Backup, For God's Sake, Man!!!

Dear Chip and Diana,

The way to protect yourself against data loss is to backup your work. In my book, www.makepeacewithyourpc.com , I devote an entire chapter to this subject. I say it over, and over, and over again: backup your work!!! If I had a dollar for every time I'd said it, I'd be wealthy by now. If I had a dollar for every time a user failed to heed this advice after I'd said it, I'd be doubly wealthy. But when a user simply fails to follow this sound advice, what can be done?

I frequently install automated backup systems which can backup all your work reliably, every day, with no effort whatsoever on the user's part -- all automatic. The user does not have to lift a finger. I use such systems myself. Naturally, these backup systems cost some money, although they are well worth it. Some clients are wise enough to have me install these backup systems for them; many others do not choose to do so, presumably because they do not wish to incur the expense, however modest. In this scenario -- automated backup systems are available, but the client does not choose to use one -- what can be done?

Hard drive failures are an unfortunate fact of life. I replace dozens of failed hard drives every month, every brand of hard drive (Maxtor, Seagate, Western Digital, Fujitsu), on every brand of machine you care to mention (Dell, Compaq, Gateway, E-Machines, HP). I sometimes receive brand new hard drives that do not function -- DOA! Because I use premium hard drives in my custom-built systems, the hard drive failure rate on my own machines is well below average -- but still, it happens. There is no way of getting around the fact that a hard drive may fail at any time, without warning. In such scenarios, data loss is often total. There is no way to predict it, no way to eliminate it, absolutely nothing to be done about it except -- you guessed it: back up all your work at all times.

FYI, technically speaking, I am only obligated to replace the failed component to comply with the terms of my warranty. I am not obligated to restore the Windows operating system or Windows applications, most of which were not even purchased from me! That means I could charge a user as much as $ 300 or more to replace a failed hard drive within the warranty period, unless they wanted to put Windows and all their applications back themselves. Because I am generous and because I offer premium value for money, however, I do NOT charge my customers for the significant amount of labor required to put Windows and Windows applications back, although I would be within my warranty rights if I did so.

If you have any questions about the procedures I follow in the event of in-warranty hard drive failures, recommended backup procedures or methods, computers or hard drives or technology in general, please don't hesitate to contact me.