Computer Dependency
If your house caught fire ten years ago, you'd think to grab the pets, lock box and family photo albums. Today, we might think first of our computers. Family images are shared online, and our cherished correspondence and important tax documents are stored on our systems. Let's face it, whether it's for business or personal use, we've become incredibly efficient, and hopelessly reliant on our computers.
Think about it. What kind of changes would occur to your schedule today if your computer was suddenly taken away from you? How much would be lost? Much as we hate to think about it, bad things happen. Power surges, lighting strikes, floods, deletions, virus attacks, corruption and accidents occur all of the time. It's easy to think that it will only happen to someone else. Easy and foolish.
Data loss can be expensive and absolutely disabling, especially if you've been careless about backing up your system. Even those who are diligent may experience a loss of data, (depending heavily on the timing of the
back-up).
So, let's just say that the worst has happened. Your computer was infected with a nasty virus, or, after ignoring the strange clicking sound your computer was making, you find you can't boot up your system. You may even see a message like, "The volume contains one or more unrecoverable problems."
That's usually when the first wave of panic sets in. It's not unlike the feeling you get when your car breaks down in a strange place. You flip through your brain's rolodex wondering who to call first and what to do next. The second wave of panic usually occurs when thoughts of all the lost data starts to creep into your mind.
Many people make the mistake of assuming there's nothing to do but lament the loss. In truth, there are options. While it's not a replacement for prevention tactics such as surge protectors, back-ups, and firewalls, there are options available that might save those irreplaceable files.
Depending on the damage done, there are two possibilities that might save the day. If you've only suffered logical damage, you may be able to recover your data with specialized software. However, if the problem is a physical one, recovery may only be performed by a data recovery firm using specialized equipment.
Logical Damage
Logical damage, often caused by power surges, outages or system crashes, causes an inconsistent state of the file system structures. The resulting behavior can be a variety of things from strange activity to crashes and data loss. As a precaution, most operating systems have basic tools for repairing logical damage, such as Window's Check Disk. However, there are times when the operating system's repair tools cannot fix the problem and third party software may be in order.
There are several recovery utilities available online which can be very useful in repairing corruption. You'll find many options ranging from free lower-end tools to more expensive comprehensive recovery software. The choice will likely depend on the depth of the problem you're experiencing. When you consider that your computer may be disabled in the event of logical damage, having the software available on disk or flash drive ahead of time could save you another headache in the process. More importantly, the software will often contain preemptive utilities to help prevent problems and ensure a immediate recovery in the event of corruption
Physical Damage
Dreaded physical damage to your computer is a more serious matter. The causes of this type of damage range from scratched CD substrates to failed hard drive motors. Physical damage almost always causes some data loss, and logical damage often occurs as well. Physical damage cannot be repaired with software, and usually can't be effectively fixed by the user.
Recovering from physically damaged equipment is complicated and a data recovery firm must be consulted. The process involves a number of procedures from parts replacement to disk imaging. The work is performed in a clean-room environment with specialized equipment, so the recovery, while very thorough, can be expensive. Depending on the value of the data, it may be worth every penny.
Prevention & Planning
Back-up your data frequently and consistently. Use surge protection and consider software options to both protect and recover your data. Use a battery back-up if you're located in an area that is common to power outages, or in older buildings where electricity may not flow evenly. Maintain your hardware with professional cleaning, and pay attention to strange sounds and warning signals. Most importantly, and especially for business concerns, have an emergency plan in place. Carefully consider data recovery software and data recovery firms in advance.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Whether it's logical or physical damage in consideration, the best idea is to plan ahead and take as many precautions as possible.
If your house caught fire ten years ago, you'd think to grab the pets, lock box and family photo albums. Today, we might think first of our computers. Family images are shared online, and our cherished correspondence and important tax documents are stored on our systems. Let's face it, whether it's for business or personal use, we've become incredibly efficient, and hopelessly reliant on our computers.
Think about it. What kind of changes would occur to your schedule today if your computer was suddenly taken away from you? How much would be lost? Much as we hate to think about it, bad things happen. Power surges, lighting strikes, floods, deletions, virus attacks, corruption and accidents occur all of the time. It's easy to think that it will only happen to someone else. Easy and foolish.
Data loss can be expensive and absolutely disabling, especially if you've been careless about backing up your system. Even those who are diligent may experience a loss of data, (depending heavily on the timing of the
back-up).
So, let's just say that the worst has happened. Your computer was infected with a nasty virus, or, after ignoring the strange clicking sound your computer was making, you find you can't boot up your system. You may even see a message like, "The volume contains one or more unrecoverable problems."
That's usually when the first wave of panic sets in. It's not unlike the feeling you get when your car breaks down in a strange place. You flip through your brain's rolodex wondering who to call first and what to do next. The second wave of panic usually occurs when thoughts of all the lost data starts to creep into your mind.
Many people make the mistake of assuming there's nothing to do but lament the loss. In truth, there are options. While it's not a replacement for prevention tactics such as surge protectors, back-ups, and firewalls, there are options available that might save those irreplaceable files.
Depending on the damage done, there are two possibilities that might save the day. If you've only suffered logical damage, you may be able to recover your data with specialized software. However, if the problem is a physical one, recovery may only be performed by a data recovery firm using specialized equipment.
Logical Damage
Logical damage, often caused by power surges, outages or system crashes, causes an inconsistent state of the file system structures. The resulting behavior can be a variety of things from strange activity to crashes and data loss. As a precaution, most operating systems have basic tools for repairing logical damage, such as Window's Check Disk. However, there are times when the operating system's repair tools cannot fix the problem and third party software may be in order.
There are several recovery utilities available online which can be very useful in repairing corruption. You'll find many options ranging from free lower-end tools to more expensive comprehensive recovery software. The choice will likely depend on the depth of the problem you're experiencing. When you consider that your computer may be disabled in the event of logical damage, having the software available on disk or flash drive ahead of time could save you another headache in the process. More importantly, the software will often contain preemptive utilities to help prevent problems and ensure a immediate recovery in the event of corruption
Physical Damage
Dreaded physical damage to your computer is a more serious matter. The causes of this type of damage range from scratched CD substrates to failed hard drive motors. Physical damage almost always causes some data loss, and logical damage often occurs as well. Physical damage cannot be repaired with software, and usually can't be effectively fixed by the user.
Recovering from physically damaged equipment is complicated and a data recovery firm must be consulted. The process involves a number of procedures from parts replacement to disk imaging. The work is performed in a clean-room environment with specialized equipment, so the recovery, while very thorough, can be expensive. Depending on the value of the data, it may be worth every penny.
Prevention & Planning
Back-up your data frequently and consistently. Use surge protection and consider software options to both protect and recover your data. Use a battery back-up if you're located in an area that is common to power outages, or in older buildings where electricity may not flow evenly. Maintain your hardware with professional cleaning, and pay attention to strange sounds and warning signals. Most importantly, and especially for business concerns, have an emergency plan in place. Carefully consider data recovery software and data recovery firms in advance.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Whether it's logical or physical damage in consideration, the best idea is to plan ahead and take as many precautions as possible.
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