Backing up your computer

For many of us, the memory on our computers can seem more crucial than the memory in our brains.

Hoping that’s a stretch and you all have meaningful personal lives outside the world of technology . . . still . . . one crash, one system failure, one freak accident of nature (like the time in college when my attic room’s ceiling broke open and torrents of rain washed out my laptop) can make you wish you had planned ahead.

It’s a good idea to not only back up files from My Documents, your Desktop, etc. on a regular basis, but also crucial bits of information that make your life run smoothly:

• Bookmarks (Manage Bookmarks > Export)
• Passwords saved by your browser (Tools > Options > Security > Passwords)
• Files used by your FTP Client
• Installation files for programs on your computer
• A list of programs on your computer (and any usernames, directions, contacts, etc. you may need to reinstall them later)

The way you save the info doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you do it. Find some space on a flash drive, an external hard drive, your kid’s xbox . . . or burn a few DVDs from time to time. Each time, organize your files and save your new backup info on top of what you have before so you’re not cluttering valuable space.

This is a great way to reduce stress, clean up your life, and to help you keep your calm a little more the next time your computer has a run-in with baseballs, electrical storms, over-zealous children, or just plain old-age.