Hi Chris,
I’d be very grateful if you could please post the below for me on the importance of backing up files (a subject close to every author’s heart)!
Many thanks,
Kevin
We all know, both as computer users and authors that we ought to back up our files just in case our ancient workhorse of a PC shuffles off this mortal coil and joins the choir of defunct computers in the sky.
We all know this but how many of us regularly back-up our files including that novel which you just happen to be working on?!
Ironically I had been thinking, over the weekend that I must subscribe to a file back-up service, such as Dropbox just in case my trusty laptop decided to give up the ghost. I thought about it but didn’t get round to signing up. You can, I’m sure guess what is coming next. Yes on Tuesday my laptop threw a wobbly and is refusing to start. The situation is made more frustrating by the fact that I am blind and my screen reading software which converts text into speech and Braille does not start until the log-in screen comes up and as I’m not getting as far as this screen I’ve no way of knowing what is happening. It is possible that Windows is asking me to press a combination of keys
which will, magically restore my computer to working order but not being able to read the screen I am up the proverbial creek without a paddle. This evening a sighted friend is coming over and with her help I hope to be able to get my PC up and running again and the first thing I will do on logging in (assuming the machine starts functioning as it should) is to sign up to a file back-up service!
(The above was written on my work computer during my lunch hour Kev).
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
Definitely sign up to Dropbox. I use and it’s a great tool.
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The running of system restore appears to have resolved the issue. My sighted friend was able to read the dialog asking whether I wished to run system restore and once it had done it’s stuff Jaws (the software which speaks the contents of my screen) started voicing once more, thank heavens!
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Reblogged this on newauthoronline and commented:
A big thank you to Chris for blogging this on my behalf while my computer was in intensive care! I am pleased to report (famous last words!) that my PC is now behaving again. Cheers, Chris!
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I use Dropbox, too. Though I thought new stuff went to Dropbox automatically. Eeks! Doesn’t it? Better go and check…
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Not too long ago, I started up my laptop and all my folders under “My Documents” was gone…I went into shock…literally. I ran my virus checker and it didn’t find anything. I had to manually replace it all! Lucky me, I keep updates in “Cloud,” on USB stick, and on an external drive. I cannot stress enough…BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP! I learned the hard way when I was in uni and lost a research project I had spent many hours on over several days. Now, even while I’m writing I hit the save button regularly out of habit. I take no chances with my work.
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I’m useless at backing things up. All the photos are copied to 2 computers and an external hard drive. I am now off to put anything I’ve written and everything I’m working on, into my dropbox file. Thanks for the reminder and \I hope that your friend can sort your laptop out Kev
Di
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I back up on a flashdrive about every two weeks. I think I’ll go do that now! Actually, I back up the documents and the picture file twice, on two different flashdrives, just in case the oldest one itself conks out.
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I back up my main blog daily, sometime TWICE daily, plus my Goodreads books once per week and ALL my associated Bookcases weekly, onto my mac and an external hard drive – I’m only an ape, but I’d hate to lose any of my hard won efforts just because I was too lazy or thought it could wait until tomorrow 🙂
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Excellent tutorial, thanks Kevin. Kharis Macey
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So sorry to hear of your problems and do hope you get it sorted. I’m sure it has happened to most of us. I’m so paranoid now that I keep my WIP on dropbox, a special USB stick used only for that purpose and with pink flowers all over it so it never gets confused with the others. I also send it to both my laptops, but then I am slightly obssessive.
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Not only do I back up my WIP I also have a HARD COPY of it.
Have a GREAT HUMPDAY !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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