Add order to your digital world

Keep your computer organized with Windows Home Server

By Camilla Cornell

Heather and Doug Jacobson of Redmond, Wash., own six computers and run two home businesses, and their two kids have extensive digital libraries. “We had files scattered everywhere,” says Heather. “Trying to find something was ridiculous.”

Sound familiar? The thought of searching through several computers holding countless files, movies and pictures to find that one specific, career-making document can jolt even the most orderly of us out of a deep sleep.

Here’s the good news: Windows Home Server keeps you protected, connected and organized with the same powerful server technology many people use at the office.

With a broadband Internet-connected PC and a minimal investment of time, it’s a snap to get those digital memories and media in order.

Controlling chaos

With Windows Home Server acting as a digital clean-up team, the Jacobsons are able to sort out their digital environment. The software comes with a set of shared folders, predefined for specific content, including photos, music, documents and videos.

The advantage: “It’s all consolidated,” says Heather. “If you want to find a piece of music or a specific video, you know exactly where to look. My husband and I aren’t the most organized people, but this has really helped.”

To get your personal organizer working for you, click on the Shared Folders tab to create new folders for things such as income tax documents, health information or work information. Then drag and drop current content into the folders, which are automatically duplicated on other hard drives.

Don’t want your kids to get into your tax documents? Click on the individual folder for a list of system users so you can specify who has permission to access the material.

Sharing with others

Another problem the Jacobsons had was sharing files with family across the United States. “The grandparents complained all the time that we didn’t send them enough photos,” says Heather.

Now the Jacobsons post photos and videos on a secure web site provided by Windows Home Server. Family and friends get a password that allows them remote access.

The advantage: “It’s very easy to set up,” says Joel Sider, senior product manager for Windows Home Server. “The pre-built web page is ready to go.” You can also use the server to access documents when you’re at a client site or at the office. It’s like having a personal courier to run your files, photos and data to whomever you choose: a friend, colleague or family member.

Backing up...everything

Doug recently tried to open a video he was working on, but he discovered that the file was corrupted. For a self-employed person with a deadline to meet, that can spell disaster. “You can spend a week rebuilding the whole project,” says Doug.

No less important, adds Sider, is preventing what he calls “the divorceable offence.” “We all know we should be backing up files, but few of us do it. If you lose your wedding video or your child’s baby pictures because the computer crashes, that’s not a conversation you want to have with your spouse.”

The advantage: Windows Home Server acts as an e-bodyguard that automatically backs up files nightly and silently. All you do is set the time. Doug was able to access the most recent backup of his video and continue working. “When you work for yourself,” he says, “that’s huge.”

Using different safety measures

The next time you’re up in the middle of the night worrying about the morning’s big meeting, the terrible storm outside and the presentation on your hard drive, just remember: your computer is taking care of details. Now get some sleep.