Before writing the long article

The suggested backup strategy if you are using MS Word.

Before writing the long article

Important steps

1. MS Word: Change the auto-save duration from 10 minutes to less minutes. Automatically save and recover Office files - Office Support:
2. Using the cloud service to backup your files automatically. ex: Does Dropbox keep backups of my files? (Dropbox Help Center)
3. Press ctrl + s to save the file frequently.

Backup strategy

Identify the importance of files

1. Which file or directory is important?
2. Which file or directory will be used next time? (1) You will use the file tomorrow. (You may use the file couple months later. )
3. Which file or directory will drive you crazy if they were deleted or gone by accidentally?

Different backup strategy for different importance

hot zone if the files are important: Use real time sync & auto-backup solution

• How do I save space on my computer with Selective Sync? (Dropbox Help Center)
• enable the time machine for macOS + external hard drive

archives zone if the files are NOT important: Manually/Auto backup the files.

• device: USB disk and
• service: the large Gmail Email Service or Google Docs space.
• your friends: Send each revision to your good friends.

troubleshooting

recover old versions of files

• Dropbox - How do I recover old versions of files?[Last visited: 2014-06-09]

How to avoid the word file corrupted Save each revision to another file (the file naming rule ex: file_name_date.doc each day)! The larger file size and the more possibility of file corrupted.

• Troubleshooting: Word無法讀取此文件，此文件可能已損害。 (Word2003, 2002/XP)

Modify the options of file saving

• Enable the option of "Fast Save/快速儲存": Tools menu -> Options -> Save -> Allow fast saves (Word2003, 2002/XP) Cited from How to enable the Fast Saves feature in Word 2003
• Faster the "AutoRecover Save duration/儲存自動回復資訊時間間隔": (howto: WD97: Why You Are Unable to Recover a Lost Document)
  • Troubleshooting: How to recover a lost file in Word 2007 or in Word 2003

How to avoid the word file using too much CPU resource

• The reviewing symbol always take many CPU resource. Save each revision to another file or decrease the amount of the reviewing symbols!

Before writing the technology article

See writing the technology article

Reference

further reading

• Topics: Reducing Word's CPU Load
• (word技巧) 寫論文必讀的16個 WORD 技巧 - 硬是要學！網路資源學習站 2009-01
• Word超實用的功能：沒存檔的文件，當機後可以靠 3招救回來！｜經理人