Before You Start: Backup

***CLASS PRE-REQUISITE: FAIL SAFE BACKUP***

First things first. Start by finding the file folder where all your digital supplies are kept. Get an EHD or another folder on your computer that you know you won’t touch. Make a copy of your digital supplies as they are now – select the folder and press CTRL/CMD+C. Then go to where you will store the backup folder on your hard drive or EHD and press CTRL/CMD+V.  Congratulations you have your fail-safe, go back to the beginning backup copy…

**Instructor Advised Backup Plan**

Before you start anything in this class, you need {like oxygen need} to find a BACKUP solution - preferably something that is automatic and happens without you having to do anything!  I have a very thorough post on backup here. The basics of which start with localized automatic backup. If you haven’t already, get Time Machine working on your Mac.  For those of you with PCs, check out  Syncback Pro for PC.

Don’t forget online/off-site backup with Backblaze (my favorite) or another online backup provider.  The drawback to online backups is that they take FOREVER.  However, if you start now, you should be well on your way to having everything backed up before you finish your organizing work.

Keep in mind that the process of organizing your supplies as shared in this class may change the format of your files.  You may decide halfway through it that you don’t want to continue – if that is the case, you will want (like wanting to surface to the top of the water after diving into a pool want) to have a backup of your files that you can easily restore. **Please see the FAIL SAFE BACKUP paragraph in this post.**

So if there is only ONE THING you do in this class – make it a thorough, clean and accessible backup of all your digital files. Start with local backup to an EHD and then add online backup. It might seem like a lot of effort and pain to do, but I promise you will thank me profusely if you ever need it.

That is all.