Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

Back up your data regularly.  That's it.

At least once a week send it to an external hard drive, or to Carbonite or another on-line back up repository.

Sub Tip:  If you use Mozille Thunderbird, search for, download and install MozBackup.  Use it each week and put the backup in My Documents, Documents or whatever area(s) you back up in Windows 7.  If you use Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook Express, remember they do not save your email, contacts, etc. in My Documents or Documents.  You need to EXPORT your .pst file into a directory in the area you back up.  Once a week.  Maybe more often.

If you use a MAC, get an external hard drive and use the Time Machine.  Do a full backup and then incremental when files change.  DO IT!