Oops nearly - a salutary tale

I'm a bit obsessive about ensuring all my data is backed-up and back it all up in several different ways.

My laptop has developed a fault; it looks as if the power socket at the back is working loose, so it�s going in to a friendly local dealer to fix.

Last night, as I don�t want the dealer to see my data, I deleted all the data folders. Yes I know they could if they really wanted try to recover � some of � the data but that�s unlikely. As I use KeePass to store my passwords, etc. and keep the database in a Dropbox folder so any changes are propagated between my desktop and laptop PCs, I felt it appropriate to delete it from the Dropbox folder. OK, in theory having a strong KeePass password should make it safe.

This morning when I powered up my desktop PC I realised my mistake. My desktop PC couldn�t find the KeePass data file. Searching my back-ups I realised that it wasn�t backed-up anywhere.

Brief panic�

I looked at the online Dropbox folder and found there was a Deleted files folder, and in it was the data file. Undeleted it. Phew!

I now ensure that Dropbox files are included in my back-up parameters. And I�m now trying to think if there�s any other data that isn�t being backed-up. It�s easy to think you�re OK and have all the data saved, but...

Lesson learned for me, posting here in case it�s of benefit to others.

Always a good idea to check that a backup strategy you have can be restored successfully

And not trust anyone else to do it right - e.g. Netgear says sorry four weeks after losing customer backups

yea, and delete any file (or folder) on a dropbox linked machine, and it removes it from all the others!
you have to keep other backups!

Exactly!

Fortunately Dropbox have a 30-day recycle bin so I recovered it from there.

I've now made sure it's included in my continuous back-up.