Have You Backed Up Your Computer Lately?

Even when you take precautions, sometimes negative things still happen. To help prevent problems on my computer, I back up regularly, keep my files up to date, upgrade my software as needed, have a good firewall and virus protection software installed.

Still, with all this, I lost use of my computer last week.

While responding to a new global threat to Windows PCs that attacks critical operating system components, McAfee (my virus protection program) send their users a faulty file, which in turn caused my computer (and thousands of other people's computers who use McAfee) to shut down and block performance of vital functions.

Since what I do for a living is mainly dependent on having my computer up and running, most things business-related came to a standstill. We could not fix the error using the 'file fix' that McAfee sent out. We actually had to call a technician to repair the computer--and it wasn't a 5-minute fix by any means.

Chris, the computer guy, was a lifesaver. He managed to get my computer up and running within a little over a day. He had to perform a number of fixes, including formatting my hard drive.

I then spent the next day and a half re-installing programs and adjusting program commands for ease of use.

Frustrating as this was, preventative measures taken prior to this situation helped me get back up and running sooner, rather than later.

1) I back up daily. Chris was able to recover my files, but if he hadn't, it would have been OK. I back up my files on an external hard drive daily.

2) All my computer programs were easy to find. Any software I had to re-install was in a handy-dandy CD holder, along with product registration numbers. Information relating to my downloaded computer programs were saved in a virtual folder on my external hard drive.

3) We had easy access to alternate computers. We have two older computers in our basement, plus a fairly new laptop. Even though I couldn't access my important files while my main computer was under repair, I was able to check email and some web sites I access regularly from the alternate computers. If this happens to you, and you need to check email or visit certain sites, you may be able to do so at your local library or a friend's computer. This helped ensure my work didn't get too back-logged.

4) I have a printed, hard-copy list of all folders (computer directories) that were imperative to keep, in the event the computer needs to be reformatted. I was able to give this list to the computer tech without any effort, and all my files were restored.

5) I have a printed, hard-copy list of all important web sites that includes user names and passwords, and important email addresses. This is under lock and key, but was very easy to access during this computer crisis.

Don't ever be under the impression that your computer will never crash or be compromised. It often happens without warning and sometimes the results can be detrimental.

I know you hear it every day. Take preventative measures. Back up. Keep accurate notes. Store important information in an organized manner.

It's so easy to dismiss or put off.

Very often, the only way these things become important to many people is for them to experience the situation themselves.

But for you--a person obviously interested in being organized or becoming more organized--let this note be a gentle reminder to heed the computer-related preventative advice you receive.

It's meant to save you time, money and stress.

Comments

[Carin]

Great, important post! We had to reformat our PC about 6 months ago and would have lost so much data had I not used most of the tools you mention above.

[Nofussacctng]

I enjoyed your blog post.. This gets people to start thinking... are they prepare for the worst case scenerio.. which Murphy's Law dictates will in deed happen.

[Ralph]

This is something that I have not done recently but I really need to. thanks for the reminder :)

[used computer]

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