Saving docs. , spreadsheets and other data, to replace them later.

[Pan]

Not sure how to do this.

I am planing to be on hols soon, and am letting a friend come in and use my laptop and the b/band service.
I trust him, but am not so much trusting of others who will in all prob. want to use it as well, in that I really don't know them well at all.
Sooo..is there an easy way for me to 'remove' data totally, and replace it all when I come back? I'm talking of 30-40 docs and a few spread sheets. Photos, that I am understanding can take up alot of digital space, can remain in place.
It's just written stuff that is personal to me and/or professional stuff that I am required to keep as secure as possible. Is there a way to save it all to disc, remove off the laptop, and then re-install in exactly the same configuration? >

thank you muchly.

it's on Windows XP and the docs are Microsoft Word and Works.

why don't you set up a separate guest profile and password protect your own?

I'm not sure what you mean by configuration either, but I'd just move them all either to a USB drive or an external hard drive & move them back when you come back.

They would probably still be retrievable by an expert if they really wanted to, but I'm assuming your friend is not likely to go rooting around in your computer for stuff that isn't apparently there.

yeah - wot lapin said

Thank youv. much. Will do tea now and get on with reading the stuff, ll, and look into your notion iota, if it isn't the same. Does sound like it would save a load of hassle. thank you.

I'm currently logged on as me on my ds2's computer - he can't see my stuff and he doesn't have any administrator rights because he's only 6.

I think it might not be a bad idea to make a copy of the professional stuff anyway & keep it in a secure location, in case these people you don't know too well manage to get something nasty onto your laptop...

Hi lapin - I have just been bouncing bunnies! I'm getting quite good at it!

you know. I am going to do both. I'll do the disk trick ( as it seems a handy thing to do anyway) AND organise a password protected thing for my friend. Should be fun for me!

I never considered that aspect RustyBear re the poss. nasties. I am utterly sure it isn't necessary, but 1. the professional stuff identifies people and 2. It's my responsibility to be v. careful, not my friend's.
All of it MAY be unecessary but I'd like total peace of mind when soaking up the Aegean sun.

thanks to all.