How to backup your data

While technology is improving every day, it does fail sometimes. Frequently backing up essential data is extremely important. Please see the instructions below for your operating system and backup method.

Windows - Backing up to CD

Where is My Data?

On a windows machine data specific to each user is stored in the User Profile. Typically every user has their own profile. In the Windows XP operating system user profiles are stored in the C:\Documents and Settings directory. Inside this directory are all the files specific to you, including My Documents, My Pictures and My Music.

Backing Up to CD or DVD

Not all computers on campus have DVD burners, but nearly all have CD burners. If your campus owned machine is without a CD burner, please contact the Technology Helpline and request to have one installed.

Steps for Backing up to CD or DVD

1. Insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive on your computer.
2. You will be prompted with a window asking you what you want to do.
3. Select Open writable CD folder using Windows Explorer.
4. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\username and click and drag any folders you would like to back up to the D:\ window. If you are backing up user information for web browsers, you will want to delete any cache files first. Different application settings are found in different locations in the user profile.
   
5. When you are ready to burn the CD, click the Write these files to CD option.

Formatting CDRWs With Nero InCD

Before you can use SmartBackup to backup your data to CDRWs, they must be formatted. Note, you cannot use CDR's with InCD, just CDRW's.

• Insert a blank CDRW into your CDRW drive.
• Double click on My Computer.
• Right click on your CDRW drive and select InCD format.
• Give your CDRW a name in the Label field (note, if you need to backup to multiple CDRWs, they must have unique names).
• Click "Start". InCD will now format your CDRW.
• When you are returned to the InCD format utility window, click on Eject CD
• You may be given options on how you want to access the CDRW. Select Leave As Is and click OK.
• Close the InCD format utility window.

Setting Backup Criteria

With SmartBackup, you can setup and save backup criteria.

• Open SmartBackup by double-clicking on the SmartBackup tray icon (see figure 1).
• Click on "Create Backup".
• On the General tab, specify a name for your backup in the Name field.
• Click on the icon next to the Destination Path field
• Select your CDRW (see figure 2).
• On the Refreshes and Other Settings tab, check "Enable Automatic Refresh" to schedule a regular backup.
• Set the frequency you desire.
• Check "Activate Spanning on Multiple Disks".
• Click "Next".
• Select the files and folders you want to backup. For example, to backup your MyLocalData folder, click on the box next to MyLocalData.
• Click "Next" to save the criteria and run the backup now, or click Save and Exit to save the criteria.

Running a backup

A scheduled backup will run with the saved criteria you specified. You will be prompted to insert your backup CD. Note that if your backup is larger than one CD, you will be prompted to insert subsequent disks (CDs.)

You can also run a saved backup manually at any time

• Open SmartBackup by double clicking on the SmartBackup tray icon (see figure 1).
• Click "Maintain Backup".
• Select the backup you wish to run.
• Click "Refresh".

Restoring from backup

To restore files from your backup CD

• Open SmartBackup by double clicking on the SmartBackup tray icon (see figure 1).
• Click "Maintain Backup".
• Select the backup you wish to restore from.
• Click "Restore".
• Select the files or folders you wish to restore.
• Click "Finish".

Macintosh - Backup

Where is My Data

On a Apple Macintosh computer running OS X data specific to each user is stored in their home directory. Typically every user has their own home directory that may be located by navigating to Macintosh HD / Users / username. Inside this directory are all the files specific to you, including Desktop, Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures and Library (a.k.a. settings).

Using a Hard Drive and Time Machine (Recommended)

Backing up with Time Machine is the easiest way to be able to backup and restore your Apple computer. To use Time Machine you must be running OS X 10.5 Leopard and have an extra blank hard drive - this can be internal or external to your computer. More information about Time Machine can be found at If you need to be upgraded for Time Machine please contact Technology Services x6111.

Setting up Time Machine

Preparing Your Hard Drive

1. Connect your extra hard drive. It should show up on the desktop.
2. To gain the most performance we should format our hard drive by formatting it with Disk Utility. Open Disk Utility by navigating to Macintosh HD / Applications / Utilites / Disk Utility
   1. Select your extra hard drive in the left hand column. Make sure you select the correct one!
   2. You may see two parts to your extra drive. Click the top most part.
   3. Click the Erase tab on the right.
   4. Volume format should be Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
   5. Name the hard drive something that differentiates it as a backup drive such as Backup_Drive.
   6. Click Erase.
   7. After a few moments the process will complete. Quit Disk Utility

Enabling Time Machine and Backing Up

1. Navigate to Apple Menu / System Preferences / Time Machine.
   1. Click Change Disk and select your newly formatted backup drive.
   2. Click Options to exclude any folders. If your extra hard drive is large enough just backup the entire thing. This is most effective when recovered from a crash. Otherwise exclude folders you do not want.
2. Turn on Time Machine by clicking the On switch.
3. Backups will begin and be automatic as long as the hard drive is connected. You do not have to worry about scheduling. By default Time Machine will make incremental backups every hour, every week and every month. Let it do the math.

Backing up to CD/DVD with DMG Converter

If you just want to backup a smaller amount of files and do not have an external hard drive you can use a free program called . DMG Converter will enable you to burn on to CD or DVD fairly easily, but requires a few more steps than the [#Time Machine]] method.

Download and Install DMG Converter

1. Download from the manufacture's website.
2. After download completes click the downloaded .dmg file. It will mount on your desktop an install disk on your desktop.
3. Double-click the install disk to open it and drag DMGConverter to Macintosh HD / Applications.
4. For quick access you can choose to drag this application to your dock.

Open & Set Default Settings

1. Double-click DMGConverter to open it.
2. Click the Preferences button.
3. Under the New Image tab make the Partitions be Single Partition - CD/DVD
4. If you are backing up to CD set the Segment Size to be 650 MB under the Segment tab.
5. If you are backing up to DVD set the Segment Size to be 4.2 GB.

1.3 Formatting CDRWs With Nero InCD 1.4 Setting Backup Criteria 1.5 Running a backup 1.6 Restoring from backup