Be sure to back up your computer! And WHERE do you keep your computer programs?

Exactly how important IS the stuff on your hard drive to you?

We here at Tech In A Flash (www.techinaflash.net) keep getting in computers that won't power on, or are in some way not working the way they always have. 

After we do a diagnostic on them, we find that their hard drive is bad or going bad or about to crash totally ('she's dead, Jim')

To the dismay of some, we are not able to extract their information off of these files. We ask if they have been backing up their blessed photos, documents, etc. and on and on . Their answer 99.99% of the time is no.

Oh, Yeah! THE CLOUD!!!

Many save to "The Cloud". So, what is a cloud: The cloud is a network of servers, and each server has a different function. Some servers use computing power to run applications or "deliver a service." For example, Adobe recently moved its creative services to the cloud.

Here is an explanation, humorous, a little coarse, but still, and watch the Steve Jobs video, too for more information: 
http://gizmodo.com/what-is-the-cloud-and-where-is-it-1682276210?sidebar_promotions_icons=testingon&utm_expid=66866090-67.e9PWeE2DSnKObFD7vNEoqg.2&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

You can also pay for backing up on your computer. Plans like Carbonite, Barracuda, Peak 10, Idrive, SOS, on and on. Most of which you pay for them to back up daily or whenever you choose with whatever plan you go on. BUT!! Also know, that if you miss a payment, or two, your information will probably go away anyway. Usually, they will warn you of a payment upcoming or that you missed, but , if you don't pay, then you are playing with MORE fire and loss of everything.

So, what IS on your hard drive? 

Typically your music, some movies, films, data files, projects and photos. All stored on your hard drive. And the hard drives are getting bigger and bigger all the time.. did you read me when I said they COULD. But also know that ALL hard drives fill up or die at some point. 
this could also mean loss, theft, natural disaster, accidentally deleting all the stuff that you've worked so hard on collecting, could be gone in an instant, for any number of reasons.

Easy ways to back up your critical information:

When my daughter was in school and working on her important school project reports, thesis, etc. the first time she lost most of her work was a wake-up call for both of us. Since we use Gmail, which we can access from anywhere in the world, along with Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook.com and for the ancients, the most computer invasive: AOL mail, etc., she would at the end of her research and compiling day, she would send that document as an attachment to her email address, thus backing it up nicely. After that, it became a regiment for her. 

My older friend, has a flash drive always attached to her computer, that way, as she's writing her book, she can always save to both the hard drive and flash drive.. problem solved! 

What Flash Drives Look Like.. All kinds!

    

    

Read/write Cds/DVDs can also be used And external hard drives hooked up to your computer.

Next, Prioritize Your Data

What is the most important to you? Photos? Documents? If you lose your Hard Drive, especialy with photos, you might be lucky enough to have family members who have duplicates of wedding, birthday, vacation, travel, etc. photos.. also check your 'send' files in your emails.. a lot of photos that you sent to others might be found there.

TECH TIP: Know that even when you delete emails, you can most probably go to your TRASH file. They are still there (Unless you set that file to delete forever, after 30 days. Til then, you're good.

Look around a bit to find all you want to back up BEFORE your hard drive crashes.

Set a date on your phone or calendar to remind you (phone is louder than written on a calendar, no matter what color or how big you write it. )

Then again, if you ask techs who see hard drive failures every day, we tend to forget to back up our stuff as well. Duh on us, yes?

Just In Case you DON"T Save stuff in time: 

There ARE forensic hard drive recovery specialists but also know that for being specialists, it's not only time-consuming but necessary for special equipment and programming that will have to be used, thus, your cost will become sort of great. Most start their time at nearly $100 per hour. They can be found on line in your city.

AND...DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR COMPUTER PROGRAMS ARE?

I hope so! I suggest a shoe box, small plastic bin, a notebook with CD sleeves. Which is what I do.. when I need a program, in case I replace my computer or it crashes, BINGO! I have all my current programs at my finger tips.

I can't tell you how many people we ask what programs they have that they want us to load on their new computer. The answer most everyone relates, is "UH.. .I'm not sure.They are sorta all over the place in a lot of drawers and stuff.."

Just remember, you probably paid a LOT for those programs. Keep them close and safe within your loving arms. Yes?

So, if you need to organize your back ups, Program Discs, Check out your hard drive BEFORE it passes away where we have to tell you, "It's Dead, Jim", please call us and keep in touch for our TUNE-UP TUESDAYS, when you can bring your computer to our shop, we'll run diagnosis, clean up for nasties you've picked up and updating! We'll keep it a couple of days and charge you $50 for our services. 

Treat your computers/laptops/ electronics like the precious friends they are. Yes?

Anyway, for answers to more of your questions, please contact us, Tech in a Flash,  at 239.244.9600 

      

MATTHEW AND BEKKI, at your service!