Saving Files When Using TU Computers: Proper Storage Techniques

Students must be aware of the storage locations when saving a file from an email or other applications on campus computers. Users need to save all files to their H: drive or a personal flash drive so that they can retrieve their files at a later time.

General instructions

All applications are different. However, they often follow the same pattern.

1. Have open the file you would like to save.
2. Look for the File menu, usually located in the upper left corner.
3. Select Save As. A dialogue box usually appears. You may have to choose which file type or make another selection before the dialogue box appears.
4. If a dialogue box does not appear, try to find an option that says Browse.
5. Once in the dialogue box, look for Computer, and select it.
6. You should see the H: drive in the Network Locations section.
7. The H: drive is titled after your NetID, and the drive letter is (H:).
8. If you save to a flash drive, it will be listed under Devices with Removable Storage (under Computer). It will be named Removable Disk and can have any drive letter, for example (E:).
9. Select the drive you are saving your document to. You may choose a subfolder or save it directly to the root directory.
10. Select Save.

Step-by-step examples

Here are two specific examples of this common process. The first example explains how to save a file from your student email in Google Chrome to your H: drive. The second example explains how to save a PDF file to a flash drive.

Save an email attachment from your Towson Webmail using Google Chrome

1. Use your NetID and Password to log on to the computer.
2. Select Google Chrome from the task bar.
3. Log in to your email at https://webmail.towson.edu.
4. Select the email that contains the file you would like to save.
5. Select the down arrow.
6. The download bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the large box with your file name in it to open the file.
7. From the program (PowerPoint in this case), select File. 
8. Select Enable Editing. This allows you to access all document features and returns you to the Home menu.
9. Select File again.
10. Select Save As; a dialogue box will appear.
11. Under Computer, select your H: drive named after your NetID.
12. Once you have selected your H: drive, you can name the file. Select the File Name box and type in the name you would like.
13. Select Save. The file from your email attachment is now saved on your H: drive, and you can access it from any campus computer connected to the network.

Save a PDF to your flash drive

Some people who use campus computers may not have an H: drive or may want to access their files from home. To do this, you will need to save it to your own flash drive. The following is an example of how to save a PDF document to a flash drive.

1. Open the PDF document that you would like to save.
2. Select File; the File drop-down menu will appear.
3. Select Save As; a new menu will appear.
4. Select the file type necessary; for this example, a PDF has been chosen. A dialogue box will open.
5. Under Computer, select Removable Disk (E:) and select open at the bottom of the screen.
6. Select Save. The dialogue box will close, and the document is now saved on your flash drive.

Your flash drive may not use the letter E! If you are unsure if this is your flash drive, check it. Open the start menu and select computer located on the right side. A Windows Explorer box will appear that lists all the drives connected to the computer. Unplug your flash drive and refresh the Windows Explorer box. Note all the drives under the computer and plug your flash drive back in. The newly listed drive is your flash drive.

Access the H: drive on a campus computer

Now that you have saved a file to the H: drive from the first example, you can open it again by going to any campus computer that is connected to the network and following these steps:

1. Select the Start Menu located in the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. Select Computer to open the Windows Explorer screen. 
3. Select the (H:) drive.
4. Browse for the file you saved.
5. Right-click on the file and select open; it will launch the appropriate program for viewing.