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Good computing practice calls for backing up files on a routine basis. Backing up data on a computer is the responsibility of each user. FSC does not have a central back up system for desktop data. The frequency of backups is often based on the importance of a file, with important documents backed up more frequently than less important files. A good rule of thumb is to back up your data whenever you have done enough work that you would not want to repeat if your changes were lost.
Any one of the following occurrences could mean the loss of important work unless personal files are backed up:
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Accidental Deletion: One of the most common problems with any personal computer is that people occasionally delete files accidentally. There are utilities available to help undelete files, but these tools are cumbersome and not 100% reliable. If a file is deleted, it is much easier to restore it from backups than it is to try to locate and recover the file using a utility program, particularly when away from campus or in the middle of an exam.
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Hardware Failure: Hard drive failure can occasionally happen. If the hard drive fails, there may be no way to recover any of the data on the drive. If those files are not copied to a backup diskette or other media such as Zip, CD, or Server Space allocated to you upon creation of your user account, all work may be lost.
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Virus: On occasion a virus can damage data or make data inaccessible. A virus is potentially destructive software that spreads from program to program or from disk to disk. Even though some viruses do not intentionally damage your data, all viruses can be considered malicious software since they modify your programs without your permission and with occasional disastrous results. A virus is one specific type of program written deliberately to cause harm to someone's computer or to use that computer in an unauthorized way.
2 most common ways of backing up data are:
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To a CD-R or CD-RW - Some of our desktops and laptops come equipped with a CD-RW. This means you can read CDs and write to blank CDs. These are especially good for large amounts of data. This process can take in excess of one hour per CD of data written. A CD-R or CD-RW can hold up to 700 MB of data. NOTE: A CD-R can only be written to once and cannot be edited once burned but is less expensive than CD-RW. A CD-RW behaves like a floppy disk, once formatted, and may be written to an infinite number of times. Files may be edited, added and/or deleted. Not all CD-RWs play in all CD players. Using the Adaptec Software, which is a part of the standard software load, you have the ability to create data and audio CDs for educational purposes.
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Network Share or drive- If you need
access to a network share, please put in a request
to the Helpdesk and a share will be created for you.
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