ActionFront’s Data Emergency Worksheet

The following pages are designed as a workbook to help you prepare for a successful

recovery from your data emergency.

· How important are your data files?

· Do you need to preserve your data and be able to restore it along with your system?

· If “yes” then proceed with this worksheet and answer all the questions you can.

· Do not attempt (or allow a local technician to attempt) to restore a backup to a

problem drive or server or use any Do-it-Yourself utility that writes to or alters the

problem media, as you may permanently lose your data.

1) When was the system last running fine?
2a) What happened since then: regarding operator activities?
2b) What happened since then: regarding any symptoms of problems?
3) Are there any specific error messages?
4a) Backups History: The last “complete backup” of the entire system.
4b) Backups History: Dates and details of “incremental backups”.
4c) Backups History: Dates and details of partial backups (ex: selected data files).
5) Specific file names and directories that are important to you? (Or, what applications generated or used these important files?)
6) Can you remember details of your configuration such as:
6a) Operating system name and version (Windows 98, NT, Novell etc)?
6b) System set up and partitions, sizes (drive “C: D:” etc)”?
6c) Application software packages installed?
Names	Versions	Original CDs and Documentation Avail.?
6d) What passwords are required for:
Start-up?
Access to the hard drive?
Specific directories?
7a) Do you have a contingency plan?
7b) What are your resources at hand to implement it?
7c) Can you run your applications on a “spare” computer?
7d) Can you attempt to restore the backup you have to the spare unit and leave the problem unit alone for now?
8) Is there a technician at a local store or the company help desk that you can consult to analyze the problem or help implement the contingency plan?
9) Is there a technician available to help you remove your problem media and prepare it for shipping?
10) Is there a technician available to assist in the re-install and reconfigure process once you have received your recovered data?

With a complete set of notes, and perhaps an interim solution in place, you are

now ready to call a data recovery professional at 1-800-563-1167 or

through email, helpme@actionfront.com or visit www.actionfront.com.