So I hosed everything on my blog yesterday. Up until then, I had implemented a backup solution on other blogs I maintain EXCEPT for this one. I completely wrote over my database with another client’s database with the import button on PHP MyAdmin (MySQL Database manager if you’re wondering). It is surprisingly easy to do if you’re not careful. PHP MyAdmin doesn’t prompt you for anything, doesn’t ask if “you’re sure you want to do this”, etc. It simply overwrites any data in the database and in 8 seconds all my e-thoughts vanished into e-oblivion and I was e-screwed pretty much instantaneously.
For everyone that has WordPress blog out there, please use some sort of plugin to manage your backups for you because I know that when things get busy you tend to forget to do timely backups manually.
I use one called WordPress Database Backup (surprisingly simple name eh?). Check it out, it will even send it to an email you designate at a time interval you specify. Great tool and now whenever I get my backups to my Gmail account I smile and think… “memories kept safe. Thank God.
PS: Everything was restored because I had it saved on Google Reader. I basically copied every individual post over and re-tagged them. The dates are a little sketchy but they’re a close approximation to when I posted it originally.
PSS: Comments didn’t make it though, they are gone for sure. Such an empty feeling…