One safe place to store data is in the My Documents folder. The My Documents folder may provide protection during computer problems. Let’s use Windows XP Professional as an illustration.

Many people, for the sake of convenience and saving a few mouse clicks, use the desktop as an area of storage. This is in lieu of using the My Documents file. The problem with that is when there is trouble with the computer. One of the quick ways to correct a problem is to set the computer back to a restore point. The problem with that is, if work or files are stored on the desktop, those files may vanish with a system restore.

The material that are in the My Document file is safeguarded during a system restore.

When things go wrong with the computer, there is anxiety and usually some urgency to fix the problem. It is far safer to use the My Documents folder, as a habit, rather than trust that important files will be moved there before trying to fix the computer problem.

Catherine Forsythe