The most important files to back up are those that contain your data - data that you created or was created for you by some program you run on your computer. Where is it?

Programs for which you must save your work, like word processors, spreadsheets, databases, publishing programs, etc. ask you for a name the first time they save a file. Along with the name is a default path (location in the directory or folder structure of your hard drive) that identifies where that file that contains your data is located. 

When a file is saved you can change that location in the "Save" dialog box by simply navigating to the folder where you want to store it. We recommend that every file you save from any program be saved in the "My Documents" folder (or a sub-folder which you can create within that folder).

Many programs have a default location for saving files that can be changed. Whether you change it or not, the most important thing to know for backups is the directory location used for file storage by every program you run - that directory is one that you want to back up.

Programs that don't ask about saving files also have a default location for saving your data, usually within the directory in which they are installed. Many times this is a directory called "data". The program's documentation should tell you where it is or they may have a backup selection in their menus that will back up their data to a floppy drive or some other place you select - if so, use it! Many accounting and other record keeping programs employ this technique.