Today, we discussed the ins and outs of backing up and protecting your data...here are the highlights:

The most devastating occurrence in the world of computers is the loss of your valuable data. 

Programs can be replaced and reinstalled, but your 500 year genealogy file, your memoirs, digital photographs, financial files, and other valuable digital data are priceless and irreplaceable. 

Nary a week goes by that I don't get an email or call from an exasperated computer user who has lost important files.  The irony, however, lies in the fact that the process of backing up one's files does not require a great deal of work...only a little time and discipline.

Backup as you go

We have all written a letter or email or have created a greeting card and then had it go up in cyber heaven with a computer error and have to start over.  To prevent this, follow one simple rule:  Name and save the file you are working on right away and then save often during the creation of the document.

Financial Backup

All financial programs from Quicken to Money to QuickBooks contain the ability to backup your files easily.  They are all accessed by clicking on the File menu option then Backup.

Document Backup

Spreadsheets, word processing files, or any other files you create with your computer can be backed up on floppy disk.  The key, however, is to know where you are saving your files.  I recommend saving them in a common folder like "My Documents".  

Bookmarks, Favorites and
Address Book Backup

Losing these files can be very discouraging and painstakingly tough to recreate exactly as before.  The easiest way to back them is to find the files on your computer and send them to your floppy disk or other removable media.

• Netscape users:  search for bookmark.htm, Internet Explorer and AOL users backup the Favorites folder in the Windows directory. 

• For address books in Netscape and Internet Explorer, Click on File and Export to save a copy to your floppy.

• AOL users can backup their Organize folder or use a program called PowerMail.

Online Backup

We also discussed the topic of online backup.  See the links for I-drive, X drive and @drive below.

Click here for information on 
online bookmarks.

For more information on this topic, enter the word:  backup   in the search engine at the bottom of this page.

David Hoefer  won a free hour of computer training from Grand Valley PC Partners in the morning session and John Shea won the certificate for the evening session.

Theresa Taylor won a $20 gift certificate to Cyber Exchange in the morning session and Connie Pearson won the evening session gift certificate.

Andy Grillos won a free 32 MB computer upgrade from Techno Depot in the morning session and EJ Shultz won the evening session upgrade.