There is always a conflict between the need to make sure that all your data is safe and the fact that the more files you have the more complex and lengthy the back up process is going to be. This page will discuss issues surrounding which files to backup and suggest some ways of making it easier and simpler to perform a hard drive backup even if you have an enormous number of files.

Data files hold information that you have created. These could be Word documents that include articles and letters that you have authored. Photographs are included in this definition. Also included are any spreadsheets that you have created. All files that are created by your actions when you are using the software programs of your choice constitute data files and they contain, quite obviously, your personal information. This is the information that is important to you and the data that on which you will perform a hard drive backup.

All of these without question need to be backed up carefully and properly on a regular basis. Even though you will use backup software your hard drive backup procedure will be made vastly easier if you store your files in an organised fashion. For instance if you make sure that all your data is stored subfolders in your My Documents folder, all you need to tell the hard drive backup software is to backup the My Documents folder and all its contained sub folders. You will not need to give the program a long list of folders or files.

Essentially make sure that all your files are in main folders in a few locations.

There are some system files that you may want to backup. For instance, you may want to make sure that your list of favourites is never lost. However, there is probably no need to hard drive backup core system files such as the files needed to run the operating system. If your machine breaks down to the extent that you need to reload the operating system then you will have probably been given (or told how to create) the necessary media for this so that you can rebuild your machine. There is no need to backup these core system files. In fact, even if you did you probably couldn’t use them as is because usually a new system needs to have the files in pristine condition. Those operating system files taken from a backup of your computer will have been used and changed and would probably not work for a new installation.

If you know which files store your settings for your operating system and its functionality it would be worthwhile making sure those files are included in your hard drive backup procedure too. Of course, on business systems where servers need a lot of configuration and set up there would be a need to create backups of that information, but this article addresses home users.