[Paul Simpson]

Still not sure how it happened but found out a few days ago that my accounts program had been over written by an old back up copy from August 2008, consequently was missing all my records for last 10 months  .
After much hunting around found a USB memory stick with a newer back up from Jan 2009 so have been sat at the PC since midday updating records from January till present.
Now I remember why I gave up office work a few years back. 

*****DON'T FORGET TO BACKUP*****

[clinton]

Still use my old pen and book

[richy27]

although i can see the sense of using a computer for customer data bases etc etc it worries me to death about losing the information you work so hard to achieve. so i have one set on computer for ease of printing mailing stickers etc.

and then i keep to folders one with all my quote sheets in with a tick at the top if was successfull and where the source came from and another folder with existing customers in with names addre tel numbers email etc etc date last cleaned. i spend an hour fri evening updating both sets. i prefer it when my fri evening paper work takes forever LOL

[markpowell]

Still use my old pen and book

Me too

[Joe H]

I keep all my working files on a 4gb memory stick, and every so often I put them onto my 2nd computer as well.
I have wiped out virtually all my records in the past so I make sure now I have info in different places.

[clinton]

Joe 2 pc,s

[Joe H]

and a laptop.
dont forget I used to build, repair and upgrade computers.
especially today they are as cheap as chips.

[A1 Carpet Care]

Have also lost complete data/accounts on pc before and have now gone back to manual inputting ie books   

[Mike Osbourne]

If you lose all your accounts what happens when the tax man comes knocking, will he take an estimate?

[A1 Carpet Care]

If you lose all your accounts what happens when the tax man comes knocking, will he take an estimate?

yes

[colin thomas]

i have also lost months of work from a computer crash in the past so now i'm a bit anal about it, every few days it all goes on 2 memory sticks, one external hard drive and a spare laptop!!  might be over the top but that's how it makes you when you get that hot and cold clammy fear feeling when you realise months of work is gone forever.

colin     

[Jeremy]

Have a look at Plaxo (www.plaxo.com). I use Outlook to book all my calls. Plaxo syncs with Outlook and replicates the data on the web. I have also linked all my other computers to plaxo. This means that my contacts and bookings are replicated to all my PC's and my laptop.

If I lost all my PC's, I can go to an Internet Cafe and still book calls. It's a free service and is fantastic.

Jeremy

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Plaxo is good. You can send your details to other people easily and they in turn can keep you informed of any changes in their details-and they do all the typing!

I also like the "Birthday" reminder service if offers. It always looks good if you send a client an e-birthday card.

[John Kelly]

The tax man will not accept excuses. They see you as a business who should take resonable care in protecting your business information. If you lose it they will estimate it. If its a high estimate and you have no records to counter it then you are stuffed.

[Mike Osbourne]

Having said that you can waive £300k of CGT if you are a hard pressed member of parliament.