Before you begin, make a backup copy of your database. You should place the database on a storage medium that is different than the one which your original files are already stored upon. For example, if you are using a hard disk to store the data, you can back up your database to an external hard drive, a flash drive, a tape drive, or a CD-ROM. With these storage options, you can also copy the backup files back to your hard drive.
If users are still entering data into the live database, while the conversion is taking place, use a different database copy than the one in use. When the conversion is complete, the live data being added to can always be loaded into the converted database at a later time. Make sure no users are connected to the database when the copy is made.
During the conversion process, it is also recommended to make periodic backups. This will prevent you from starting from the beginning in case any problems occur.
