Samsung MZ-5PA256C User Manual - Page 51

Best practices for backing up your data 51 Best practices for backing up About backups When you back up your computer, you choose from two types of backups: ■ drive-based backup: backs up an entire hard drive ■ file and folder backup: backs up only the files and folders you select Which backup type you choose depends on what you are trying to protect and how much storage space you have to store backup data (recovery points, and file and folder backup data). The following table highlights the key uses of each backup type: Backup type Drive-based backup File and folder backup Use to ■ Back up and recover your computer (system drive, typically drive C) ■ Back up and recover a specific hard drive (any secondary drive, drives other than your system drive) ■ Recover lost or damaged files or folders using recovery points ■ Back up and recover specific files and folders, such as personal files stored in the My Documents folder ■ Back up and recover files of a specific type, such as music (.mp3, .wav) or photographs (.jpg, .bmp) Before you back up Consider these best practices before you define and run your first back up: Schedule back ups when you know Your computer must be turned on and Windows must your computer will be turned on. be running at the time a back up occurs. If not, any scheduled back ups are skipped until the computer is turned on again. You then are prompted to run the missed back up. See "About choosing a backup type" on page 50. Use a secondary hard disk as your backup destination. You should store recovery points on a hard disk other than your primary hard disk C. It helps ensure that you can recover your system in the event that your primary hard disk fails. See "About selecting a backup destination" on page 56.