Computer Spring Cleaning Part 2

Andrea Mercado

Reference & Techie Librarian

Reading Public Library

What we’ll cover:

• Windows XP methods

• Data backup methods– Hardware– Software– Online options

• Restore points

• Brief demos

• Pointers to detailed information to get you started at home

Basic Maintenance

• Starts with keeping things tidy:– Save files to My Documents– Desktop is *not* storage– Organize your files into folders– Desktop shortcuts for frequently used

programs only– Purge unnecessary files and programs

Organize Your Files

• Create folders in My Documents by topic: http://tinyurl.com/23qq9q

• Know where your stuff lives

• Search for files is faster and easier

• Back up is easier

• Tell programs to save to My Documents

Windows Backup Utility

• Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup

What to Back Up

• My documents and settings: Usually your best bet– data files– e-mail messages– address books– personal settings for all applications

• Everyone's documents and settings: all of the above for multiple users

• All information: will take a *long* time• Let me choose: specific/advanced

Backup Destination

• Type is already chosen & grayed out

• Destination:– Local hard drive

• Current drive (C:\)• Additional internal drive

– USB drive– External or mini portable hard drive– Shared network drive

Tips on buying a hard drive• Buy something to grow into• Pictures/movies/music require lots more

space long-term• USB drive: extremely portable, maxes out at

4 GB• Mini portable drives: compact, travel-worthy,

won’t hold as muchPC Mag: http://tinyurl.com/ysfos2

• Regular external hard drives: hold tons of data, don’t like travel, require 3-prong outletsPC World: http://tinyurl.com/258zo3

How Much Data Is That?

• 1 byte = 8 bits = ~One character

• 1 kilobyte = 1,024 bytes = Joke

• 1 MB = ~1,049 KB = Small novel/floppy

• 1 GB = Broadcast quality movie

• 1 terabyte (TB) = 50,000 trees made into paper and printed

• Data care of James S. Huggins’ Refrigerator Door: http://tinyurl.com/5off6

Naming your backups

• Create folder(s) for your backups– One folder for everything (monthly)– Folder for each month (for multiple

backups per month)

• Helps to add the date to the name, examples (date format helps with sorts):– 20070530-Backup– Backup-20070530– 20070530

Remember to click “Finish”

• Not done yet…

Click the “Finish” button to actually start the

backup process.

You can keep working until…

“The backup is complete.”

Restoring data from backups

• Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup

• Click Next, then select Restore files and settings

• Select files to restore

Restore to…?

“Restore files to:•Original location•Alternate location•Single Folder”

Restore location options

• Original location: overwrites originals. Use when you restore the whole computer.

• Alternate location: Does not overwrite existing files, preserves folders.

• Single folder: Use to separate the restored files or folders from the rest of the files on the hard disk; does not preserve folders!

Online backup options

• Email: Especially for the smaller jobs

• Online backup storage sites:– Six Free Online Storage Services

http://tinyurl.com/3755tn– PCWorld.com: Store It on the Web

http://tinyurl.com/22cdx5

System Restore

• Creates snapshots of your computer system, saved as Restore Points

• Automatically creates Restore Points:– Once a day– Before installation of:

• New device drivers• Automatic updates• Unsigned drivers• Some applications

• Restoring will not affect personal data

Access System Restore

• Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

• Restore my computer to an earlier time to go back to a pre-change spot– Bolded dates in calendar have restore

points– Choose from the list

• Create a restore point by hand

Scheduling Backup Tasks

• Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks

• Double-click Add Scheduled Task, click next

• Select either Backup or System Restore from list

• Customize schedule and settings

Continuing Education

• Windows XP Backup Made Easy Microsoft: http://tinyurl.com/3lvzn

• How to restore files and foldershttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/309340

• Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use Microsoft: http://tinyurl.com/3oh2z

• How To Schedule Tasks in Windows XPMicrosoft: http://tinyurl.com/2d35ud

• PCWorld.com: How to buy a hard drivehttp://tinyurl.com/2545rn