Keeping those files in line

On this fourth of July I thought it might be fitting to talk about the freedom of file structures and how best to organize your self and your computer files. Many of us just assume that the best place to hold our files are in the folders that Bill Gates gave to us, for example "My Documents" or "My Pictures". Although these are convenient places I would recommend otherwise, the reason being that if by chance you do get a virus, or heaven forbid your computer gets hacked these default places will be the first places that the virus or the hacker will look to get your personal info, so I strongly suggest you not use those folders.

Here is what I do and I keep my files safe and secure nice and snugly all the time. If you have occasion get your self a second hard drive or if you already have one then wonderful. If you don't have a second hard drive and run everything off the C drive these methods can still apply, but I recommend you get a secondary hard drive for your computer.

Number 1: On your second drive organize your self with how you work on your computer. If you deal mostly with office stuff or writing letters then create a folder for "The Office" or "Letters". Examine what you do on a daily basis. For example I do a lot of photo work, so in my folder structure I have "Tim's Photos" and in that folder I have "portfolio", "Backgrounds", "My Family", "Friends", "Camera Photos", etc. and each one of those folders has sub folders that go into more details about what exactly is located there. Windows doesn't have a space requirement for how many folders you create so make as many as you wish, you may find it daunting at first to create and organize yourself in this way, but it will really reward you in the future. Once you have the folders set up with all the things you want to hold then GRAB! all your personal stuff out of those Bill Gates folders and TAKE BACK your computer! They are yours not his and you should be able to keep your files wherever you wish, this is America after all.

Number 2: Organize your folders in a way that makes sense if you look at your photos and see they all say "IMG_0156" don't make a folder that says "IMG_s" that doesn't make sense, instead make a folder called "Photos" or "Digital Camera" and when you finally do get a chance to go through those files it might be really helpful for you to rename all those generic camera photos to what they actually are.

Number3: I know some of you are saying, "But it's just easier to keep all my stuff in the folders Bill Gates gave me". Well OK, ......I give you that, it is easy and convenient, but it's just not practical, if your computer crashes it's gonna take all your files down with it, if you have your personal files on a second hard drive then when the computer crashes you can be sure that your files are safe and secure, you can reinstall the C drive with windows and low and behold all your personal files will be waiting for you just the way you left them on the second drive.

Remember this is your computer,...... you bought it! You need to take control of it! Take back the freedoms that your files so richly deserve and Keep those files in Line! God Bless America!