I just need to remember to make backups on a regular basis. I tell this embarrassing tale in the hope that it will spare at least one reader the anguish and expense I experienced. It also helps me make lemonade out of lemons. With hindsight I can see the sliver of humor and value in the experience. Comes with the territory Viruses and mechanical failures are part of computing, just like insurance payments and engine trouble are part of owning a car.
Denial is no more effective an approach for computing than it is for driving.
You could spend a lot of time and energy finding people to blame, but it's better to spend it on prevention and precaution. Walter R. Houser, who has more than two decades of experience in federal information management, is webmaster for a Cabinet agency. All rights reserved.