Backing Up Your Data

The purpose of this page is to instruct you on how to back up your important computer files and make you aware of settings and customizations you may need to have on a replacement computer. Work-related data should be backed up to an appropriate location on OneDrive, Google Drive, a designated shared cloud storage area, or shared departmental folder on Middfiles (ORGS).

• Visit go/cloudoverview for information about Middlebury-managed cloud storage.

• Visit go/fileserverinfo/ for information about Middfiles structure and use.
   
• If you have non-work-related personal data (videos, music, pictures, etc.) that also needs to be backed up, you must use your own storage, such as personal cloud storage, an external hard drive, CD, DVD, or USB device.

Please note that if we are refreshing your computer to resolve a problem, this process will remove all data from it, so it is critical that you make sure all of your data is backed up ahead of time.

General Preparation Tips for Moving to a New Computer

If you are about to receive a computer replacement or have your existing computer refreshed to address a problem, these tried and true tidbits can make the process go smoothly. The following pointers are valid for both PC and Mac platforms.

• Review our handy Computer Replacement Preparation Checklist to remind you about important steps you need to complete.
• If you already use cloud storage, confirm that you see expected folders and files in the cloud by logging on via a web browser:
  • For OneDrive: http://go.middlebury.edu/onedrive
  • For Google Drive: http://go.middlebury.edu/gdrive
  • For iCloud: http://go.middlebury.edu/icloud
• Use a different computer for the morning and note what's not as you expect. Are you missing specific software? Are you unable to access your files? Do some programs look or act differently? Answering "yes" means you have some work to do and the appropriate section for PCs or Macs below will help you through it.
• Create a new folder on OneDrive or Google Drive File Stream to hold saved items from your current computer (such as screen snapshots, favorites, signatures, bookmarks, etc.) so you can easily find them when you transition to the replacement computer.
• Take screen snapshots to help you remember how things look (such as Outlook's navigation pane, customizations, your desktop, the Taskbar or Dock). You can gather these in a Word document for future reference. Here's how:

1. Launch Microsoft Word.
2. Insert screen snapshots by clicking the Insert tab, then clicking the Screenshot button. You can insert the image of any of the displayed active windows -- or you can choose Screen clipping to select just a part of the first window shown.
3. Right-click in your Word document, then choose Paste.

• And lastly... take advantage of this chance to do some housecleaning!

Back up specifics for PCs and Macs

Click the appropriate link below for detailed backup instructions.

• I have a Windows (PC) computer.
   
• I have a Mac (Apple) computer.