Synopsis:
What data should I back up on my computer? What is considered "intellectual property" and where are my personal settings and files stored?

Solution:
OIT provides 5GB of server storage space on the Central File Server for each University computing account. If you often use computers from multiple locations, the Central File Server is a great way to share, move, and store files. You can use your personal space to store your important files so that they are accessible to you from any computer connected to the network. For simplicity, this space is often referred to as your H: Drive. You should back up and protect the files that are your intellectual property: the work that, if lost, could not be easily duplicated and would cause you great distress. Your intellectual property might include your academic papers, thesis, problem sets, and class work. Saving your important work to the Central File Server can help avert a potential disaster.

You should also consider a strategy of attaching a peripheral device and copying your data to it, such as: a portable USB key, an MP3 player, an iPod, a Jump Drive, a Zip Drive, or an External Hard Drive (available at the OIT Tech Depot). You then have backups of your data available without having access to the network.

Below please find the documents that OIT believes you should back up on a regular basis, along with their default locations on most computers.

• Windows Computers
• Macintosh Computers

Windows Computers
It is not recommended that you back up your entire hard drive. Operating systems and application software are extremely space intensive, and backing up a computer’s contents is often time consuming. Should your computer malfunction, the re-installation of a clean operating system and application software is most often required and recommended; a complete restore from a hard drive backup is usually not performed, making a complete system backup unnecessary. However, should you purchase an external hard drive of a larger capacity than your internal drive, you will be able to back up not only your intellectual property but also your music files and pictures. We also recommend you back up your "My Documents" folder and/or your profile.

Microsoft Office documents

• Most Microsoft Office files are by default stored in this location:
  C:\Documents and Settings\netID\My Documents
  Be aware that you may be storing your documents in another location; be sure to check.
• Your My Documents folder contains additional folders that are of importance, including:
  C:\Documents and Settings\NetID\My Documents\My Pictures
  and
  C:\Documents and Settings\NetID\My Documents\My eBooks

Favorites and Bookmarks
The location of the Internet Explorer Favorites folder is:

• Windows XP and 2000: C:\Documents and Settings\netID\Favorites
  Windows 98 and Windows Millenium: C:\Windows\Favorites
• Netscape 7.x and Mozilla:C:\Documents and Settings\netID\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles

Local E-mail and Address Books

Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003

• C:\Documents and Settings\NetID\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
• C:\Documents and Settings\NetID\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
• The Address Book should be exported as a .pab
• Windows XP Home: Microsoft stores it in the C:\Documents and Settings\NetID\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Outlook Express

• C:\Documents and Settings\netID.princeton\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{DFD66F3F-E08B-4B8D-9775-5E13A4389189}\Microsoft\Outlook Express
• The Address Book should be exported as a .wab file

Netscape 7.x and Mozilla

• C:\Documents and Settings\NetID\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles
• Address Book should be exported as an ldif file

Netscape 4.x

• C:\Program Files\netscape\netID\ (this is your profile)
• Address Book should be exported as an ldif file

Eudora
Common locations

• C:\Eudora
• C:\Documents and Settings\netID\Application Data\Qualcomm\Eudora
• C:\Program Files\Qualcomm\Eudora

Special Programs

Make sure that any other application data or documents are backed up as well, for example SPSS, Matlab, SAS, Dreamweaver or AOL Instant Messenger buddy lists.

Macintosh Computers
In Macintosh OS X 10.0 - 10.3.x, the default location to house your data is the Home folder. To locate the Home folder, open the Finder and click on the Home button. The Home folder Home contains the following sub-folders: Documents, Library and Pictures. As a general rule, backing up your Home folder will suffice for a backup strategy.

Microsoft Office documents

• Most Microsoft Office files are by default stored in this location:
  Home:Documents
  Be aware that you may be storing your documents in another location; be sure to check.

Favorites and Bookmarks

• Internet Explorer's favorites are stored within:
  Home: Library: Preferences: Explorer: Favorites.html
• Safari's bookmarks are stored as:
  Home: Library: Safari: Booksmarks.plist

Apple Mail (OS X Mail)

• Home: Library: Mail

Apple Mail Address Book
The Apple Mail program uses a separate application called Address Book to store addresses. Address Book is included with the Macintosh OS X system.To back up your addresses:

• Open Address Book
• From the File pull down menu, select Back up Database
• Save the file
• Copy this file to your back up media

Outlook Express

• Home: Documents: Microsoft User Data: Identities
• The Address Book should be exported as a .wab file

Netscape 7.x and Mozilla

• Home: Library: Mozilla
• Address Book should be exported as an ldif file

Netscape 4.x

• C:\Program Files\netscape\netID\ (this is your profile)
• Address Book should be exported as an ldif file

Eudora

• Home: Documents: Eudora Folder

Entourage

• The following folder is the default location for the Entourage folder structure:
  Home: Documents: Microsoft User Data: Office 2001 Identities: Main Identity
• The following folder is the default location for the Entourage X folder structure:
  Hard Drive: Users: Local Identity: Documents: Microsoft User Data: Office X Identities: Main Identity

Special Programs
Make sure that any other application data or documents are backed up as well, for example Dreamweaver or AOL Instant Messenger buddy lists.