How to Save on the Public Computers

Introduction

In order to prevent data loss it is strongly recommended that you do not save files to the public computers. Files saved on the public computers will be deleted after each login and whenever the computer is idle for 30 minutes. Once the file has been deleted from the desktop it is gone for good and library staff cannot retrieve it for you. There are several options available to you when you want to save a file for later use. This article will walk you through some of those options so you can avoid data loss.

Burn it to a CD

The public computers now have a CD-RW drive which means you now have the option of burning your files to a CD-R or CD-RW disk. A CD-R disk is cheaper then a CD-RW but it can only be written to once. A CD-RW costs more but can be written to and erased many times. The Library does not sell CD-R or CD-RW disks so it is your responsibility to provide your own. To burn a CD:

1. Insert an unformatted CD-R disk or a CD-RW into the CD-ROM drive (see Figure 1 below).
2. Save the file you wish to burn onto the Desktop.
3. Select the file by clicking on it.
4. Right click, scroll to Send to, and select DVD/CD-RW Drive (D:).
5. Open the My Computer icon on the desktop.
6. Click on DVD/CD-RW Drive (D:)
7. Select Write Files to CD. This will open the Wizard. Click on Next. Wait for the computer to finish.

If you are copying from one CD to another, open and save the file on the Desktop, eject that CD and put the second one in the drive. Proceed to Step 3 above.

Save it to a flash drive

How to use a flash drive on the public computers:

1. Insert the flash drive into the USB port (see Figure 1 at right).
2. The “Found new hardware” message will appear in the lower right hand corner of the desktop. If this message does not display, the flash drive has not been inserted correctly into the USB port.
3. Click the My Computer icon on the desktop.
4. You should see an icon for the flash drive in the My Computer window. It may have one of the following names: Removable Drive, the manufacturer's name, or the name you assigned the drive.
5. To save a file to the flash drive you can either:
   1. Drag the files over to the flash drive icon. When a small plus sign (+) appears over the flash drive icon, release the mouse button. A copy of the file or folder will now be located on the flash drive.
   2. Save the file to the flash drive using the File > Save as > My Computer > Removable Drive option in the application you are using to create the file you want to save.
6. When you are done saving files to the flash drive it is extremely important to eject the drive from the computer. Failure to do this correctly could lead to loss of data. To eject the flash drive:
   1. Left click once on the eject icon, located in the lower-right corner of the screen .
   2. Click once on the "Safely remove USB mass storage device" option.
   3. A “Safe to remove hardware” dialog box should appear. Once that message displays you can safely remove the flash drive from the USB port.