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Students, Backup

It is impossible to stress how important it is for you to backup your files on a regular basis to your home area (U:Drive),  to CD or memory stick.   If you choose not to back up your own files, you risk losing data.

How to backup files
Copying files
Recovering files that were backed up
Rocovering files that were deleted from the U:Drive

How to backup files

There are a number of ways to back up your work:

1. Copy files to your home area (U:Drive)

NUIG students who connect to the NetWare servers have 100MB of personal, secure, password-protected space in their home area (U: drive). Every night the server is backed up to tape and the tapes are kept for one month. Copies on the nightly backup tapes that can be restored in emergencies (Please note however, that information Solutions and Services do not take responsibility for user data. Please review the  Information Solutions and Services Backup Policy.

Choose the Save command from the File menu of the application and save to the U: drive (prefixed by your student ID number).  Select the Save As command and save the file with a different name.  This will give you two copies on your home area.  Click here for example of saving a Microsoft Word document under two different names

The media you choose to backup your files will depend on the quantity of data to be backed up and how frequently it changes.  Before we continue let's put data quantity into context:

• 1 byte: A single text character
• 1 KB = 1000 bytes
• 1 MB = 1000 KB = A short novel
• 1 GB = 1000 MB = A pickup truck filled with books
• Note: Programs are bulky! e.g. Microsoft Office is 242MB

 Now keeping data quantity in mind, let's look at our media options:

• USB Keys - come in a variety of sizes. 
• Recordable CD-ROMs (CD-R) - can hold 650MB but data cannot be overwritten.
• Re-writable CD-ROMs (CR-RW) - can hold 650MB/700MB and data can be erased and re-written on the CD-RW.

A note on CDs and DVDS
There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to CDs and DVDs so let's cover some basics.

• Many CD drives can also read DVDs.  If the CD drive on your machine says 'DVD-ROM' it means that it will read DVDs but it is NOT a DVD burner.
• DVD burners will say 'DVD Writable' or 'DVD RW' or 'DVD Multi Recorder'
• When buying blank DVDs, it is easy to buy the wrong type. Your DVD burner should say either 'DVD ' or 'DVD-'.  You should buy blank DVDs that correspond with your burner.

To copy files to CD-R and CD-RW

Click here for information Solutions and Services documentation on creating CDs.

Where to look for files to backup

Personal files can be stored in any number of places. Each application you use will save files in a "default" folder or you can save to any location you choose. It is important to notice where you are saving files and not simply rely on the program's default location. If you know where you are saving files, you will know what folders to back up for safety.

Recovering Files that Were Backed Up

If you are restoring a file that has been lost or corrupt, simply find the file wherever you chose to back it up and use drag and drop copy it to your original location. 

Recovering Files Deleted from the U:Drive 

If you want to recover a file deleted from your U: drive, go to My Computer, select your U:drive right click.  From the drop down menu select Salvage Files.  A "Salvage Network Files" window will open. Select the file you want to recover and click Salvage File, the file will be returned to the location in the U:Drive from where it was deleted.  Deleted files can be recovered up to 21 days after deletion.

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