Thanks farful.
That's a pretty solid idea. I don't know why I haven't backed up my files yet.
Actually, my work comp is a desktop and I've been staying late at work to work on the apps. The laptop would be easier, because then I could just work on it at home or pretty much anywhere. For the last leg before my CBS submission I used my wife's Mac and I have to say, Microsoft Word is much harder/confusing to use on a Mac for someone like me who has only really used a PC. She and others have told me I should convert to Mac, but I'm still not convinced...
I'm just afraid of laying down another ~$1.2k-$1.5k on a computer that will not last through B-school (my Acer was $900 and barely lasted 2 years). I also haven't used the (new) Windows 8.1 yet. I've been a solid Windows 7 user and I didn't really see the advantages of going with a Windows 8.1 computer, but I think it's a pretty stupid concept that you have to pay more to actually "downgrade" to Windows 7 these days.