Why won’t home PC users back up?
One feature that I hope Microsoft includes in Windows 7 is better backup software. Redmond made a step in that direction in Vista with the so-called “Shadow” copies. Unfortunately, this feature is not available in the Vista Home editions. What is needed in Windows is something that is automatic. As I have learned over the years, home users just won’t back up. No matter how much you preach, people just don’t seem to get around to this essential maintenance chore.
Apple has the right idea in the latest Mac operating system. The Leopard version comes with something called “Time Machine”. It is a very nice feature and does its job automatically in the background with no fuss. Microsoft should consider copying this feature. The only drawback is that it requires a dedicated, external hard drive. Backups should be on an external drive but the extra step of having to obtain an external drive is enough of an obstacle that it would keep many average Windows home users from backing up. Maybe the only solution would be to include a second drive as part of the standard hardware for all PCs.
Until something completely automatic comes along, however, it’s up to you to do regular backups. You can make this chore automatic by scheduling it with one of the disk imaging programs like Acronis. Or, if you only want to back up certain folders, you can set up a schedule with the free software Replicator. In any event, back up. You’ll be glad you did.
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> As I have learned over the years, home users just won’t back up.
Indeed. With those who I help (typically, technical novices) to get a PC set up, I tell them it’s not a matter of if the hard drive will fail, but when. Don’t trust it to preserve cherished photos or music.
In spite of this, your experience reflects mine precisely.