If you have been using a computer for any length of time you have tons of data on your computer that helps you.You might have saved ads, newsletters, pdf files, clip art and hundreds or thousands of e-mails. Don't forget all those digital photos too!

I had all of that and much more on my computer and never really worried about backing up my data. Oh, I knew better and once in a while a little voice in my head kept telling to do it..but I just knew I would get to it. Add it to the list.

Well..August 2007 came along with a massive storm. We had warning so we unplugged everything. The storm hit hard. I was in the bedroom getting my shoes on when a bolt of lightning hit within feet of our house. I never heard anything so loud. Lightening instantly traveled through our phone line and came out of the phone jack in the bedroom. It shot out 4 feet. It was amazing and scary and the same time.

My wife screamed in the living room. We forgot that the phone line was plugged into the DVR which connected to our TV and stereo. The lightening lit up the back of the TV like a weird fireworks show. We were sure the house was going to burn down. We raced around the house checking everything we could and found no fire.

In the mean time the storm raged on. When it was all over we discovered the lightening also traveled through our electrical circuits via the TV connection. 60% of our electrical based applications were fried.

Including my home based business computer. It would not start up..at all. I got very lucky though. I was able to removed the hard drive and it still functioned. I downloaded all my data to a new computer when I received it from Dell.

All told, there was over 7K worth of damage. State Farm was awesome to work with and got us back in business. It took 6 weeks to get my home back in order. I now have a back up hard drive.

Have you backed up your data lately? Do not wait..you never know.

Mark Potes 517-547-3049

http://www.directoryoflansing.com

PS. Did you take you vitamins today? Why not take the best nutritional supplements available? Give your body what it needs.http://www.potesy.myshaklee.com