Do You Back Up Your Computer?

If you have not backed up your computer and your phone – do it now before reading this article – Murphy's Law.

Last week, I was on a call with a business owner and a client doing a screen share when he reported that his computer just crashed. He was on a PC – so I was not very alarmed – seemed par for the course. He had his machine backed up, but still lost a few things because he had not backed up in the past week. He was devastated, but could recover. "I have a 5 year old MacBook Pro – it never crashes," I bragged.

Echo, Echo, Echo – It never crashes, It never crashes.....you know whats coming, right?

I have taken the right steps. Our office has a variety of 1 and 2 TB Apple Time Capsules. These trusty devices are not only our wireless networks, but they spend their time every day backing up everyone's computer.

When things are going well, you tend not to worry – and that is how I am with my MacBook and my trusty Time Capsule. If either fails - I am backed up. I have owned the MacBook for about 4 or 5 years. I have updated the hard drive (700 GB) to get more space, and added memory (6MB) to accommodate new software that likes more RAM, and updated the operating system to the latest and greatest Snow Leopard 10.6.6. Every year, I buy a new battery.

You pay a lot for a Mac – quite a bit more than a comparable 'other guy' laptop – But I trust it, and it has paid me back. It is a workhorse and traveling companion – even has great social skills.

So, this morning my good friend (I probably should give it a name) did not want to wake up. The lights came on, the apple appeared and nothing happened. I restarted and it happened again.... And again..... And again.

I quickly pulled out my iphone and googled "macbook pro stalls on start up." Thanks to the internet (a good friend of my MacBook), a helpful search result appeared in first position – hold down the shift key when restarting to open in safe mode – then go to Preferences – Accounts – Login Options and turn off stuff that you do not need. Thankfully, the computer started and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I followed the instructions, and just as I was finishing, the computer crashed again. I did the rinse and repeat – held down the shift key and tried to restart it in save mode again. This time it did not work.

Back to the iPhone – Googled "macbook pro will not open in safe mode." First result – insert the startup disc and hold down the c key. This boots the operating system from the disc. Once your machine turns on, use the disc utility and verify the disc and permissions. Bingo – once again, I am back in business.

Here is my dirty little secret. A few weeks ago we switched our phone system to Voice over IP (Charter). After a lot of pain, we got our phones to work and saved a pile of monthly fees from AT&T. Sadly, it wacked out our Time Capsule autobackup. I was not too worried, because "I have a 5 year old MacBook Pro – it never crashes."

Knowing that I had not backed up my computer in a few weeks – looking at my efforts to fix it with the sunken feeling that my old friend may have reached the end of its useful life – yelled two horrible feelings - fear and devastation.

Machines, people, the earth – it all breaks. Plan for disaster and prioritize keeping everything backed up.

If you have a morning like I did, you will feel much better knowing that your "stuff" is safe.

If you would like to learn more about WAV Group, please click here.

• Increase Office Productivity with These 5 Technologies
• Real Estate Links From Around the Web
• Home Price Stabilization Seen in Most Metro Areas