Top 10 Files to Backup

So you’ve seen our reviews of the best online data backup services and/or the best online storage solutions, and you’re ready to start backing up. You don’t want to backup everything, nor should you. But you want to make sure you’ve got the right files so that in the event of an emergency, replacing your files and getting back to normal will be easy. You’ve probably asked yourself, What files should I backup?

And while the answer entirely depends on what files you have on your computer and which ones you can’t live without, here’s a list of the most common files you’ll definitely want to consider (including a few that are commonly forgotten). As an added bonus, we’ll try and throw in a quirky little image with some good “backup” reference/symbolism/pun-age (mouse over picture for answer)

10) Pictures- When people are asked what they would grab from their home in the event of a fire, one of the most common responses is the family photo album. Think about how many digital photos you have uploaded from your camera and don’t have anywhere else but on your computer.

9) Music- Let’s face it, your extensive music collection would take forever to try and recreate. You’ll never find that random copy of the ’88 Oldsmobile jingle, let alone find time to reorganize your library.

8) Videos- whether they’re “backup” copies of your video collection, home videos, or just uploaded video camera footage, you’re “reel”y not going to want to lose it.

7) Documents- between thesis papers, business documents, and maybe even a copy of your will or a personal journal, you don’t want to lose your documents. Allow me to share three documents I’m glad I had another copy of: my journal, a spreadsheet with a list of wedding invitees, and my sister’s Senior year English papers.

7b) Templates- Especially don’t forget to backup any custom document templates you’ve downloaded or macros you’ve created.

6) Health and Financial Records- if you keep a budget, your financial documents, or important health records on your computer, don’t forget to back them up.

5) Email addresses, folders, and even emails- unless they’re all hosted online (and even then,) you’ll probably want to keep track of these; it’s a pain to try and track them all down again. Same goes for your cellphone; if you can backup your contacts, you should.

4) Internet bookmarks, shortcuts, etc.- You’ve spent a good deal of time customizing your browser experience and saving your favorites/bookmarks/shortcuts. To make recovering that info a cinch, back it up.

3) Downloaded software- So many programs and applications are downloaded online. If you’ve obtained software online (and especially if you paid for it), don’t forget to save a backup copy.

2) Drivers- They may come in small installments, but chances are that you’ve got a ton of drivers, updates and patches for software/hardware/applications that you’d be hard pressed to have time to find again.

1) Game Saves- Playing the game was a blast, but playing it AGAIN just to get back to the point that you were at?; Worthy of controller throwing.

Did we miss anything? Did you get all our not-so-subtle pictures?

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