Greetings Listers, What do lightning, children and sticky snacks have in common? They are all potentially FATAL to your data. Those years and years of researching, travelling, corresponding, digging, mystery solving, interviewing and irreplaceable photo scans - gone. We're talking from laptop to doorstop in nothing flat. It happened to me - it can happen to you. Get vaccinated! Copy those files to CD's or data sticks now! Have no clue what I'm talking about - no worries. When the grandkids come over waving kool-aid around your keyboard - have their parents archive your system first. Ask the geek in the local computer store how to use a memory stick. You should just happen to have the computer in the car in case he gets so exasperated explaining that he offers to do it himself - tee hee. Save a copy of your data - You can do it, you should do it, so go do it. Have a great summer! Cathy DiPietro, list admin

Catherine DiPietro wrote: >> Greetings Listers, >> >> What do lightning, children and sticky snacks have in common? They >> are all potentially FATAL to your data. Those years and years of >> researching, travelling, corresponding, digging, mystery solving, >> interviewing and irreplaceable photo scans - gone. We're talking >> from >> laptop to doorstop in nothing flat. It happened to me - it can >> happen to you. Ask computor geek at specialist puter shop to rescue data for you. It is in fact rare that it cannot be found, it can be expensive. But you are absolutely right. External hard drives are wonderful and now inexpensive. (my data don't fit on a memory stick any more <g> ) regards Jill Bowis www.benderloch.org.uk/forum - One Place Study on Ardchattan history, geology, ecology, genealogy, weather, webcam, local forum www.kintaline.co.uk - where we are, what we do: Kintaline Plant and Poultry Centre www.bowis.co.uk - all our family trees and a One Name Study on Bowis