I recently made a huge mistake while tidying up my computer and deleted a really important folder. After some panic, I managed to recover part of it, but not everything, and it really shook my confidence. I realize it's just human error, but I want to make sure I don't go through this again. As I'm reconstructing my setup, I'm curious about the best practices out there for avoiding accidental loss of important files. What methods do you rely on to keep your data safe from your own mistakes? Do you use version history, snapshots, immutable backups, automated daily backups, or something else that's been a lifesaver for you? I'm looking for practical solutions rather than theoretical advice.
5 Answers
One of the best things you can do is set up incremental rotating backups. This way, you'll always have multiple versions of your files to recover from, which can really save your bacon in case of accidents like this.
Honestly, anything important on my work machine goes to OneDrive. I also regularly use the 'Delete' option and know that if I need anything back, it's recoverable. If I really want to delete something, I do a careful Shift+Delete, knowing it's permanent.
You might consider having three copies of your data in three different locations—that's the '3-2-1' backup strategy. This way, you're well covered from accidental deletions.
Always remember: if you're not backing up your data, then you don't really care about it. It's important to prioritize what you back up. Focus on things you can't replace first and only do the bare minimum for what's easy to recover.
If you're on Windows, create a new folder with the same name in the same spot and try using the 'Restore Previous Versions' feature. It can work if you have File History enabled, so definitely check that out!

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