Quicken data file storage.

You could retrieve historical quotes to do that...

In the same place where it retrieved them! Where that is is wherever you decided to put them!

Hi, Phil.

By default (unless you choose otherwise), Quicken keeps its current up-to-the-minute data fileset (.qdf, plus .qph, .qtx, etc., depending on how YOU use Quicken) in the same folder with its executable files: C:\Program Files\ QuickenW.

It also keeps weekly backups of your whole data fileset in a subfolder that it always names BACKUP: C:\Program Files\QuickenW\BACKUP. By default, it will keep 5 sets, with the newest named QDATA1.* and the oldest QDATA5.*, incrementing the digit each week until it deletes the *5 set after the 6th week, and writing the newest set to QDATA1.*.

In addition, of course, you should make "manual" backups to one or more locations of your choice, including at least "milestone" backups to removable media that you can store separately from the computer in case of fire or other disaster. To make these backups, just click File | Backup, or press +B, or click the Backup button on the Tool Bar. If you forget, Quicken will remind you to do this after every 3 (by default) times that you exit Quicken.

Thus, you should always have at least 3 copies of your full fileset: the current set in QuickenW; the most recent weekly backup in QuickenW\BACKUP; and your latest manual backup wherever you put it.

If you use Quicken's tools to backup or copy your data, it will automatically include all the files in your fileset. If you use Windows Explorer or other non-Quicken tool, you must be sure to include ALL the data files, not just the .qdf file.

RC

Flipping Paranoia switch ON....

Personal preference - no doubt influenced by having data security drummed into me over decades in information systems - is to keep (at least) three sets of backups (grandfather, father, son) ...

1. Rotating generations every backup period (my preference is weekly, and rotating because if you backup to the same disk every time something can happen to the backup disk AND the PC during a backup session)
2. Besides what is in the computer (the PC disk[s] can crash)
3. Physically away from the computer (I use a safe at the other end of the house as the computer location may experience a fire or other disaster)
4. #3 above preferably at another site altogether (I used to use a bank safety deposit box, same reason as in #3 above, expanded)

I know this may be considered extreme in a SOHO environment, but as the saying goes, the pain of recovery is inversely proportional to the frequency of backups - the lesser the frequency, the higher the pain.

Flipping Paranoia switch OFF

Jay

forget,

I backup almost daily to CD-R. When the disk fills, I take it to the bank, and put it into a safety deposit box. It costs about $.50 per month, and provides backups for as long as you like at an off-site location.

I know I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough? :-)