The Microsoft Windows Explorer “copy/paste” option:

 

 

 

Regardless of the device you are presently relying on to make backups, it may worth considering the MS Windows™ Copy/Paste procedure to supplement your usual backup process.  It is fast and simple to perform, and may encourage more frequent backups of your database; particularly during your busy season.

 

Here’s how it works- ‘Browse’ to your Active Accounting folder and move mouse pointer onto your database filename, then right mouse button click once.  Using your left mouse button select ‘Copy’ from the little pop-up menu that appears.  Then ‘browse’ to wherever you would like to save this copy and right mouse click once so the pop-up menu appears again, and then left click once on  ‘Paste’.  A copy of your database will be saved where you just ‘pasted’. 

 

You should then consider ‘Renaming’ the copy of your database to something that further distinguishes it from the original or indicates the reason for its’ existence.  To ‘rename’ the copy you just made, right mouse click on it to bring up the pop-up menu, then left click on the ‘rename’ option.  Simply over type the name you prefer in the space provided and finish by pressing your ‘enter’ key.  For example, you could rename it to “My-CompanyName-Copy-060103.mdb”. 

 

The nice thing about using copy/paste to a different hard drive is that it is about the fastest method of backup there is.  If you paste it to a different hard drive you further reduce your risk of loss.

 

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By the way, you can use this same process to create a copy of your current database with which to learn and try out new ideas without taking a chance of making any undesirable changes to your original working database.