How to prevent lost data – Backup!!!

Your data is very important to me.  I write my software to protect it and it’s integrity as best as I can.  However, there is only so much I can do.  It is also important to note that your data is your responsibility and it is up to you to protect it.   One of the fundamental rules for the use of any computer system is to backup your data.

Unfortunately, I recently received the following message from a user of NM Collector JE after he “applied” the latest upgrade.

” Great Stuff.  I now have the new software but not my database.  I am getting to the stage where I will give up on your product if I can’t get my data back.  It will be more trouble than it is worth.”

My guess is, despite all of my warnings on the downloads page, he installed the full application (which includes the default database) and not the upgrade.  This would have replaced his data with the default data.  Please don’t do that!

I asked a few questions to better understand the situation – it’s always possible he really did not lose his data – but he just responded with more vitriol towards me.  From his perspective it is entirely my fault that he lost his data.   He would not accept responsibility for his own data.

Of course he could have been nicer but the point is something went wrong and it seems he lost his data.    I can certainly sympathize with him as the whole point of the software is to gather data in a usable form and retain it for future reference.  Gathering quality data takes work and it is a tragedy to lose the fruits of your labor.

I hope that is not true of you.  Please, if you value your work and your efforts then protect your data.  There are many ways to backup and recover your data.  I am posting some of them in a new topic entitled “How to backup and recover your data” in my new “Best Practices” forum which is one of the NM Collector Software forums.

Please read it and be prepared.  I hope you never lose your data like this poor soul did but, if for some unexpected reason you do, please be ready to recover it with a backup plan!!!

Happy computing.

Clay