taming the beast - saving data

Think of your computer as an unbalanced beast. It can be a wilful character at the best of times and the least thing seems to make it fall over. In this case you probably have a component failure rather than a software problem. The beeps you hear when you switch it on are a clue. These pathetic cries for help tell the computer engineer which part is causing the problem.

Whether your data is lost for ever depends on which internal organ is ailing. The good news is that it is usually recoverable. It is the degree of difficulty which varies. Sometimes recovery is possible but the cost prohibitive. Sometimes, believe it or not, all it takes is a prod with a well trained finger. The inescapable fact is that ultimately every computer will fail for some reason. Even the fittest of beasts doesn't live for ever.

This is why every computer engineer will tell you to back up your documents and pictures regularly.

Saving a document as you work on it is not the same thing. To be really safe, remove it from the beast physically. When you look at a photo on your computer, or write the first few lines of your magnum opus ask yourself if you would be happy to lose it. If you wouldn't, back it up NOW.

A dedicated backup program can be useful but it is not essential - you can back up photos and documents to a memory stick or DVD.

Another thing to be wary of should your beast become temperamental is the well-meaning friend. Doing the wrong thing with an unhealthy computer can terminally lose your data. So, now think of your computer as a beast with toothache. Don't tie one end of a piece of string to its tooth and the other end to a door handle and tell it to leap into the lift shaft. No, see the dentist, or to reverse the analogy, make an appointment with The Full Poodle on 01297 443819 or email

info@thefullpoodle.com