Recovering deleted files: start with the conclusion
Advice on recovering deleted files tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience and…
Checking drive health: one full walkthrough
If you only read one paragraph, read this: checking drive health depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange the…
Privacy in the cloud: what to do first
Most people do not fail at privacy in the cloud from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…
A shared drive at home: the workable version
If you only read one paragraph, read this: a shared drive at home depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
Archiving versus deleting: the workable version
Put archiving versus deleting back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…
Handover documentation: the workable version
If you only read one paragraph, read this: handover documentation depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
A yearly tidy-up rhythm: how to do it concretely
If you have already tried a yearly tidy-up rhythm and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
Naming conventions that scale: start with the conclusion
Separate two things in naming conventions that scale: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the…
How deep folders should go: what to do first
Let us set the limits of how deep folders should go first: it reliably improves backups that survive a power cut, and it does not deliver overnight.…
Dating files consistently: adapting to different settings
Put dating files consistently back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…
When to add version numbers: judge, act, review
If you only read one paragraph, read this: when to add version numbers depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…
Three places for critical files: the workable version
There is plenty written about three places for critical files and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the…
Choosing an external drive: the four usual traps
If you only read one paragraph, read this: choosing an external drive depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…
Encrypting cloud storage: putting effort where it counts
Anyone who has spent time on encrypting cloud storage has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not…
How incremental backup works: the complete picture
If you only read one paragraph, read this: how incremental backup works depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…
Structuring a photo archive: start with the conclusion
Put structuring a photo archive back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…
Storing video sensibly: how to do it concretely
Most people want storing video sensibly to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad day.…
Scanning documents to archive: from judgement to finish
Separate two things in scanning documents to archive: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the…
Digitising contracts: the complete picture
Put digitising contracts back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months will…
Verifying that backups work: the four usual traps
Most people do not fail at verifying that backups work from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the…