Recommended Backup Techniques
Here are some useful backup techniques to help you get the most out of your backup tasks:
Include a date code in the name of the backup folder:
This will help you identify the dates of the backup you make on your DataPocket or other device you use for your backup. Also, it gives you a convenient way to sort your backups by date on your computer. Your computer file management program can organize contents by number and letter sequence.
Keep more than one version of the same backup task:
This will provide you extra security in the case that you need to find a file that you deleted or changed before the most recent backup. If you keep multiple versions of the same backup task, you have the option of going back two, three or however many versions you keep to find the data you need.
You can use this technique together with using date codes to optimally manage your backup tasks.
In the combined example here, you can see that this user has backed up her ‘My Critical Data’ and ‘My Pictures’ at the end of 2004 on December 31.
You can also see that she regularly backs up her ‘My Critical Data’ once a week on Fridays keeping 3 versions. And, that she backed up her ‘My Pictures’ again on February 15, 2005.
Group your backups by date or by name:
If you prefer to have all your backups grouped by date, put the 6-digit YYMMDD date code in the front of the backup folder name.
If you prefer to view your backups grouped by name, put the date code at the end.
Use special characters to organize your backup folder listing:
In addition to using numbers and letters, you can also use punctuation marks to make selected folders appear at the top of the list.
A portable hard drive like DataPocket can help you run your regular backups and make it convenient for you to back up on the road.
