With the end of the school year approaching and as you are thinking about packing your room up for the summer, it is a good time to think about preparing your computer for the summer as well. Every year we have teachers return back to school in the fall and call the Helpdesk because something has happened to their computer over the summer. Accidents happen and computers do fail. Remember you are the keeper of your own data so please back up:
Backing up data from your computer
This information will help you get your data backed up to keep it safe. The three easy steps are:
- Preparing your data
- Choosing the best location
- Copying the data
Step 1: Preparing Your DataThis is a good time to organize and clean up your files.
• Stray Documents
Check the top level of your Hard Drive for any stray documents. Double click on Macintosh HD to open. If you have saved any documents in this area, move them into your Documents Folder.
• Bookmarks/Favorites
◦ To save Bookmarks in Firefox:
- Select Show all Bookmarks from the Bookmarks menu
- Click on the Star menu and select Backup...
- Save the exported file to your backup source
◦ To save Bookmarks from Safari:
- Select Export Bookmarks from the file menu
- Save the exported bookmarks to your backup source
◦ To Save Bookmarks from Chrome:
- Select Bookmark Manager from the Bookmarks menu
- Click on the three dots on the far right of the blue bar and select Export Bookmarks
- Save the exported bookmarks to your backup source
• Apple Calendar (not Google Calendar)
If you use Apple Calendar, open the Calendar. Go to File, Export, Calendar Archive…, and save to your Desktop or Documents folder.
• Stickies
If you use Stickies, you will need to copy your “StickiesDatabase” to save the information. Start in Finder. Hold down the Option key and click Go in the
menubar and select Library. Find a file called, “StickiesDatabase” and copy it to your Desktop or Documents folder.
• Notes
If you use the Notes application on your laptop, you may need to sync your notes through an external account such as iCloud or Google.
• ExamView
If you use ExamView tests, find your Tests and Banks folder inside the ExamView folder (usually located in the Macintosh HD or the Applications Folder.) Copy the Tests and Banks folders to your Desktop or Documents folder.
• Personal Applications
Your computer comes preloaded with the standard district applications. You do not need to backup those applications. But do check your applications
folder for personal applications. You are responsible for any applications that you have personally installed on your computer.
Step 2: Determining Where to Put Your Data
To decide which destination is best, consider what kind of data you have, how much data you have, and do you want this data to be accessible if you are no longer employed in the district.
• Kind of Data
Do you have only work related data and documents, or both both work-related and personal data?
• How much data?
Data transfer is faster for some options and slower for other. If you have a lot of data transfer times may be more important. (For example, 100GB may take an hour to transfer to an external hard drive, but that same 100GB could take several hours to transfer to Google Drive.)
• Availability and future access?
We discuss three options: District Server Space, External Hard Drive, and Google Drive.
District Server Space (files01)
- District managed
- Only available on AAPS network
- Unable to access after leaving District
- Secure
- Mid-range transfer rates
Google Drive
- District managed
- Available wherever internet is accessible (work/home)
- Unable to access after leaving District
- Secure
- Transfer rate dependent on internet speed.
External Hard Drive
- User managed
- Available anywhere if you have the drive
- Goes with you after leaving District
- Higher risk of drive failure or loss/theft
- Faster transfer rate
Step 3: Backing Up Your Data Using Your Method of Choice below.
Follow a link for written or video instructions on how to backup your files....
Back up to District Server
Link to Handout
Video Link
Back up to Google Drive
Link to Handout
Video Link
Back up to External HD
Link to Handout
Video Link