This past week, I was cleaning out old files, deleting all the miscellaneous stories and files I have clogging up my computer. I found some Quicken files and I thought, “Oh, those must be old back up files–I should delete them because I haven’t backed up my Quicken files in ages. These are going to be hopelessly outdated.” And into Trash Bin they went without another thought.
I’m sure you can guess where this is going. I opened Quicken yesterday to take a quick peek at a transaction–I couldn’t remember if it was $300 or $325 I had made the check out for. Up pops a screen, “Welcome to Quicken! Are you a new user or a returning user?” I stared at the screen in confusion. Surely this doesn’t mean what I think it does. Maybe this is a survey they are conducting of Quicken users, to see if their users are loyal to their products or if most of their users are new users. I clicked on Returning User, then Next.
“If you are transferring a file from another computer, please click here. If you are starting over, please click here.” The knot in my stomach grew to outrageous proportions. There was no way to explain this screen away. I exited Quicken and opened up my Trash Bin. Completely empty. No freakin’ way. I am in so much trouble. Just last week, I was thinking that I should back up my computer–after all, I have a 200 GB external hard drive to do just that with. The darn thing cost me an arm and a leg (almost $200 if I remember right) and I had done really well in the beginning, but then I just got lazy. I was always going to do it, but it just never seemed to happen.
I didn’t cry, scream, or get completely hysterical. Instead, I just calmly told myself that a friend of mine who lives and breathes for computers, Jared, could come over and fix my computer. I would pay him whatever his going rate was, I would pay him triple that, if he could just make my files come back. I just got off the phone with him–he is coming over tonight at 7:30. Whatever the outcome, I have learned three things:
1. Don’t delete something just because you think it’s outdated, unless you are completely hard up for space and you desperately need that room on your hard drive (I am only using 45% of my hard drive, so I don’t even have that excuse.) Even when you are desperate, make sure you know what it is before you delete it. I figured Quicken operating files would be in a Quicken folder, not the My Documents folder.
2. Back your files up every week. I have no excuse–I have the equipment and knowledge. Laziness is about to cost me at least a bundle of money, and most probably a whole lot of sweat and tears too (I am not sure Jared can restore these files, and I imagine I am going to have to re-input everything. I have just lost three years of files and information.) My laziness is going to make me work much harder in the long run. Uggh!
3. Don’t be an idiot and do something stupid. Easier said than done, especially for someone as impulsive as me. “Oh, look, a really important file! I should delete it! What a grand idea!” Apparently the “Stop, don’t do it! You’ll regret this for the next year if you do!” gene was left out of my genetic makeup.
Has anyone else done this, or am I alone in my stupidity? Please, spill your guts below. It will give me something interesting to read while waiting (not so patiently) for 7:30 to roll around. Wish me luck!