“Hope for the best but plan for the worst” – good advice my father gave me! So, yes, I pop a couple of quid on the lottery now and then. Sadly, the chances of winning the jackpot are tiny compared to the chances of a PC or laptop crash or lockout losing access to all my files, photos, and emails. So, while I am waiting for the call from Camelot, I also make sure my computer is properly backed up. In the event of a disaster, I could recover treasured data after its fixed or replaced.

So, take a little moment to think through – Do you have a disaster recovery plan?

1. Make a recovery file (see separate post)
2. Make sure you have a backup routine that you keep up-to-date.  Keep backups separate from your PC or Laptop
3. Keep copies of irreplaceable files, photos and documents on separate media (like a memory stick)
4. Be aware that recordable CDs and DVDs fade with time.  Make fresh copies every couple of years
5. Consider using cloud services like Google, AWS, or Microsoft to keep online copies of your precious files and better still keep them synced with your PC.