bohleber Loc: southern Indiana

I am tech illiterate. I have been backing up Elements Catalog only, but what else should I back up?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Everything on your hard drive should be backed up to another/external drive or for your photography at the very least your "Pictures" library.
Catalog on PSE and LR only contains a thumbnail, "map" to where your picture files are stored and the editing changes you have made. The pictures themselves are in the folders in the Pictures library.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Your files themselves (images, documents, excel, etc.) to an external drive and possibly the cloud.
(If your hard drive crashes, what have you left?)

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

You already have two accurate answers to your post. Just remember, your Lightroom Catalogue only has a thumbnail (at least I think it has a thumbnail), only a link to where the original is located, and the changes you made in Lightroom to the original.

I would recommend making at least two backups of your hard disk; three would be better and keep the third one off site. Many people recommend that you have a master folder with all you photos in it. I do that with a secondary folder in the Master folder. I also have the various Lightroom catalogues in the same master folder. That way I can back up a single folder and have all my photo data backed up.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Any file on your computer that could cause pain by its loss should be backed up. That includes photos, email, word processing documents and spreadsheets, program configuration files, passwords, installation keys..............

And understand the difference between backup and archive.
My definition is that backup is for something you are likely to use in the near future (within a couple years). Archive is for something you don't think you'll use in the next couple years but could possibly use in the future.

Backup would include programs, since new versions come out occasionally rendering the old version moot. And the new versions may not be compatible with new computer technology so there's no sense including them in an archive.

The medium you use for storage depends on which class you are talking about. Things like CDs or DVDs are probably OK for backup but not archive since they are unreliable for long term storage but will probably last a couple years. Cheap external hard drives are similarly probably OK for backup but the more expensive drives may be more rugged and last longer. However, hard drives are all subject to eventual failure, so in addition to choosing a good medium for archiving things, you need to institute a maintenance program that will include transfer of important files to new media on a regular basis to avoid age related failures, and transfer of important files to new technology to avoid obsolescence related failures. Any transfer of files should be coupled with verification.

11bravo

Macrium Reflect does full image (everything on your hdd) backups. There is a free version. With the free version you can do a full image, then differences (everything that has changed since the last full backup), keeping several difference backups so you can step back in time. The paid version includes incrementals (everything since the last incremental). Difference files are larger and take more time. Incrementals are smaller and quicker but more effort to recover from. You only need full image plus 1 difference file to recover, but full image and all incrementals to recover to a given point. To recover a single or group of files, an explorer like interface is provided. Scheduling capability is provided, or you can run on command.

By doing a full image, you don't have to worry about if you got everything. Just backup to a separate HDD. HDD's WILL fail, having an image backup allows you to restore to a new HDD (or SSD).

https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

ELNikkor

Best to have 2 out-of-computer back ups. Through the years, I've had numerous computer failures, and at times, found that one or the other of my back-up drives was missing some of my files. It really helps to be able to back up your back-ups, especially when you stand to lose those priceless images.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ideally, you could backup your entire drive, operating systems, programs, and data, but that seems like overkill - at least to me. I backup seven folders every couple of days to three external drives. I use SyncFree SE.

For years, I've used the C drive for the OS and programs and a separate internal hard drive for all data.

Complete backup -
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-make-full-backup-windows-10
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-create-a-full-system-backup-in-windows-10/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ese0ARnoZR8

Backup files -
https://www.howtogeek.com/242428/whats-the-best-way-to-back-up-my-computer/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17127/windows-back-up-restore

SyncFree -
https://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html

Nikon1201

I backup to 2 external dare drives and also subscribe to Backblaze which is constantly backing up as I’m editing.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Anything you have created or had a program create for you is called data. That means your photos, your email, your word processing and spreadsheet documents are all data. This is the most valuable thing on your computer because it cannot be replaced by just reinstalling the program.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Be sure to back up to MULTIPLE external hard drives; over the years I've had three external hard drives fail. I back up to three drives and immediately purchase a new drive when one of them fails.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

LA Loc: Little Rock, AR

The reason you want to have at least three copies of everything (i.e., at least two backups) is that when you have a disk failure, if you have only one backup, all of your eggs are suddenly in one b,asket. This is NOT a good feeling. It is unlikely that that single backup is corrupt or that you will screw it up while accessing it, but it is possible. However, it is highly unlikely that TWO backups will both be bad or that you will ruin both of them. For peace of mind have at least two backups. One off-site, and regularly and frequently updated. I have a lake condo where I keep my off-site HD, update weekly when I go there.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

[quote=LarryFB]You already have two accurate answers to your post. Just remember, your Lightroom Catalogue only has a thumbnail (at least I think it has a thumbnail), only a link to where the original is located, and the changes you made in Lightroom to the original.

I would recommend making at least two backups of your hard disk; three would be better and keep the third one off site. Many people recommend that you have a master folder with all you photos in it. I do that with a secondary folder in the Master folder. I also have the various Lightroom catalogues in the same master folder. That way I can back up a single folder and have all my photo data backed up.[/
quote]

I agree. Your Lightroom catalogue can be restored, but your photographs cannot.

kmpankopf Loc: Mid-Michigan; SW Pennsylvania

Most tech illiterates don't even know to ask the question, so you're ahead of the game there. There are some great answers and points listed in this thread.
My cent cent.
First, what is the goal of the back up? Most of the ideas listed are to recover a file or a set of files from damage or loss. Have you considered the scenario of working on a file and just want to go back one or two iterations? Might want to consider that in you overall strategy.
As to what to back up, I differ with some of the opinions expressed (Not that they're wrong! Just opinion.) as to what to do with operating systems and program files. All I want to back up is data (data includes photo files). I never back up programs and O/S as I view a crash as the perfect opportunity to clean out the system with fresh installs. Also with tape or an image, you might be restoring the cause of the crash. With a fresh install/recovery, any temp files or malware is removed. Might be a little extra effort to restore, but worth it.
If you use the MS library list (Documents, Downloads, Music, ETC) and you have taken all the defaults for installations, a backup strategy is real easy to point to those directories.
I use Western Digi equipment and software which I've found to be bullet-proof. I'm sure other vendors such as Seagate are very good as well.
As to where to back up - many of the answers listed are good advice. I back up to two devices locally (at home). One for all files, one just for photography and the last 3 iterations of any file. I've started moving a lot of my work to the (Adobe) Creative Cloud. I do that for backup, but I can also access/view files from other devices.
Keep thinking about it and keep asking questions. Time to get a good strategy is before the incident. I really don't like getting that call from someone asking me to restore data from a crashed system with old or inadequate data.