Taking your files with you has never been easier. They can be carried around on a USB flash or thumb drive, copied to a CD or DVD or the old stand-by floppy disk. Caution should be taken, however, when working with your files from any of these options. The most common problem is data corruption. This can happen on a USB flash or thumb drive when it is improperly removed from the computer. A floppy is sometimes full and ejected before it has a chance to tell the user there isn't enough room to save the file or it is just old and has been used so much the magnetic media inside doesn't store data correctly any longer. CD and DVD problems can happen when they just aren't the correct type, are formatted incorrectly or aren't closed properly for the data to be read on another computer.

 Hopefully, the tips below will keep this from happening to you.

• Always copy the file you want to work on to a temporary working directory on the hard drive of the computer you are using and do your work on the hard drive and not the USB drive, floppy. If using re-writable CDs or DVDs this is also the best method to use.
• Save, save and then save again. While working, save the changes you make often and always save your changes if you have to leave the computer for any reason.
• Properly eject the USB drive, floppy, CD or DVD.

To properly eject a USB drive, click on the "Safely remove hardware" icon found in the lower right corner of the desktop.

You will then be prompted that it is safe to remove your USB drive.