Backup and save your business!
There you are busily typing on your PC or on your
Laptop, and suddenly the strangest thing happens.
The screen goes black, blown out like a candle in the
wind.
I get a message saying “The file hal.dll is missing or
corrupt. Windows can’t start.” Well, you know that 95% of
Computer crashes are resolved with a simple reboot, so
click… wow, can’t click, no Windows. OK then, you reboot,
and you think you’ll be fine when it restarts
complete.
Mistaken! I get the same error message “The file hal.dll is
missing or damaged. Windows can’t start.” How is it?
Is it possible for a measly file to wipe out your system?
DISASTER… What to do now? Call your tech friend and ask
his advice. He tells you the bad news. You are required to
Reinstall Windows from the original disc! Oh Lord! Willpower
Do I lose all my programs and data? Yes, you will have to go back to
install all your programs. No, your data can be safe, but
only if you don’t have to reformat your hard drive.
But, your friend asks, I hope you have all your backups.
YES, because that is the key to saving your business.
You know that in today’s business world, 95% of your
business information is stored on your computer. This
It applies not only to online businesses, but also to offline ones.
one is. In this paperless society of ours, businessmen
they are printing less and less of all their transactions.
Think hard. Where the hell did I hide my original Windows?
disc? Are you really organized enough to be able to
find your original installation discs, along with the code
numbers they need to reinstall.
He has some programs that he downloaded from the net, but
They are stored on your hard drive. Are they supported? When is
the last time you backed up your data, the soul of
your business.
What backup system do you use? you use the old
modern tape systems, or do you back up to CD or DVD?
Whichever you use, the key is that your backups should be
often enough to keep you out of major trouble.
Program backups do not have to be repeated constantly as
The data yes. Programs do not change unless you have downloaded a
update. Then your update should be saved to your hard drive,
and also endorsed.
Data includes so many different things that it’s easy
Forgot to back up some items. ‘My Documents’ contains a lot
of the data, but not nearly all. Do you know where your
Are favorite links stored? where is your email that you
saved? Along with your email address book, Microsoft hides
these files quite well.
It took me weeks to find them and then remember where they are.
hidden in Documents and Settings. I never found the
email settings, so you have not saved them.
Bottom line: what should you back up and how often?
Whichever medium you use, you must have at least 2
backup copies of everything, and preferably 3. If you use CD or
DVD, have you ever noticed how some discs suddenly become
illegible, and for no apparent reason. it happens oh too
frequently… I lose up to 15% this way. CDs have a
expected useful life of maybe 2 years. some will surely last
longer, too many die prematurely.
Does that mean you shouldn’t use CDs or DVDs for backup?
Of course you should. It is the cheapest backup system I know of. But you MUST have more than one copy. I prefer 3
The proof of this comes when you save your business by
be able to start over because your backups are up to date
date.
Imagine if you lose all your programs and have to buy them
again.
Imagine if you lose all your emails that have your
registration codes for programs you purchased online. AND
What about all the sales and purchase data in your emails?
What about your contact list, your email lists, etc.
Imagine losing all your accounting data that you must have
for the year-end tax return!
Enough talk. Programs already backed up in 2-3 copies only need to be updated by adding new programs you purchase and updates as they arise.
Data should be backed up depending on the frequency of your
proceedings. It can be daily, or every 2 or 3 days if
Your business is in the initial stage of growth.
Without backups… your business may be dead in the water!
Don’t neglect yourself. You can say I’ll keep a record or two
backing up less frequently. Because? A CD-rom disc costs a
dollar. Big deal when it means life or death to you
business.
Why risk it? Can anyone predict when you will have a
problem, a computer crash, a new virus? Of course not.
Don’t live dangerously, this isn’t an exciting ride, it’s
your life, your business life!
Fred Farah
copyright 2004