- How to protect your work
- Save your work to Microsoft 365 OneDrive
- Keep an additional backup
- Using a USB storage device
- Problems using a USB drive
- Protect your files from viruses
- University policy on storing your work
How to protect your work
- Save your work regularly and and keep a backup so you do not lose important files..
- Use autosave with OneDrive where available.
- Consider keeping your work in at least two different places.
- Check your files have saved correctly before logging out.
- Do not save files to the hard drive of an LRC computer. You will not be able to retrieve them after you log out.
- If you email a file to yourself, save it to a known location before working on it. Do not work on the file from within your browser.
- Regularly check your own devices for viruses and malware.
Save your work to Microsoft 365 OneDrive
Your University Microsoft 365 account includes OneDrive, which you can use to store and share documents.
You can access Microsoft 365 and your OneDrive files from different locations and devices.
Sign in using your username@herts.ac.uk and password.
When you sign in to a University computer on campus, OneDrive launches automatically and is available through File Explorer.
If you're new to OneDrive, see the:
Keep an additional backup
If you want to keep a copy of the files stored in your University OneDrive, save a copy to your personal computer or an external hard drive.
USB flash drives are not recommended because they are easy to lose and more prone to virus infection.
Using a USB storage device
If you need to use a USB drive, remember to remove it when you have finished.
On a Windows PC, the USB drive will usually appear with a drive letter such as **D:, E:\ or F:**.
Before removing the USB drive:
- Windows: use the USB/eject option in the taskbar and wait until you are told it is safe to remove the device.
- Mac: eject the USB device using Finder or drag its icon to the Trash.
See USB devices: lost/found and safe use.
Problems using a USB drive
Can't save or copy files to your USB drive?
- Check whether the drive has a write-protect switch.
- Check that the drive is not full.
- Check that you are not trying to replace a file that is open or read-only.
Can't safely remove your USB drive?
Save and close any open files and try again. You may also need to close the application using the files.
USB drive not appearing?
Unplug the device and reconnect it. If you're using Windows, there may not be a suitable drive letter available.
Unable to save or copy files onto the USB Drive?
- Check the write-protect slider on the drive (if present, normally a small switch).
- Make sure the drive is not full.
- Make sure you are not trying to replace a file that is open or read-only.
USB device cannot be stopped?
- Save and close the file(s) and retry.
- You may also have to exit the application before the device can be stopped.
Protect your files from viruses
USBs and other storage devices are automatically checked when they're inserted into computers in the LRCs and disinfected wherever possible.
You should also protect your own computer from viruses and malware.
See dealing with viruses and worms.
University policy on storing your work
For the University's requirements on storing saved work, see UPR SA12 Learning Resources, section 8.2.5.