Recovery Basics
Mistakes That Make Data Recovery Harder (and How to Avoid Them)
Common reactions to data loss can reduce your chances of getting files back. Learn what to avoid and what to do instead.
Recovery Basics
Test Your Archive With a Practice Restore
A backup you have never restored is only a hope. Run a small practice restore to prove your archive really works.
Recovery Basics
Recovering Deleted Files: What Really Works and What Doesn't
Learn how deletion works, which recovery options are worth trying and when to stop and call in a professional.
Recovery Basics
What to Do First When an Important File Goes Missing
Stay calm and follow a sensible order of steps to find a missing file before you try anything risky.
Digital Archiving
A Yearly Archiving Routine You Can Actually Keep
A light annual checklist for adding new files, checking copies, refreshing storage and updating your records.
Storage Options
How to Label and Store Physical Media Like USB Drives and Discs
Practical tips for labeling, handling and storing drives, memory cards and discs so they stay readable and easy to identify.
Format Longevity
PDF/A Explained: A Safer PDF for Long-Term Documents
PDF/A is a version of PDF designed for long-term keeping. Learn what it adds, when to use it and how to create one.
Naming and Metadata
How to Write a README File for Your Project Folders
A short plain-text README explains what a folder holds, how files relate and what a future reader needs to know.
File Preservation
A Short History of Archives: From Clay Tablets to Hard Drives
A brief tour of how people have kept records, from early writing to modern files, and what it teaches about digital care.
Digital Archiving
What to Keep and What to Let Go: Appraising Your Digital Files
Not every file deserves permanent care. Use a few calm questions to decide what belongs in your archive and what can go.
Storage Options
Questions to Ask Before Trusting an Online Service With Your Archive
Before uploading family records to the cloud, ask these practical questions about privacy, access, costs and exit options.
Format Longevity
Converting Old Documents Before Their Software Fades Away
A step-by-step approach to rescuing documents stored in outdated file formats before the programs that open them disappear.