The Importance of Making Backups
Real estate agents claim that the three most important aids to
selling a property are, location, location, and location. In a similar
manner, computer users soon learn that the three most important
things to remember are: make backups, make backups and make backups.
You can backup your collection data within the
program
When your computer "crashes" (note that we said "when"
and not "if"), you will most likely have to repair your
hard drive, or, at the very least, re-format and install all your
applications again. This is tedious, but in short order you can
get back into the programs you were using prior to this minor catastrophe.
The more serious problem you face is the loss of all of your data.
In the case of our Stamp Keeper or Coin Keeper programs, that means
all the hours of work you did in entering your collection into our
program.
Backups Save the Day!
A simple procedure insures that you will not be faced with the
task of re-entering all of your records. The answer, of course,
is to make backups as your work progresses. Fortunately, our programs
have a handy utility that make backing up quick and easy to do.
You can interrupt your collection entry at any time to do this.
Simply click "Utilities" on the Menu Bar at the top of
the screen and select "Backup to Disk." Follow the screen
prompts to create a current backup of your collection. The same
"Backup" utility also asks if you would like to backup
each time you exit from any of our applications. Get in the habit
of making these backups on a regular basis. A good rule is to backup
after making 20 new entries into the program. Should a problem occur,
you will only lose that much work presuming you have a previous
backup at your disposal.
What Media Can I Use?
Until recently, our HobbySoft programs only permitted you to backup
to a 3 ½" floppy disk. No matter how large your coin
or stamp collection, it will invariably fit on the disk. They are
inexpensive, easily labeled and stored and convenient to use.
In response to many requests from our users, we are enhancing all
of our programs so that the backup utility will permit you to select
ANY recordable removable media attached to your computer as the
target for a backup. One exception. You can't use our function to
"burn" a CD as your choice of backups. This action requires
special software as those of you who regularly create data CDs are
aware. If you own a Zip drive, Jazz or Orb drive, those can be assigned
as the target for your backup.
How Many Backups Should I Make?
Here's the most important advice of all. Don't just make one backup—
make THREE. If they are floppies, Zip disks, etc., label them as
Backup #1, #2 and #3. Rotate their usage. Backup to #1 today, #2
tomorrow, #3 the next day and then back to #1 on the fourth day.
In this manner, you are never without either a recent or near recent
copy of your collection. Depending on just one floppy is too risky.
At very little additional expense, you buy a lot of "insurance"
against losing all of your work.
One more thing. Make a fourth backup about once a month and remove
it from the premises. Leave it with a friend or relative or put
it in a safe deposit box. This protects against the worst calamities
of all including fire, theft, earthquake, and other disasters.
Obeying the simple rule of backing up frequently on several disks
guarantees that any problem you encounter will not force you to
re-enter hours of work. No advice we can offer is more valuable
than this.
HobbySoft ® by COMPU-QUOTE © Copyright 1982-2004 - Stamp Keeper TM, Coin Keeper TM, Stamp Keeper Deluxe TM, Coin Keeper Deluxe TM, Currency Keeper Deluxe TM, and HobbySoft ® are all Trademarks of COMPU-QUOTE - Questions about this
website? Contact the Webmaster
|
