This article will guide you through backing up files from your SOU computer to another location, so they remain accessible. You can back up your files to a cloud-based option (like Box) or a physical storage device (like a USB flash drive or external hard drive). We shall provide instructions for both MacOS and Windows.

Windows Instructions

Back Up to a USB Drive or External Hard Drive

• Connect your external storage device to your PC:

• Open File Explorer.

  • Press Windows key + E or click the folder icon in your taskbar.

• Access your personal folders:

  • In the address bar at the top, type: %userprofile% and press Enter.

  • This will take you to your personal user folder.

• Select the folders you want to back up:

  • You can hold Ctrl to select multiple folders or drag your mouse to select them all.

  • It is recommended that you at least take your Desktop, Document, and Downloads folders.

• Copy your folders:

  • Press Ctrl + C, or right-click your selection and choose Copy.

• Navigate to your drive:

  • Find your drive (flash drive or external drive) in File Explorer under This PC, which is located on the left bar menu.

  • Open the drive, and if you’d like, create a new folder to organize your backup.

• Paste your files:

  • Press Ctrl + V, or right-click in the folder and choose Paste.

MacOS Instructions

Back Up to a USB Drive or External Hard Drive

• Connect your external storage device (such as a USB drive or external hard drive) to your Mac:

• Select or open Finder (MacOS’s file manager) press Shift + Command + H to go to your Home folder:

  • This folder contains your personal files.

    • You’ll know you’re in the right place if the folder name matches your SOU username.

  • Alternatively you can also go to Finder > Go > Home from the top menu.

• Select the folders you want to back up:

  • To select multiple folders, hold Command and click each one, or click and drag a box around them.

  • It is recommended that you at least take your Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders.

• Copy your selected folders:

  • You can press Command + C to copy the selected folders.

  • Alternatively, you can hold Control, click one of the selected folders, and choose Copy from the menu.

• Navigate to your drive:

  • In Finder, go to Go > Computer, then select your external drive from the list.

  • Inside your drive, it’s recommended to create a new folder to store your backup.

  • Press Shift + Command + N to create a new folder, or go to File > New Folder from the Finder menu.

  • Double-click the new folder to open it.

• Paste your files:

  • Press Command + V.

  • Alternatively, you can hold Control, click inside the empty folder space, and select Paste.

Box Instructions

Back Up to Box (Cloud Storage)

• Make sure you can connect to the internet:

• Sign into Box:

  • Visit the website by clicking this link and sign in with your SOU credentials.

  • For more info about Box, see our Box Essentials article by clicking here.

• Open your user folder in Box:

  • Once logged in, navigate to the folder with your SOU username.

  • Now you may create a new folder, (within the folder with your username,) to store your backup.

    • You can do so by clicking the New + button and then select Folder.

    • Then you can type in the name and then select

  • Navigate into that folder.

• Upload your folders:

  • Click the New + button and select Folder Upload.

  • For Windows

    • In the file selection window, type %userprofile% in the path bar and press Enter.

    • This will take you to your personal user folder.

  

   

  • For MacOS

    • Press Shift + Command + H to see a list of users that are on that computer.

    • Select the folder with your username, (it is likely already selected.)

    • Right of it should be a list of your personal folders.

• Select the folders you want to backup:

  • You can only upload one folder at a time.

  • It is recommended that you at least take your Desktop, Document, and Downloads folders.