Quicken Data Backups

Feb
21st
2008

Filed Under Quicken Help
Trackback URL

quicken_logo.jpgIf you use Quicken, your Quicken data is essential, and an effective backup solution is absolutely necessary. You need to be able to restore your data in the event your hard drive craps out, a fire destroys your home office, or your dog has an accident on your computer.

Quicken has several backup functions built in to the software that makes it easy to keep your data secure.

  1. Automatic file backup - Quicken automatically keeps five copies of your data files in a folder called ‘Backup’ that is in the same folder as your original data files are in. These files are numbered sequentially from with a suffix from 1 to 5. You cannot disable or change this feature. It is intended to recover your file in the event new data that you input messes up an account, you accidentally delete an account, or other human error.
  2. Manual file backup - I say manual, but it’s an automatic process that enables you to backup your files to a different drive, media, etc. Instead of storing the files on your hard drive (as in option 1), you can define the drive (USB, external, CD, etc) that you want to use for your backups (in addition to the backup files in option 1).To configure this option, go to the ‘Edit’ menu, select ‘Preferences’, and then select ‘Quicken Program’. On the left side of the window, highlight the ‘Backup’ entry. Here you will define how often you want Quicken to remind you to back up, and how many copies you want to keep. If you have ample drive space, set the first number low and the second number high. You can never have too many backups!After you configure this, Quicken will prompt you to back up your files when you exit the program. You will browse to the target drive, select ‘OK’, and bingo, you’ve got a backup.
  3. The last option built in to Quicken is the ability to use the Quicken service (at additional cost) to backup your files online on their secure servers. While I’ve never used this, it could be advantages if you use multiple computers, or don’t have other options. It does cost more, but you don’t have to worry about additional drives or keeping CD’s in a fire safe.

Also, keep in mind that your Quicken data files include five (5) different individual files. There’s not just one.

It’s important to have backup files on a different device than the one you normally work off of. Also, you may want to consider making a ‘yearly’ backup that you store in a fireproof safe or other offsite location. Again, there’s no such thing as too many backups….backup early and often!

DK



Comments

Leave a Reply