where to save files: desktop, C or D?

[Guest]

By default my laptop wants me to save documents, photos, etc on the desktop
(viewed from windows explorer). Before this computer I saved everything on
the C drive. My brother told me years ago to save personal stuff on D and
computer programs, etc on C.

Seems like some programs want to save stuff in different places (so I have
documents scattered all over).

1. where should I save my personal and business files, photos, etc?

2. how can I tell programs to open a drive by default when saving? In
other words, if I save to D I need to tell my computer to goto D when I save
a document b/c now it seems to want to go to desktop.

Thanks

 

[Jim]

By default my laptop wants me to save documents, photos, etc on the
desktop
(viewed from windows explorer). Before this computer I saved everything
on
the C drive. My brother told me years ago to save personal stuff on D and
computer programs, etc on C.

Seems like some programs want to save stuff in different places (so I have
documents scattered all over).

1. where should I save my personal and business files, photos, etc?

In a well known folder on a common drive. I have all my files on one drive
with all of the OS and program files on another.
It is nevertheless necessary to keep certain user folders on the OS drive
because a lot of programs expect to save their setup information there.

2. how can I tell programs to open a drive by default when saving? In
other words, if I save to D I need to tell my computer to goto D when I
save
a document b/c now it seems to want to go to desktop.

"Save As" will let you save a file anywhere you wish. Some programs keep
track of the last folder accessed but most don't.

Thanks

Jim

 

[Harry Ohrn]

The My Documents folder was created for such a purpose. It can be relocated
to different partition if you so choose. Within My Documents are ready made
folders for My Pictures, My Music, My Videos. You can also create your own
folders inside of it as well. Many programs default to saving to this
location. The biggest benefit to using My Documents folder is that it is not
monitored by System Restore. So any files saved there won't be affected if
you use System Restore to roll back.

To relocate your My Documents folder to another drive simply right click
it's icon and select Properties. Change the path to D (for example) and
click the Move button.

Typically past save locations are remembered. However this can be
application specific. You may need to "train" your applications to remember
where to save to.

 

[Charles W Davis]

By default my laptop wants me to save documents, photos, etc on the
desktop
(viewed from windows explorer). Before this computer I saved everything
on
the C drive. My brother told me years ago to save personal stuff on D and
computer programs, etc on C.

Seems like some programs want to save stuff in different places (so I have
documents scattered all over).

1. where should I save my personal and business files, photos, etc?

2. how can I tell programs to open a drive by default when saving? In
other words, if I save to D I need to tell my computer to goto D when I
save
a document b/c now it seems to want to go to desktop.

Thanks

To add to Harry's comments:
When you perform a backup, you want all of your important files within the
My Documents folder.
Examples of folders that you might want to include are:
My Downloads — programs that you have downloaded to be backed up.
My PST — a place to have Office Outlook to save the PST (Persnal Folders
file) so that it will be backed up.
QB — QuickBooks files — no need for other backup processses.
That thesis that you have been working on for what seems like decades.

Back up regularly to an external drive. When things go bad, happieness is a
recent backup!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the suggestions and information. You mention backing files up to
an external drive. I am not familiar with products that can do this other
than the ancient zip drive from about 10 years ago - never used one just
heard about them tnen. What can I use now and is it about as cheap to just
buy one of those cheap $300 computer systems and somehow tie the two together?

Thanks!