Help I’ve
lost my file
People are often
scared of computers, because they worry about doing something wrong and
losing the work they have done. However when it comes to backing up
their PC with all their work or whatever on it, they seem to stop
worrying and do nothing. The one day when something fails, they have no
way of recovering all those precious files. If you have even seen or
been someone who has lost their Filofax, you know just what it is like.
Doing a backup
is quite easy nowadays. The best way is probably to use a CD writer if
you have one, and just backup the things you have created. Otherwise
you need more time to save all the data and programs on the machine.
You can use floppy disks, but you may need quite a number. For those
willing to spend a little money, you can buy a big (in data size) disk,
which you just plug in on any new machine and press a button and the
job gets done. Finally there are websites, which offer the service for
a fee, so if you are on broadband, it should not take too long to save
a copy of those special files. If you run a small business, a hard disk
crash could put you out of business if you lost your contacts, or
accounts or whatever. Do just leave it to chance, backup your data. It
helps if you can do it easily, because you probably should do it at
least once a month and keep the backup somewhere safe, not near your
machine. If you had a fire, it is much easier to grab a couple of CDs,
than to attempt to get your machine safe. The trouble is most of us
only realise what we should have done when it is too late.
I must say
sorry, because I gave you the wrong website last month. You can find
The Boffin’s Den at http://www.lordjohn.demon.co.uk/theboffin/ and I
have checked that it works. e-mail me at theboffin@lordjohn.demon.co.uk
– I would love to hear from you.
John Kimberley