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

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

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

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

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

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

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 much PC Mag : http://tinyurl.com/ysfos2 Regular external hard drives : hold tons of data, don’t like travel, require 3-prong outlets PC World : http://tinyurl.com/258zo3

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 much PC Mag : http://tinyurl.com/ysfos2

Regular external hard drives : hold tons of data, don’t like travel, require 3-prong outlets PC 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

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

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.

Not done yet…

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

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 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!

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

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

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

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

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 folders http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309340 Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use Microsoft: http://tinyurl.com/3oh2z How To Schedule Tasks in Windows XP Microsoft: http:// tinyurl .com/2d35ud PCWorld.com: How to buy a hard drive http:// tinyurl .com/2545rn

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

How to restore files and folders http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309340

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

How To Schedule Tasks in Windows XP Microsoft: http:// tinyurl .com/2d35ud

PCWorld.com: How to buy a hard drive http:// tinyurl .com/2545rn