One consistent topic regular visitors to this web site have seen or heard on our show is the all important concept of backing up your data. Backup should be an essential part of every computer user's routine.
Some programs make backing up easier than others. Take, for example, Microsoft Word. It can be extremely frustrating to have your computer crash or lock up when you are in the middle of a very important word processing document...and you haven't been saving the file as you type.
In Word, click on Tools and then Options. Click on the Save tab and set Word to automatically save your documents every 5 minutes and create a backup copy. Doing this will save your bacon many times over.
Other programs like WordPerfect and Excel among others have similar features. Look in the programs Options or Preferences for the particular settings.
Also, get in a habit of naming and saving your files as you begin them, then you can simply click the SAVE button (looks like little floppy disk on the toolbar) or push Ctrl+S every five minutes or so that you don't lose your work.
Links:
[1] https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=rick@yourpcpartner.com&item_name=Buy
[2] http://www.helpmerick.com/node/91
[3] http://www.helpmerick.com/node/89