How to Restore Your Data From a Backup
When (not if) you have a streak of bad luck with your computer, you’ll be VERY happy if you have your data backed up!
But you still have to go through the task of reloading and organizing your data, hoping your backup files are still good. The level of difficulty to restore depends on your method of backing up files, so the restore process is something you should think about before you begin.
Below I’ll list a few common backup methods and what the restore process entails:
Restoring from Blank CDs and DVDs
This will take at least as long as it took you to backup the files in the first place. Although it might not take a long time, it will require some man hours. It’s a very “hands-on” process.
The good part about CD backups is that it is quicker to copy a CD onto your computer than it is to download 700 MB over the internet, if you were using a remote backup service.
But the biggest pain for me is putting files into .zip folders and splitting up large folders into smaller sections to fit on the CDs. DVDs help with this, but the problem does not go away. For me, the online backup service is worth it since I don’t have to make any changes to my files.
Restoring from Mozy
The two main ways to restore backed up files through Mozy are by using the Mozy software or the Mozy web interface. You simply select the files and then click “Restore.”
You also have the option of a “Media Restore,” which is where Mozy sends you your data on DVD’s by mail. There is an extra fee for this, but if you have tons of data to restore, this is much quicker than downloading it all over your internet connection.
Restoring from Carbonite
Restoring your files through Carbonite is about the same as backing them up. In other words, it’s a piece of cake. As long as you have the software on the computer, Carbonite will show up as another drive under My Computer.
You can simply select to download all of your stored files, and they will be downloaded. The folder structure will be maintained, too. Or you can pick and choose specific files, whichever you prefer.
When it comes down to it, Carbonite is my #1 choice for backing up my files.
Restoring from IDrive
You have multiple options to restore files backed up with IDrive.
First, IDrive’s Web-Manager. Log in to your account, select a file, and click download.
Or, if you have the normal IDrive software, just open it up, select the files to restore, and tell it where to restore them to.
Even more convenient for small jobs, IDrive Explorer. View up to 30 most recent file copies backed up to your account; restore any copy to your local computer with the simplicity of drag-n-drop or copy-n-paste.
