Preparing for Computer Disasters Fires，power surges，and floods，they're all facts of life.We read about them in the morning paper and see them on the evening news．We sympathize with the victims and commiserate over their bad luck．We also shake our heads at the digital consequences-melted computers，system failures，destroyed data.Yet，somehow，many of us continue to live by that old mantra of denial：“It won't happen to me．”Well，the truth is，at some point you'll probably have to deal with at least one disaster．That's just how it goes，and in most aspects of our lives we do something about it．We buy insurance．We stow away provisions．We even make disaster plans and run drills．But for some reason，computer disaster recovery is a blind spot for many of us．It shouldn't be．Home computers contain some of our most important information，both business and personal，and making certain our data survives a disaster should be a priority．Moreover，even the smallest disaster can be a serious disruption．Personal computers have become an integral part of the smooth-running household. We use them to communicate, shop, and do homework, and they're even more vital to home office users. When home office computers go down, many small businesses grind to a halt. Fortunately, taking steps to recover from disasters and minimize their effects is quite straightforward. With a good offsite storage plan and the right tools, you can bounce back quickly and easily from minor computer disasters. And, should a major calamity strike, you can rest assured your data is safe. Offsite Storage: Major Disasters House fires and floods are among the most devastating causes of personal computer destruction. That's why a solid offsite backup and recovery plan is essential. Although many home users faithfully back up their hard drives, many would still lose all their data should their houses flood or burn. That's because they keep their backups in relatively close to their computers. Their backup disks might not be in the same room as their computers-tucked away in a closet or even the garage-but they're not nearly far enough away should a serious disaster strike. So, it's important to back up your system to a removable medium and to store it elsewhere. There are many ways to approach offsite storage. It starts with choice of backup tools and storage medium. Disaster situations are stressful, and your recovery tools shouldn't add to that stress. They must be dependable and intuitive, making it easy to schedule regular backups and to retrieve files in a pinch. They must also be compatible with your choice of backup medium. Depending on your tools, you can back up to a variety of durable disk types--from CDs to Jaz drives to remote network servers. Although many of these storage media have high capacity, a backup tool with compression capabilities is a big plus, eliminating the inconvenience of multiple disks or large uploads. Once you select your tools and a suitable medium, you need to find a remote place to store your backups. The options are endless. However, no matter where you choose, be sure the site is secure, easily accessible, and a good distance away from your home. You may also want to consider using an Internet-based backup service. More and more service providers are offering storage space on their servers, and uploading files to a remote location has become an attractive alternative to conventional offsite storage. Of course, before using one of these services, make certain you completely trust the service provider and its security methods. Whatever you do, schedule backups regularly and store them far away from your home. Come What May: Handling the Garden Variety Computer Crisis Not all home computer damage results from physical disaster. Many less menacing problems can also hobble your PC or destroy your information. Systems crash, kids 'rearrange' data, ad