Well it’s been 2 weeks since I last posted here and with justifiable excuses sliding from my over crowded mind, I’m going to ignore most of them and tell the truth.

I stuffed up, but more about that a little later.

The weather here has been playing havoc on my satellite internet connection with heavy rain blanketing out the satellite signal at the most inopportune times. For example when I’m halfway through a particularly large download or when trying to update my blog with a new widget, I see the little revolving circle which defines a loading, spinning merrily around while in fact nothing is happening.

On checking my modem, I can see only 1 or 2 bars lit signifying a signal too weak to effectively carry out the task at hand. (It needs a minimum of 4.) Such is one of the prices that need to be paid to live in a remote region of Australia. Beautiful and serene as it may be it does have its drawbacks.

However that’s only one of the things that have slowed me down over the past week or so.

I mentioned earlier that I’d made an error but not just any ol’ error. In fact I almost lost my complete blog through a chain of events which I initially instigated by making a typical newbie mistake.

I had simply loaded some files to the wrong directory with my FTP software and in trying to rectify the problem had deleted many of the core files needed by my blog in order to function.
(I don’t know why it is that when using FTP client software, folders are called directories, while when they are sitting on your computers hard drive, they are called folders. Just more confusion for the ill informed newbie!)

What happened next scared the livin’ sh** out of me!

I had submitted a ticket to my hosting provider to try to find out what was happening with the files I’d lost and in so doing had to converse with at least 4 different people depending on who happened to pick up the ticket for that shift.

Now this is where human error takes on extra significance because they asked for my control panel user name and password.

Although I was reluctant to provide it, I did, with the result being what could have been catastrophic consequences.

After several tid bits of correspondence all to no avail, someone on the other end in their wisdom or stupidity, deleted all the other files which in effect left me with a blank blog template of the type you start with when you fist begin your blog.

Fortunately however, the files were backed up and were able to be reloaded, giving me my site back. However I still had to reload all my images and add-ons including the images in the widgets.

The lesson learned here is obvious but so many people fail to learn it at their own peril.

Back up completely and back up often

Backing up is easy and can be done from the WordPress dashboard or more completely from the hosting control panel. Just look for the back up icon and follow the prompts.
We all make mistakes but if we don’t learn from them, we are making yet another one.

Tagged with: Australia • Blog • Client Software • Confusion • Crowded Mind • Directory • Folders • Ftp Software • Havoc • Heavy Rain • Hosting Provider • Human Error • Inopportune Times • Modem • Newbie Mistake • Satellite Internet Connection • Satellite Signal • Truth • Weather • Widget

Filed under: Internet Marketing

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