Difference between revisions of "Draft:Backing up files on your PC"

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==About this article==
 
==About this article==
This article includes instructions and suggestions for backing up your school-related and personal files on your Windows-based, HP EliteBook provided through the [[E-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program]]. It is intended for '''students''' and '''employees'''.
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This article includes links to instructions and information about the various options for school-related and personal file storage on your WSU Windows-based, HP EliteBook provided through the [[E-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program]] or your WSU desktop. Use this information as part of your normal backup routine or to prepare for a laptop exchange or re-imaging. It is intended for '''students''' and '''employees'''.
  
 
==Before you begin==
 
==Before you begin==
 
Before you start copying and pasting files, please consult the following articles as needed:
 
Before you start copying and pasting files, please consult the following articles as needed:
*[[Checking the status of your PC laptop hard drive|How much data do you have to back up]]? You can check how much space you are using on your current laptop's hard drive to estimate how much room you will need for your backup files.
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*[[Checking hard drive capacity and folder size on your PC laptop|How much data do you have to back up]]? Check how much space you are using on your current laptop's hard drive or folders.  Typically to do a full back up of your data you will need to back up your Home Folder.  Check the size of this folder to know how much room you will need on your back up media to copy your files to. See the section below for options to backup your data to.
*[[Where on your laptop are your files?|Where are your files?]] Do you know where all your files are located? Make sure to check the most common storage locations.
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*[[Where on your PC laptop are your files|Where are your files?]] Do you know where all your files are located? Make sure to check the most common storage locations.
 
*[[Personal versus work-related laptop and tablet use|Do you have family photos, home movies, and other personal files stored on your laptop?]] Consult our policies and guidelines regarding the appropriate, personal use of WSU computing resources.
 
*[[Personal versus work-related laptop and tablet use|Do you have family photos, home movies, and other personal files stored on your laptop?]] Consult our policies and guidelines regarding the appropriate, personal use of WSU computing resources.
 
*[[Data sensitivity and file storage|Are you backing up private university data?]] Learn more about where such data can and can't be stored.
 
*[[Data sensitivity and file storage|Are you backing up private university data?]] Learn more about where such data can and can't be stored.
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*[[PC laptop backup FAQ]]
  
==Options for storing school-related and personal files and folders==
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==Where to backup your files==
 
When it comes to storing school-related and personal files, you have several choices:  
 
When it comes to storing school-related and personal files, you have several choices:  
 
====Microsoft OneDrive for Business====
 
====Microsoft OneDrive for Business====
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*[[Microsoft OneDrive for Business|Learn more about OneDrive for Business]]
 
*[[Microsoft OneDrive for Business|Learn more about OneDrive for Business]]
  
====WSU local network storage (employees only)====
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====WSU personal network storage (employees only)====
 
Sometimes referred to as your "R Drive," this campus storage space can be accessed from your laptop while on campus and from off campus using VPN. Students do not have this storage option.   
 
Sometimes referred to as your "R Drive," this campus storage space can be accessed from your laptop while on campus and from off campus using VPN. Students do not have this storage option.   
 
*[[Saving files to personal network storage from a PC|Saving files to your personal network storage]]
 
*[[Saving files to personal network storage from a PC|Saving files to your personal network storage]]
*Learn more about your personal network storage
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*[[Local network storage|Learn more about local network storage]]
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[[File:Pc 840 desktop.jpg|right|frame|Fig 1. Hard drive and home folder icons for HP 840]]
  
 
====External storage media====
 
====External storage media====
Writable DVDs, SD cards, and external hard drives are not recommended for important, school-related file storage and cannot be used to store private university data. You use them at your own risk.
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WSU can only provide limited support for SD cards and external hard drives and they cannot be used to store private university data, but they are a popular storage choice. Use them at your own risk.
 
*[[Saving files to external storage media from a PC |Saving files to external storage media]]
 
*[[Saving files to external storage media from a PC |Saving files to external storage media]]
 
*[[External storage|Learn more about external storage media]]
 
*[[External storage|Learn more about external storage media]]
  
[[File:Pc 840 desktop.jpg|right|frame|Fig 1. Hard drive and home folder icons for HP 840]]
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==Next copy your bookmarks and application specific files==
 
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*Go back to the [[PC_laptop_backup|checklist]] for information on how to back up your bookmarks and data stored by applications.
==Copying your Home folder==
 
A quick way to backup most of the files you have stored on your hard drive is to make a copy of your Home folder. This is the folder on your desktop labeled with your name (Figure 1). Your Home folder contains all of the default folders created for you when you received your computer, including your Documents, Music, and Pictures folders. It also includes your Desktop folder. For more information on the Home folder, consult: [[Where on your laptop are your files]].
 
 
 
===Steps===
 
 
 
#From your Desktop, right-click on the Home folder icon (the one with your name on it, not This PC) and choose '''Copy'''
 
#Open up your personal network drive or external hard drive, right-click somewhere in the window, and select '''Paste'''
 
#You may need to select '''Yes''' if asked to provide Administrator access
 
 
 
===Important information===
 
*You cannot paste your Home folder, or any folder, into your OneDrive for Business.
 
*Don't just copy your Home folder blindly. Make sure you understand what is contained within it. Check the size of your Home folder before you copy it
 
*Your Home folder contains a large, hidden subfolder used by Windows called '''AppData'''. You do not need to copy this subfolder. Before you copy your Home folder, make sure [[Where on your laptop are your files|View Hidden Files is unchecked]] and the copy process will bypass it.
 
*The copy process may take some time if you have a lot of files in your Home folder and you are copying it to an external disk.
 
*Restoring files from your Home folder may not always be as simple as overwriting your new computer's Home folder. There is no guarantee that your Home folder on your new computer will be structured exactly the same way as the Home folder on your old computer. In some cases, you may need to restore your files from your backup Home folder a subfolder at a time.
 
  
 
==Related information==
 
==Related information==
 
*[[PC laptop backup]]
 
*[[PC laptop backup]]
 
*[[PC laptop backup FAQ]]
 
*[[PC laptop backup FAQ]]
*[[Receiving your laptop and tablet]]
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*[[Receiving your laptop]]
 
*[[E-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program]]
 
*[[E-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program]]
__NOTOC__
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[[Category:PC]][[Category:Laptop Exchange]][[Category:Backup]]

Revision as of 20:39, 19 April 2018

Download.jpg

About this article

This article includes links to instructions and information about the various options for school-related and personal file storage on your WSU Windows-based, HP EliteBook provided through the E-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program or your WSU desktop. Use this information as part of your normal backup routine or to prepare for a laptop exchange or re-imaging. It is intended for students and employees.

Before you begin

Before you start copying and pasting files, please consult the following articles as needed:

Where to backup your files

When it comes to storing school-related and personal files, you have several choices:

Microsoft OneDrive for Business

This is our "cloud storage" solution, a fancy way of saying that your data is stored on off-campus servers owned by Microsoft. Once you have stored your files in your OneDrive for Business, you can access them from any computer with an Internet connection, anywhere in the world. You can also access your OneDrive for Business using a tablet or smartphone. This is the only cloud storage option supported by WSU.

WSU personal network storage (employees only)

Sometimes referred to as your "R Drive," this campus storage space can be accessed from your laptop while on campus and from off campus using VPN. Students do not have this storage option.

Fig 1. Hard drive and home folder icons for HP 840

External storage media

WSU can only provide limited support for SD cards and external hard drives and they cannot be used to store private university data, but they are a popular storage choice. Use them at your own risk.

Next copy your bookmarks and application specific files

  • Go back to the checklist for information on how to back up your bookmarks and data stored by applications.

Related information