Eugene's observations

Since 2006 almost all my e-mails have ended with a line similar to:

I recommend you take full verified backup copies of files frequently, and of anything about to be changed.

As time passes and experience grows very gradually I am getting fewer anguished pleas for help recovering files.   But I still get some and of those, several will be from folks who thought that once backup had been setup when the PC was new  there was nothing further to do.

This is rarely the case.  Documents may be saved in new places, backup software may fail or disks become full.  For whatever reason it is important to periodically validate that your backup job is working as it should.  That is, check the log file or see the job in the scheduler.

But the work ‘verified’ is in my closing line for a reason: simply validating the backup is only half the job.  It needs to be verified periodically too.  That means trying to recover a file – not always the same type or way either.  Try recovering from different locations and under different potential scenarios.  This confirms that the files are actually being saved in a way that can be relied on and also keeps the method of how to restore them in your mind.

I have recently helped in the situation where the backup was validated and partially verified, but the owner had not tested the situation where the whole computer failed and recovery was to a new one.  In this case although the software to restore a file was available and could be installed on the new version of Windows, the catalogue that was used to index the hundreds of incremental backups was not saved.  So

I recommend you take full verified backup copies of files frequently, and of anything about to be changed.

Mobile phones, USB devices and tablet computers get lost or stolen every day.  Now, while you still have yours, is a good time to prepare for the dreadful day so as to mitigate the disaster this often is.

• Encryption can make the device unusable or at least make your personal data inpenatrable. This can be done on the entire disk or just a folder or two. Truecrypt is a free program that may enable this.
• Sensible password protection will delay access to your device.  This means ensuring that a complex (at least 8 characters of mixed case and numbers) unique password has to be entered before the device can be powered up.
• Remote disabling devices are available for all handsets and third party apps. Once you notice your loss you just phone or log on to the appropriate place and have a signal sent to the device to disable it.  Examples include Find my iPhone, AndroidLost.com, Blackberry Protect, WindowsPhone.  And for laptops/tablets consider Prey. 
• Insurance can help with the replacement costs.
• Use a cloud based synchronization storage facility to replicate and backup important files. Eg. Dropbox, SkyDrive, Mozy.
• Mark the device in some way to help prove ownership - invisible ink perhaps. Also, retain a photograph of the serial number (not on the device itself though).

Sometimes the presense of the current, possibly corrupted, device driver for a hardware component prevents installation of a new update.  Uninstallation of some drivers requires the following steps:

1. Run CMD.EXE to get a command prompt
2. Type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 then <enter>
3. Start devmgmt.msc 

Within Device Manager Click Show hidden devices on the View menu.  Now you can right click the offending itme and uninstall it.

Note that although this shows ghost entries, not all can be safely uninstalled: those that are temporarily unconnected for example.

 In the unlikely event that this is to be a permenent change, it has to be set in the System properties, Advanced tab, Environment variables.

Readers with an astonishing memory will recall my blog of 20^th April 2008 where I reported details of my new PC.  Well after almost 5 years of constant use it broke so I now have essentially a new one as I replaced so many components.  There may be lessons to learn though.

I did have a disaster recovery plan and I’m happy to report that it didn’t take long for me to get back in business with no lost data.  This really is essential if your computer is important to you.  You need to know when disaster strikes how you will resource replacement hardware in a suitable time frame (my clients could consider a loaner from me).   Also, how to get the necessary software (with suitable versions and license keys).  And of course how to recover data from your backup.

How could the disaster have been prevented ?  In my case I can’t be sure; normally when multiple components fail at the same time I find no working surge protector deployed.  But this was not the case for me as I have an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) which should do that job.  I know it is still working as I have tested it.  So my best guess is that either an electrical disturbance entered via my fax transmission cable or the TV antenna (I have now done away with both).  Alternatively, a failure in the power supply unit could conceivably have sent a jolt of juice through the system – certainly it was one of the components that had to be replaced.

My current concern is that the monitor screen may be on its last legs as it makes disturbing noises first thing in the morning.  But then so do I so I’m in no position to criticise.  I have already repaired it once (as reported on my blog of 12^th November 2010) so next time I may have to bite the bullet and splash the cash.