General

Invest in a battery backup unit or use a quality surge suppression power strip. If you leave your computer powered on regularly a sudden power outage or power surge  may cause damage to your system.  Battery backup units and  quality surge suppression power strips will reduce the risk of damage.

Store your software installation CD/DVDs in a storage container that has a tight lid. These containers are a good place to keep all of your installation CD/DVDs in one spot and in the event that you have an unexpected water problem, they will be protect from getting wet and damaged.

Save copies of the installation keys or serial numbers in a plastic or waterproof container. These keys or serial numbers will allow you to re-install the software in case you have to rebuild your system for any reason.