Typing and backing up a seperate disc.

[Sam]

I would like to type a report on its own disc, seperate from all other computer files.  I don't
know what disc to buy or how to install it.  How do I back it up?  How do I get to that disc when I am ready to work?  I have windows XP.  Can someone walk me through this?

[Spoiler]

We need some more information. When you say disk do you mean hard drive? How big do you think this file will be? Can your machine handle another hard drive? Have you thought of using a flash drive or an external drive?

[Sam]

I'm afraid you are assuming I have much more knowledge than I do.  I can't answer those questions.  I have a Vaio laptop, Windows XP and a printer.  I thought I could just buy a blank computer disk, slide it in and type a file on to that disc.  Then just take it out until I am ready to work again.  My report is 160 double spaced pages.  I have no knowedge how to do this.  Thank you.

[soybean]

Helping you is going to be difficult if your computer knowledge so limited that you don't know what a USB/flash drive is, for example.  Does your computer have USB?  I would think it surely has USB if you're running Windows XP on it.  USB could be used for either a flash drive or an external hard drive (HD). 

Does your computer have a floppy drive?  That would be another option but a very clumsy one, compared to flash drive or external HD.

I'm wondering why you want to work with your file on an external storage device.  Why not keep your main/working file on your computer, i.e. on it's HD, and periodically make a backup copy on an external device (flash drive or external HD)?

[BC_Programmer]

I believe a floppy disk is what he's is referring to.

Sam- before you buy a Floppy disk, or any Floppy disks, for that matter- make sure that your laptop has a floppy drive. Most new laptops don't, unfortunately, which would preclude storing data on them, I suppose.


On the other hand, if your laptop has a CD or DVD burner you could use that.


But the question remains- Why do you want to store things on a separate disc?

[Sam]

I originally had my report on my computer in different files, unintentionally.  My computer went in to hibernation and I didn't know how to wake it up.  I went to the computer store and they told me I had to reboot.  I did and I haven't seen that information since.  I can't have that happen again.  I would be happy to keep the report on my computer but how do I then back it up?  My computer can burn DVD's but I can't.  Thanks!

[soybean]

My computer went in to hibernation and I didn't know how to wake it up.  I went to the computer store and they told me I had to reboot.  I did and I haven't seen that information since.

That doesn't make sense.  I've used Hibernation many times; the purpose of Hibernation is to power off your computer without having to close the applications you had open and then being able to immediately resume where you left off when you start your computer, i.e. bring it out of Hibernation.  So, Hibernation is designed to save your data, not lose it.

I mean no offense but, for someone who is working with a large and apparently very important file, shouldn't you learn more about how Windows and your laptop computer work?  And, clearly, you need to know more about backup options and how they work.  If you want to burn that file to DVD, you need to learn how to do that.

Is there a computer user's group (CUG) in your area?  A CUG could be very beneficial for you.  Public libraries are another source of books and videos on computers.

I think buying a flash drive would be a smart move; a small capacity one, say 512MB or 1GB, should be fine for just backing up that file and other data files.  Even larger ones are quite inexpensive now; rebates are sometimes offered.  Visit a Best Buy, Staples, etc. store, or buy online from a website such as buy.com.  For example: Kingston 4GB DataTraveler USB 2.0 Flash Drive - DTI/4GB, for $16.23.