How to Prevent Data Loss on Your PC SalvageData

Data loss on your hard drive can be devastating. Unfortunately, there is no foolproof method for data protection. Regular preventative measures are your best defense against losing your data. Most of your best options are easily accessible and inexpensive.

1. Back-up your critical files. With the ability to store data on CDs on a weekly or monthly basis, a small investment in a stack of CDs will save you from loosing your critical documents, files, priceless images and MP3s.

2. Back-up your do it regularly and always verify your back-up by restoring the data to your computer.

3. Run some sort of anti-virus software and keep it update. Viruses get into your computer a variety of ways; by reading an infected attachment in your e-mail, by sharing files (which are already infected), and by visiting websites that take advantage of security flaws to compromise and destroy your data.

4. Consider purchasing a generator or battery back-up system . Even a small power surge, either from the power company or a lightning storm, can erase hard drive data. The uninterrupted power supplies give you the ability to back up your information during an outage.

5. Keep your computer in a low-traffic area to prevent physical damage. Make sure your computer area is as dry and dust-free as possible.

6. Purchase software programs that detect impending problems in your hard drive. Regular use can help you discover any issues before they destroy your data.

7. Look for a diagnostic program with an "Undo" feature. These "Undo" disks can restore your system to its original configurations.

8. Protect your computer from static electricity. Current storage media is vulnerable to extraneous static discharge that can erase data or damage your computer equipment.

9. Experience required. Never attempt any operation, like hard drive installations or hard drive repairs, which you don't have experience with. If you don't know how to install a second hard drive or rebuild a RAID, it would be best to get expert assistance before you accidently cause yourself data loss.

10. Shut down your computer. Always quit your programs before shutting down your computer. When you quit a program, it saves vital data and then exits the program. If you just turn off your computer without properly exiting your applications and closing your files, you run the risk of loosing your data.

11. Never shake or remove the covers on hard drives or tapes. Please don't disassemble your hard drive. In nearly all examples of this, data is usually not recoverable once an inexperienced person attempts to 'investigate' where that 'strange clicking noise' is coming from. Leave the diagnostics to a data recovery specialist who has experience with all types of hard drives and knows how to perform a successful data recovery.

12. Store your backup data offsite. While it is always a good idea to backup your critical data, if your data is stored at the same location as your server and there is a natural disaster, a fire or flood for example, odds are that you will still require data recovery on the hard drives, or tape restoration to get your data restored.

13. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your computers and servers in safe and secure locations from accidentally getting knocked over, dropped, or spilled on. Laptops, while convenient to use, are often dropped and require hard drive data recovery. Just because it is a nice day and you are casually working by the pool with your laptop, don't assume that the guy jumping into the pool realizes his tidal splash will not only soak you...but ruin your laptop and require hard drive recovery for your critical data.

14. Backup your critical files. Worth mentioning again. Using CDs or even an external USB hard drive for data storage can potentially save you from having to hire a data recovery service to perform hard drive data recovery on your hard drive or RAID server.