Your computer has a lot of important information – more than you might realize. If it's your personal computer, think of all the pictures, music, documents and other files that you've accumulated over the years that could be lost if your laptop breaks and you need computer repair or virus removal. Plus, if it's a computer that you use for work, losing files could potentially set your entire company back. That's why backing up your data is crucial.

There are several ways to back up your computer, such as storing the information on a flash drive, hard drive (internal or external), CD or cloud storage (storing your information on an online server). The type of back up depends on how much information you need to save.

A flash drive or CD doesn't hold that much storage capability, for example, but both are inexpensive. So, if you want to back up a specific presentation or photo album, both are valid options – although CDs are being used less and less. On the other hand, an external hard drive and cloud storage can both accommodate large amounts of data, which is better for backing up your computer's entire hard drive and files.

After you determine the back up system that is right for you, remember that you need to organize your data into files so that saving it is condensed into one easy step.

"One obstacle to any backup scheme is organization. Regardless of the hardware or software involved, you need to be able to point to the files you wanted backed up… If you save files that you care about all over the place, your only backup option is to copy the entire computer, which is always a pain in the neck," writes CNET's Michael Horowitz.

If you are having trouble backing up your personal or professional files, you might want to contact a local Washington, D.C. computer repair center for assistance.