Backups and Best Practice
From SOMWiki
Contents |
Protect Your Work
Backup your data!!
In the unlikely event that your computer's hardware should fail you must perform backups. If your computer freezes or crashes, documents on it may not be recoverable. SOM Computing suggests backing up important data on a daily basis. Backups can be performed in various ways using CDs, DVDs, flash drives, and external hard drives. SOM-IT recommends purchasing an external hard drive such as 250GB My Book Premium FireWire USB 2.0 External Hard Drive. This device has software that will backup your machine to your personal specifications. Please visit GovConnection through the Yale ePortal for pricing and options.
Alternatively, students are given 250MB on the mapped X drive for storage.
Class of 2010 Students
Check the status of your backups
- Internet Explorer Users: Download your backup client Here
- Firefox Users:
\\bass.som.yale.edu\sompool\DLOInstall\
Care For Your Laptop
The purchase of a laptop is an investment and you will want to take appropriate steps to protect it. They are fragile and can be easily damaged. Be sure to take care of your laptop, as a damaged laptop can be the source of losing significant data or programs and may be time consuming and costly to fix.
Tips to care for your laptop:
- Do not place your laptop on uneven or unstable work area surfaces.
- Do not expose your computer to liquids or moisture.
- Do not place heavy objects on top of the laptop.
- Do not expose your laptop to dirty or dusty environments.
- Keep your laptop off the floor.
- Do not expose your laptop to extreme heat 122° or extreme cold below 32° - it is best not to leave the laptop in your car.
- Keep your laptop away from any electrical appliances that generate a strong magnetic field, such as a television, refrigerator, etc.
- Try not to touch the screen or splatter liquids. Laptop screens are fragile and can get scratched or become distorted. Do not use regular window cleaners to clean your laptop screen. Non-alkaline detergents can be found at most office supply stores.
- Carry your laptop in a bag with a protective pocket specifically made for laptops. Do not carry an unprotected laptop in your bag as they can easily damage.
Updates
Perform Windows Updates on a regular basis. Microsoft frequently releases patches, fixing known security issues that may leave your laptop vulnerable to viruses and other attacks. To update Windows and Office, follow the instructions on the Microsoft Update website.
Virus and Other Types of Protection
It is easy and common to catch a computer virus, which is why users must guard their laptops with virus protection software. Symantec AntiVirus is available to Yale students and staff at the Yale online software library. It is also recommended that you download Spybot and Adaware as well.
Remember - Only downloading these packges does not protect the computer. The user must run updates to protect the machine from new known dangers.
