We live in an age when almost everything either has a digital counterpart, or is outright replaced by it. Like most everything else, this transition to digital formats has both its sets of pros and cons.
One pro of having digital word documents instead of physical ones, for example, is the great bearing this has on environmental conservation; specifically, the decreased number of trees being cut down for paper production.
On the other hand, it's arguable that it's far easier to have your digital documents corrupted; or worse, lost forever. A properly preserved piece of paper can last for hundreds of years, whereas even the most securely protected digital document can be erased if the desktop or laptop part it is stored in runs past its expiry date.
That latter bit is the reason why it is imperative for you to constantly back up your most important files.
The Usual Suspects
I've heard it said before that there are only two kinds of hard drives: A broken one and one that will break down.
Data corruption can happen gradually, or it can happen in an instant. However it happens, data loss is inevitable because for desktop and laptop parts, degradation is inevitable. Computer components are made of various mechanical parts, and if any one of those parts conk out, the rest are rendered useless.
Damage doesn't even need to be mechanical. It could very well be also brought about by the accumulation of bad clusters in the hard drive's disk. When that happens, even when the hardware is still working (such as it is), the sector where the data is housed will be lost if it is within the bad clusters region.
Power spikes also account for a lot of lost data; and the worst part is they come without warning. It's bad enough that an unannounced one will corrupt something that you're currently working on; but repeated power surges will eventually cause your desktop or laptop parts to malfunction.
And then, of course, there are malware attacks. While anti-malware programs are more sophisticated now than they have ever been, you never know when the next MyDoom, Melissa, or ILOVEYOU will come around.
The Preventive Measures
So, how do you back up your digital files? The most obvious answer to that is to make use of recordable media like writable DVDs; and when they become cheaper and more practical for the less financially fortunate like us, writable Blu-ray discs as well.
You could also opt for a separate hard drive altogether, and can go about it in two ways. The first is to have an external hard drive where you can store all the computer files you need; think of it as a huge and more spacious flash drive. The other is to get another hard drive identical to your main one, and set up RAID 1 mirroring for both; this can be done whether they're desktop or laptop components, although a laptop RAID 1 setup is only applicable to portable (high-end) computers that allow the dual-hard drive feature.
A Couple More Things to Consider
It helps if you've got your backup files well organized, especially if they're broken down into chunks in separate media like the aforementioned DVDs. Unlike within your hard drive where your files are (presumably) grouped accordingly into their proper folders, you often have no choice but to have them disjointed once they're saved onto writable discs.
Finally, take note that whether you use DVDs or additional hard drives, they are still hardware that are subject to the same rate of degradation as your main hard drive. Therefore, a backing up session every couple of years or so to transfer your files onto newer hardware is advisable, especially if you would like to keep your files decades hence.
Laptop parts are just as susceptible to breakdowns as any other machine. This could lead to the corruption and loss of your data files if you're not careful. Aside from doing regular maintenance checks to keep your laptop components healthy, you should also make it a habit to constantly back up your files.
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