Data backup

[jens]

Due to some major brain lapse on my part, I managed to delete my entire data 
directory for GnuCash. After a LOT of digging, I finally gave up on 
recovering the info. The files are there (as far as I know) but there are no 
file names (just recovered Inode numbers) and the naming system used has 
numbers and what-not in it which makes it impossible to guess at things. 
Wanting to get something positive out of the experience, I am trying to find 
out how to back up the data for GnuCash. I don't see any way to back up short 
of duplicating the entire data directory. Is this the way I should go ? Has 
anyone had any luck recovering from am major booboo such as mine ? If I back 
up the data directory, will I be able to go to a different computer, start up 
GnuCash and load the data from the first machine (I am concerned because of 
the weird file names) ?

Jens