Here's a list of common data files and where to find them:

Saved games: Inside the game program's directory you should find a folder called "Saved Games" or something similar. There's no clear method of describing where a saved game is stored, since each game manufacturer uses a different system. If you are unclear, consult the game's documentation.

Email: Locations vary. Eudora stores its email and address book in .mbx files in the main Eudora folder. Outlook Express lets you specify the location of its .dbx mail file, so it could be anywhere. Netscape Messenger defaults to "C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\your name\Mail." Outlook stores everything in a .pst file.

The easiest way to locate a lost file on your system is to use the Find Files application. From the desktop, press F3 to launch the program. To find all the Outlook Express email boxes on your system just search for *.dbx. The asterisk is a wild card that tells the search tool to find all the files ending with .dbx on your system.

Templates, fax cover sheets, and documents: You may have put a lot of time into these. It'd be a shame to lose them. If you don't already, get in the habit of keeping these in the same folder. When you save a document, make sure you specifically save the file in the designated backup folder.

Internet bookmarks and favorites: Netscape defaults to "C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\your name\bookmark.htm." Internet Explorer stores them as individual files in the C:\Windows\Favorites or C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Favorites directory.

Preferences and settings: They're scattered all over your hard drive, usually in files with the .ini extension. You probably don't need to back up Windows .ini files, but you might want preferences from other programs. And don't forget to jot down your dialup networking and TCP/IP settings while you're at it.

You may have other important data hidden away on your hard disk. It's not a bad idea to take a walk through your drive to see what else is there. You can simplify matters by doing a search of your disk by file creation dates. Look for new files, since new files were most likely created by you.

The moral of our story is all computers fail eventually. And they always seem to do it when you need them the most. Protect yourself by backing up. You'll be glad you did. I promise.