| Paranoid about your important computer data files | | | | your My Documents folder. Other important Outlook |
| evaporating after a major catastrophe like a system | | | | data like the Contacts List, Calendar, and email should |
| crash or freeze. There's no need to be, if you | | | | be noted for backup as well, by including Outlook's |
| maintain a routine data backup plan. But what if your | | | | .pst file(s) in the backup routine. Use the Windows |
| backup job omits the location of other data that, | | | | search utility to locate.pst files, as they could be |
| while non-critical, you have grown dependent on, like | | | | located anywhere. Default location is here: |
| Microsoft Outlook's auto-complete email cache, or | | | | C:Documents and Settings[User Profile]Local |
| your Internet browser bookmarks? | | | | SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook |
| Follow the steps below (assuming a Windows XP | | | | 5. The file containing Outlook's auto-complete email |
| environment) to ensure that not only do you have a | | | | cache is the [Outlook Profile Name].NK2 file, located |
| proper backup system in place, but that you also | | | | here: C:Documents and Settings[User |
| have a system that is complete and comprehensive, | | | | Profile]Application DataMicrosoftOutlook |
| as well. | | | | 6. The files containing Outlook signatures ([signature |
| 1. As a general rule, you should download and save | | | | name].txt; [signature name].rtf; [signature name].htm) |
| your files within the My Documents folder on your | | | | are usually located here: C:Documents and |
| computer. That way, a backup of the My Documents | | | | Settings[User Profile]Application |
| folder will be sure to include all the important files on | | | | DataMicrosoftSignatures |
| your computer. | | | | 7. Internet Explorer Favorites/Bookmarks are located |
| 2. Be sure to also include the Windows Desktop area | | | | here: C:Documents and Settings[User Profile]Favorites |
| in the backup routine. Files saved or moved to the | | | | 8. Firefox Bookmarks file (bookmarks.html) is located |
| Desktop area will be missed in the backup process if | | | | here: C:Documents and Settings[Profile |
| the My Documents folder is the only location included | | | | Name]Application |
| in the backup job. | | | | DataMozillaFirefoxProfiles[various].default |
| 3. Users of financial and accounting software, should | | | | 9. There are some great data backup software |
| run independent data backup within those programs. | | | | available for download on the Internet. Most are |
| There is usually a data export function that can be | | | | intuitive in there functionality, and they make |
| run, with the recommended destination being a | | | | complete replication of the data file and folder |
| sub-folder with the My Documents folder. | | | | structure on the external storage devices. |
| 4. Microsoft Outlook users should include the email | | | | 10. USB external storage devices (hard drives), in |
| signature file and any Rules and Alerts in their backup | | | | addition to Internet data backup services, are also |
| job. Once you have a complete set of Rules and | | | | available. |
| Alerts, export those rules to a suitable location in | | | | 11. |