To prevent data loss start by locating the files you need to backup. Most users keep them under My Documents

Use a flash drive or external USB hard drive that is bigger than the data you want to backup (Some users backup their data by creating a copy in a folder in the same drive. Never do this! As this will not prevent data loss if your hard drive fails.)

Insert the external device into a free USB port

Select Open Folder to View files (if prompted to)

Note the drive letter assigned by Windows to the external drive. In this case is letter F: (see image A)

Image A

Make a folder in the external drive
Click on File > New > Folder (See image B)

Image B

7.

Type March 2010 for the new folder name and press Enter (see image C)

Image C

8.

Press the Start button and the letter E at the same time, this will open My Computer, release both keys, (see image D)

Image D

9.

Double click on the Local Disk (C:) icon

Click on Show the contents of this folder (if asked to)

Find out your user name by clicking on Start and looking for the user name after Log Off, (see image E). It is Surfing for this example

Image E

12.

Press Esc to get rid of the Start menu

Open the Documents and Settings folder in the Local Disk (C:)

Avoid Data Loss! Backup Your Important Files Periodically

Click once on Surfing folder to select it

Right click on Surfing and select Copy, (see image F)

16.

Minimize the window

Open the window for your (F:) drive

Open the folder March 2010

Right Click inside the window on the white area (see image G), select Paste and wait for the copy process to finish

Image G

20.

Open your Surfing folder on the (F:) drive to make sure that your data is there

If there are more user accounts repeat steps 14 to 20 for the other users, substitute the account names as needed. It is better to do this procedure one account at a time in case there is an error copying files you'll know which account the file belongs to

Close all open windows

It is time to eject your external drive, click once on the Safely Remove Hardware icon on your taskbar (see image H)

Image H

24.

Click on Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device - Drive (F:)

Remove your external drive when you see the message "Safe to Remove Hardware"

Finally you've made a successful copy of your data. We recommend doing this weekly or more often if your files change frequently to avoid data loss and a visit to the data  recovery company.