I've just read bfdc's entry on backing up stuff on one's computer, and an old anxiety comes back to worry me. I bought a new machine last October (shall be paying for it until next October...), and the guy who installed it for me very kindly transferred all the content of the old one into the new. My whole life's in here!

But I worry. Apart from the ever more frequent violent lightning-thunder storms - which at least give some warning so I can unplug all electric appliances - we often have unannounced power cuts (nobody knows why, least of all the light company), and then if one is at home, one unplugs everything in case the return of power comes with an appliance-burning surge. Naturally, I always unplug the computer when I'm not using it, but I don't do the same with the fridge when I go out - it really annoys me to think of the fish defrosting and having to be thrown out when I get back...

Anyhow, back to the start. My understanding of computers is limited to the most basic Word and Internet programmes (I have Windows XP, which I find even worse than Windows 98 - I work a whole lot with Word, and it's hard to hold on to my patience when it decides to change my format, or the font, or, as I do translations, the language; Arghhhhh!). But I haven't the faintest idea how to do a backup, except by putting everything on CD's, which I haven't done...

Suppose I'll have to go back to the 'Universidad de la Tercerra Edad' where I learned what little I know of computing, and find out how to do a backup. Hate to spend all that time away from home, garden, pets and computer, but guess it's the only way out of this anxious state...