It is important to understand that data corruption happens - hard drives may fail and mistakes can erase data. Maintaining regular backups of computer data (including emails) is of critical importance. Backing up is simply making an electronic copy of data files and storing that copy in a safe place. The underlying information will focus on backing up email.

A variety of email backup solutions is available on the market. IT Services recommends the use of the freeware tool – MozBackup – to create and restore backups of email, contacts etc. in Mozilla Thunderbird.

MozBackup works on MS Windows (including MS Windows 7/Vista) based systems and is available for download.

MozBackup provides a user-friendly step-by-step process to create backups of Thunderbird email:

1. Launch MozBackup and click the Next button.
2. Tick the option Backup a profile and click the application to backup i.e. Mozilla Thunderbird*. Click the Next button.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Select the profile you want to backup. This will probably be the default profile.
4. Click Browse... button to select the location where the backup file will be saved. Initially it is advisable to save the file on the Windows desktop. The name of the backup file will have a date (in reverse order) and an extension pcv. Click the Next button.
   
   
    
   
   
   
5. If you would like to set a password-protected backup file, click the Yes button and enter a password.
6. Tick the details you want to backup. Click the Next button.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Click the Finish button on the Report dialog box.

It is important to copy the backup file located on the Windows desktop to a secondary storage medium e.g. CD, DVD or USB memory stick. The storage media should be stored away from your computer.

The backup process should be performed on a regular basis.

*MozBackup can be used to backup Mozilla Firefox history, bookmarks, cache etc.

To restore the backup file to your computer:

1. Launch MozBackup and click the Next button.
2. Tick the option Restore a profile and click the application to backup i.e. Mozilla Thunderbird. Click the Next button.
3. Select the profile you want to restore. This will probably be the default profile.
4. Click Browse... to locate the backup file to be restored. The name of the backup file will have a date (in reverse order) and an extension pcv. Click the Next button.
5. Tick the options to be restored and click the Next button.
6. Click the Finish button on the Report dialog box.

 

25 May 2013
http://www.um.edu.mt/itservices/students/email/backup