Patent ID: 8336765

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) operating an automated banking machine through use of AC power received from an AC power source located external to the machine, to cause operation of at least one transaction function device in carrying out at least a portion of a customer transaction, wherein the machine includes: at least one transaction data store, wherein the at least one transaction data store includes transaction function instructions related to carrying out customer transactions, at least one backup data store, wherein the at least one backup data store includes machine backup instructions related to carrying out at least one backup action, wherein the backup instructions are unrelated to carrying out a customer transaction, where the backup instructions are not included in the at least one transaction data store, a machine controller, wherein the controller includes at least one computer configured to execute both the transaction function instructions and the machine backup instructions, wherein the controller is operable to access the at least one transaction data store only when the machine is receiving power from an AC power source, at least one battery operable to supply battery power to the controller responsive to loss of AC power to the machine, wherein only when the controller is unable to access the at least one transaction data store and the machine is receiving battery power from the at least one battery, the controller is operable to access the machine backup instructions; (b) subsequent to (a), operating the machine only with loss of AC power to the machine, the controller being unable to access the at least one transaction data store, and use of the battery power, to access the machine backup instructions; and (c) subsequent to (b), operating the machine to carry out at least one backup action, wherein the at least one backup action includes at least one attempt by the machine to render unusable, at least one item stored in the machine.