Tech Handbook: Emergency Backup Procedure

Emergency Backup Procedure
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DonaldG on 18/11/2009 13:17:00
 
Emergency Backup Procedure
Scope:
This information is written on the assumption that you have no experience in
copying files. It is a simple process. A step-by-step process is explained
below.
The process makes an emergency copy of your important files such as letters,
photographs, music and other important files prior to removal of malware from
your computer
If you are reading this because you have an infected machine and need to backup
(copy) your data files, it must be understood that there is a risk of copying
contaminated files. The emergency backup made in the fashion described below
must be kept quarantined until you computer is declared clean by our qualified
analysts. You must not use or open any file in your backup copy until the
analyst advises you. You will be given advice on checking and cleaning the
emergency backup later.
Emergency Backup Procedure
This is a simple procedure and does not need any special software. It uses the
built in procedure of ‘Copy & Paste’.
Windows 95, 98, ME and XP:
Most of your important data will be in ‘My Documents’.
Vista:
Vista has a slightly different folder structure. Most of your important files
will be in Documents, Downloads & Music etc. The general copy and paste method
is the same but you have to include the extra folders.
Storage of emergency copy:
You can store your emergency copy on any media; Hard drive, CD/CVD/Blue
ray/Tape/SD or CF card or what have you.
This emergency backup is to be kept only as a temporary measure and in all
probability will be deleted after it is confirmed that your machine is clear of
malware and that your data are safe.
That said, as you may one day forget what is on a disk, it is not recommended
to copy it to hard media such as CD/DVD for long term archiving due to the risk
of re-introducing malware via contaminated files. If that is the only option, it
is best to destroy the emergency copy after your machine is declared clean
The ideal place for storing an emergency backup is on a separate hard drive or
other device such as an external hard drive, USB memory stick, SD/CF card or any
device that will be seen as a mass storage device by your computer.
How to copy your important files:
Win 95, 98 me and XP
1) Click the Start button at the bottom left of your screen
Fig 1:
2) Click on My Documents
Fig 2:
3) My Documents folder:
Fig 3:
Hold the CTRL key down and then press A. (This is known as Ctrl-A).
This will highlight all the folders and files to be copied.
4) Select Edit and then Copy to Folder
Fig 4:
5) Select the destination folder. In this example, the external drive Pluscom
WD500GB was chosen.
You can use a USB memory stick or even a memory card such as a CF or SD card
from your camera, pda, smart phone etc, using a card reader.
Fig 5:
Click Copy to start the copying process.
6)
Fig 6:
This image shows the progress of the copying. (Ignore the ‘timing’ – it
is never correct!).
When the progress window closes, the copying job is complete.
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Vista:
The process is fundamentally the same as XP. However the folder structure is
different. My documents becomes just Documents. Other folders containing your
important files such as Music, Pictures, and Videos etc are separated outside of
the main Documents. So a slightly different procedure is adopted.
1) Click the Start button at the bottom left of your screen.
Fig1 :
2) Click on Documents.
Fig 2:
3) Scroll the left window until you can see your name.
Then click on your name.
Fig 3:
This places the Folder ‘Tree’ in the right hand window.
4) Place your cursor (mouse) over the first folder you want to copy.. Hold down
the CTRL key... (don’t let go until told to)... then do a single click on
Documents to highlight it. Then move the mouse to the next folder, for example
Music and click that too. Continue to click only the folders you want to copy...
Fig 4
... Still holding the CTRL key down, do a single right mouse click. When you
see the pop-up window you can let go of the CTRL key.
Click Send To to open up the selection panel.
Then select the place where you want to place the copies of your folders
Fig 5:
Fig 6:
Fig 6: When the 'Copying' popup closes, the job in done.
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We recommend that a proper and regular backup regime is implemented.
To help make this a simple and easy job, please see the sister article:-
\'Quick & Easy Backup Regime\'
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