I back up my data every day - Microsoft's Sync Toy utility makes it quick and easy.
I backup by making HD clones at least twice a week plus another backup either before Microsoft installs an update, when I add any app to my HD, or if I've done a lot of critical work.
This has saved me a few times. Example: I bought a guitar pedal, and it came with a free Cubase LE CD-ROM. I hadn't tried Cubase in years, so I thought I'd give it a go. I made a clone and started the Cubase install. It quit in the middle of the installation. I rebooted the computer, and it wouldn't complete the reboot asking me if I want to finish the installation. I said YES, and it locked up in the same place. I booted in the Safe Mode and tried to uninstall Cubase, but the next time I restarted I got the same message. So I did a complete restore from the clone, trashed the CD-ROM, and went about my business as if nothing happened but that little adventure.
In addition to my normal backups, on a second external drive that gets removed from the system, I make a disk clone once per month and store many months of clones. That way if I get a virus or ransomware I can go back to a pre-infected state.
Computers are replaceable, data is often not.
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