Where Do You Store Important Data Files?

Most faculty and staff don't back up files stored on their computer hard drive. At the most inopportune time, a hard drive failure can lose all their important data forever.  To help avoid data loss, Information Technology strongly suggests storing your work related documents and files on JMU's network fileservers. Information stored on these fileservers is backed up nightly.  So, if your computer crashes, your data should be safe (for file restoration information see Novell Netware FAQs). 

Depending on the department or division for which you work, you have access to specific fileserver space where you can store your important files. Which drive is for you?  In Windows, go to your desktop and open up "My Computer" and take a look.

Drive N:   (If you are a member of AA, AF, OP, SA or UA)

Drive K:   (If you are a member of CGOP, CISAT or COSM)

Drive J:    (If you are a member of COAL, COB, COE or COVPA)

If these drives are not visible, then you are not logged into the network.  To login:

  • Right-click on the red "N" on the bottom right corner of your screen and select "Novell Login" from the menu. 
  • Choose a drive (see list above) and navigate through a series of folders that represent the organizational hierarchy where your department is located
  • You will see folders with your department designation and one with your e-ID name.
  • The folder named the same as your e-ID is your private space where you can store your important data. 
  • The department-name-Common folder is space where you can share data with those in your department. 

Storing your business-related data on the network drive is also beneficial when it is time for a new computer.  If your data is stored on the network fileserver, then there is very little to be transferred to your new system, and, more importantly, less that can be inadvertently lost in the process. 

Hard drives go bad, systems crash, and people erase files by mistake all the time. With your data backed up, you can have peace of mind that it is safe.

For information on saving files to the network with a Mac computer or additional information on the  network fileservers,  please see Novell Netware File and Print Environment.   To learn  how to change the default file save location in Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007, please see "Changing the Default File Save Location" article in this issue.