1. The Golden Rule ? Back Up Your Digital Photos Frequently

Perhaps you have a capacious memory card. Maybe you simply trust the technology of your latest digital gizmo to forever shield your data from harm. But accidents can happen any time on any device. So back up all critical files!

You can burn your pictures onto a DVD, upload them to a hard drive, or upload them to an online storage service. In some cases, you can even upload your key pictures and files to other digital devices. Make a habit of uploading photos every time you return from an important trip or event (a wedding, vacation, graduation). Archive and label your favorite photos, and make hard copies of the pictures you enjoy the most.

2. After Data Loss, Immediate Stop Using Your Digital Camera

Digital media devices typically have back up components to prevent complete data loss. But once a camera or device has proven defective, you should cease using it and get it checked out. If you continue to take photos, the device can actually overwrite your old photos, causing you to lose even more data and confounding your situation further.

3. Do Not Attempt to Format or Initialize Your Media

Some cameras or digital media devices will ask you to reformat your memory card in the wake of an accident or a data loss event. Avoid this! If you reformat, you may actually write over some of the data that may be recoverable. Furthermore, reformatting may not solve the problem that led to the data snafu in the first place.

4. Do Not Try to Open Your Device

While it is tempting to go into ?fix-it? mode and aggressively scan components for damage, opening a sealed digital device can damage it and erase data stored on any memory cards that are inserted. There is absolutely no reason to crack open your device, especially with a memory card in the slot, since there are zero moving parts inside. In addition, the inner circuits of your device are very sensitive.

5. Do Not Expose Your Digital Media to Extreme Temperatures

Most cameras can work proper across a relatively wide temperature range. The typical digital media device can function from 0 to 60 degrees Celsius and store information securely from negative 20 degrees to 85 degrees Celsius. However, it is surprisingly easy to exceed these limits and damage your data. If, for instance, you leave your camera in direct sunlight on a hot day on a car dashboard, you may actually fry key electrical components.

Conversely, if you leave your camera in a glove compartment during a brutal winter cold snap, you can also lose data. As general rule, don't test the limits of your device's temperament.

6. Keep Your Media Card Away from Strong Magnetic Fields

Strong fields can erase, scramble, or otherwise skew the formatting of the data you keep on your media card. Just as you don't expose the magnetic stripes on the back of your credit cards to magnetic fields, don't expose your digital media device to a strong magnetic or radioactive field.

7. Store Your Digital Media and Your Camera in a Padded Case

It is all too easy to drop and damage a camera. Even if you are religious about wearing your protective straps and replacing your lens cap after use, you can never be too careful in your quest to prevent shock damage.

8. Use Photo Recovery Software Services to Get Your Files Back

Even if you have lost significant data, all hope is not necessarily lost. Top-rated software (or recovery services) may be able to retrieve seemingly unrecoverable data files. You may want to have a professional do this work for you, but be apprised that professional data recovery can run you a pretty penny. If you can attempt a software recovery on your own, your pocketbook will thank you.

9. After Your Files Have Been Recovered, ?Wipe? the Media Card

Don't allow old, fragmented data to gum up your media card. Get a fresh start, and keep your card clean by uploading pictures after any serious photo taking sessions (see rule number 1).

10. Be Cautious!

Learn about your camera's functions and how data gets stored on your memory card. Your manual should provide detailed sections discussing formatting and initialization issues as well as how to properly delete single frames (without deleting all the other data on your card).