CD or DVD
• Plug it in you will be asked if you want to use it as backup and click yes if you don't get this prompt go to the start button and type backup you will be given similar options
• from the click the setup backup button pick the external drive you plugged in and click next till you are given another option except next
• on the last screen hit save,setting and run backup the computer will restart after that you don't need to this process again

Back-up methods and precautions:

• You may choose to run your back ups weekly monthly or daily.
• You need to back up information regularly.
• If you backup your information more regularly you'll have more updated information if you need to do a restore however backing up information can be tedious and time consuming but there are options of automating backups.
• Be careful of what you choose to backup it's always ideal to always backup critical information.
• Backups help to recover information in case a computer crashes or in an event of a disaster e.g fire.