it seems sometimes it takes a bit of a catastrophe to remind us of the importance of a fail proof backup system.
- have an automated on-site backup system, using an external hard drive
- if possible have a somewhat regular off-site backup (in case of fire or burglary)
- if there are files you cannot live without ensure they are in multiple locations and possibly even online via a system like SVN
external hard drives are relatively cheap these days, so there's really no excuse to have all your data preserved in the case of an emergency. these tips are pretty basic, but if followed should allow you peace of mind when it comes to the potential of data loss via hard drive failure.