tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34363371515385657172024-03-04T21:36:02.410-08:00HDRG’s RAID Recovery BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-63607189170835145672016-09-02T12:12:00.001-07:002016-09-02T12:12:25.487-07:00Recovering Data from a Crashed Hard Drive: Immediate Steps to Take After the Crash<p>Hard drive crashes are inevitable. It will happen to you eventually if you hold on to your computer long enough. Not many people prepare for this occurrence, believing that it will never happen to them, but it does. So its important to know the initial steps to take should your hard drive crash.</p>
<p>The very first thing that you should do is to detach the hard drive from the computer and attach it as a secondary drive on an alternate computer. If your data is accessible from another computer then you know that the problem does not lie with your hard drive. However, if it is your hard drive that has crashed, you have options. There are a few ways to go about recovering data from a crashed hard drive. The first option is to download recovery software; if it is a simple software corruption issue then recovery software should do the trick. However, if the problem with your hard drive turns out to be more serious and/or physical then its time to look into data recovery services.</p>
<p>The following article <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/recovering-data-from-a-crashed-hard-drive-immediate-steps-to-take-after-the-crash/">Recovering Data from a Crashed Hard Drive: Immediate Steps to Take After the Crash</a> was initially seen on Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-21529188467578920632016-07-13T06:53:00.001-07:002016-07-13T06:53:08.803-07:00Easily Restore Deleted Files? Of Course!<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/recovering-deleted-files.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-281" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/recovering-deleted-files-300x223.jpg" alt="recovering-deleted-files" width="300" height="223" /></a>Ever been the new guy at a company and been given a huge project to work on? Your nerves are probably shot and your hands are probably shaking. You can’t afford to screw up but it’s more likely that this is when you will. Maybe you’re diligently working away on the Johnson file when you accidentally delete a file. No big deal, right? You can just recover it from the recycle bin. Except when you go in to recover it your shaky hands slip and you end up permanently deleting the <em>entire</em> file. Before you start panicking and wondering when you’ll get fired don’t lose hope! There are programs available to help you save your butt, and your job:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Few tech disasters can send your stomach into free fall quite like realising you’ve deleted something important from your laptop or phone, with no obvious way to bring it back. Luckily, if you find yourself scrambling to restore your deleted files, there’s still hope. Free tools and apps are widely available to help you recover your deleted data no matter what platform you’re using. Here’s what you need to know.</p>
<p>On most modern forms of storage, deleting a file doesn’t actually delete it — it usually just tells the operating system in charge that the space the file is using is free for other data. If you can get in quickly enough, it’s possible to bring your file back from its digital grave before something else has rushed in to take its place, so speed is of the essence.</p>
<p><strong>Back up, back up, back up</strong></p>
<p>[…]</p>
<p>If you want to stick with local file storage for your backing up needs, then OS X has <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Time Machine</a> and Windows has <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-back-up-your-files" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">File History</a>, and of course there are a ton of third-party options to choose from as well. If you buy an external hard drive or networked drive, it will often come with a backup program included.</p>
<p>In the case of Dropbox’s apps, for example, load up <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the web interface</a>, then click <strong>Deleted Files</strong> to see a list of recently erased files and folders. Click <strong>Restore</strong> next to any entry to bring it back. Deleted files are kept for 30 days or a whole year if you’ve signed up for Dropbox Pro and the <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/help/113" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Extended Version History</a> add-on.</p>
<p><strong>Windows and Mac</strong></p>
<p>If your files are gone from the Recycle Bin or the Trash, then you need a dedicated third-party tool to search for and recover your erased files. <a href="http://www.piriform.com/recuva" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Recuva</a> is one of the best and most well-respected options for Windows, while <a href="https://dmde.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DMDE</a> and <a href="http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">PhotoRec</a> are both worth considering as alternatives for undeleting your data.</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/06/how-to-restore-deleted-files-on-any-device/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/06/how-to-restore-deleted-files-on-any-device/</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Alright, have you caught your breath now? You’ll notice that there are options for every kind of operating system, so even if you’re doing work on your Android tablet and manage to royally screw up you should be relatively safe if you followed the steps in the article.</p>
<p>With this secret weapon in your back pocket you should be well on your way to moving up that corporate ladder.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/easily-restore-deleted-files-of-course/">Easily Restore Deleted Files? Of Course!</a> is republished from Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-22176453909019511742016-07-06T10:15:00.001-07:002016-07-06T10:15:56.581-07:00Deal With Ransomware Attacks Like A Pro<p>There’s a new wa<a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ransomware-hacker.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-277" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ransomware-hacker-300x195.jpg" alt="ransomware-hacker" width="300" height="195" /></a>y to take hostages and it doesn’t involve your pets. Hackers now find a way onto your computer systems and hold your entire digital world for ransom. Unless you pay X amount of dollars by a certain time all your information is going to be deleted and you’ll lose that paper you were working on for your class or all your customer’s personal data will be made public. It seems no one is immune to these attacks but that doesn’t mean you have to be afraid of them. It’s important to know what to do to prepare and prevent ransomware from infiltrating your system and accessing your information:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>You've likely heard all about "crypto ransomware," or simply "ransomware," a specific type of malware that attempts to hold your digital existence hostage by encrypting personal files and then offering decryption keys in exchange for payment. When the malware first takes root, it shows no outward signs that anything is wrong. Only after the malware does its nefarious work in the background are you presented with the ransom, typically via demands for Bitcoin or other forms of digital currency.</p>
<p>Some early ransomware was riddled with software bugs that made it possible to recover encrypted files that had been held hostage, but newer variants that use robust <a href="http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/price-hikes-and-deadlines-updates-in-the-world-of-ransomware/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">symmetric and asymmetric encryption</a> are much more troublesome. (Symmetric encryption is typically used to rapidly scramble files, and the asymmetric encryption can then be applied to the original symmetric keys so data can only be recovered by cybercriminals with the appropriate private keys.)</p>
<p>Some of the latest ransomware variants are also designed to punish payment procrastination, and they double or triple their ransom demands as stipulated deadlines pass. The ransomware threat is very real, but proactive individuals and organizations can protect themselves.</p>
<p><strong>Protection against ransomware attacks all about backups</strong></p>
<p>Fortunately, it is relatively easy to duplicate corporate files, and regular, systematic backups are an effective strategy to combat ransomware. Of course, backups are useful only if they're created before a malware attack, so it's a good idea to immediately and regular backup important files.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, simple file backups aren't always enough. Some backup implementations are vulnerable to crypto malware, and backup archives can also be encrypted by cybercriminals. Some cloud-based file synchronization services replace good files with corrupted versions. So the capability to roll back to specific points in time for data recovery, and the duration of time backups are stored — as well as the amount of time and resources it takes to access stored files — should be crucial considerations for people and organizations that want to prevent ransomware complications.</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://www.cio.com/article/3085164/backup-recovery/how-to-prepare-for-and-prevent-ransomware-attacks.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.cio.com/article/3085164/backup-recovery/how-to-prepare-for-and-prevent-ransomware-attacks.html</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are three specific strategies that the article mentions such as using dedicated backup software, NAS backups and cloud backups. It’s important to read each strategy and determine which one works best for your life or business. You can prevent ransomware attacks if you are proactive instead of reactive.</p>
<p>Don’t get caught between a rock and a hard place. Cover your butt. Your home life and your business will thank you for it.</p>
<p>The blog post <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/deal-with-ransomware-attacks-like-a-pro/">Deal With Ransomware Attacks Like A Pro</a> was originally published on http://www.harddriverecovery.org</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-35325671990591412582016-06-23T09:23:00.001-07:002016-06-23T09:23:44.695-07:00Destroying Hard Drives 101: The Acid Test<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/hard-disk-in-acid.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-273" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/hard-disk-in-acid.jpg" alt="hard-disk-in-acid" width="400" height="369" /></a>Look at the news today and you’ll probably find at least half a dozen articles on a data breach somewhere. Between Sony, Ashley Madison and the Department of Homeland Security (ouch) it feels like no one is safe. I mean, if these big guys can’t keep your digital information safe how are you, average Joe/Jane supposed to do it?</p>
<p>Well there are ways to protect your data that you might not have thought of before. You can throw your hard drive in the ocean, you can smash it to pieces with a cinder block or you can just not store data digitally <strong>ever again.</strong> But there’s one other thing you might not have thought of before:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>The more information you put online or in the digital space, the more opportunities there are for nefarious types to get at it. You can hardly go a day without reading about another massive data breach. How is the average person supposed to protect their sensitive documents and photos not of their genitals? Well, change your crappy password. Right now. </em><a href="http://nerdist.com/microsoft-wants-to-protect-us-from-our-own-stupid-passwords/"><em>It’s bad</em></a><em>. Second, destroy, physically destroy hard drives containing sensitive information before disposing of them. You could use a hammer, but why not acid?</em></p>
<p><em>YouTuber NurdRage is here to help. In </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcNm1gfpU"><em>his latest video</em></a><em>, the voice-modulated scientist shows us what will happen to a hard drive when placed in hydrochloric and nitric acids. Hydrochloric acid is nasty stuff. It’s the reason why your stomach lining has to be replaced every few days. It will get through most materials. The strong acid makes short work of the hard drive motor and casing, but the platter remained intact. So NurdRage decided to put the platter in both hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. The former handled the aluminum in the platter and the latter erased the thin film of data from the disk. Problem solved.</em></p>
<p><em>Via:</em> <a href="http://nerdist.com/no-one-can-read-your-hard-drive-if-you-destroy-it-with-acid/"><em>http://nerdist.com/no-one-can-read-your-hard-drive-if-you-destroy-it-with-acid/</em></a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>How bad-ass is that? Bet you never thought of melting your no-longer-relevant hard drive with acid. If that doesn’t scream evil genius I’m not sure what will.</p>
<p>The important thing to remember is that you are responsible for your own information. If you don’t want people to potentially get their hot little hands on your discarded data you need to do everything you can to keep it safe.</p>
<p>If you’re going to go the route of using acid to remove traces of your data you may want to make sure you have the proper safety training and equipment on hand. You don’t want to end up in the hospital for burning off your fingers because you were trying to erase proof of your embarrassing high school photos.</p>
<p>So be smart and safe about it. Okay, now we’re done acting like your mom.</p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>The following blog article <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/destroying-hard-drives-101-the-acid-test/">Destroying Hard Drives 101: The Acid Test</a> See more on: HDRG Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-33367164737134361122016-06-16T11:27:00.001-07:002016-06-16T11:27:11.256-07:00Data Recovery Tools You Should Look To<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dmde-recovery-tool.gif"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-269" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dmde-recovery-tool.gif" alt="dmde-recovery-tool" width="380" height="254" /></a>There’s nothing worse than spending four hours on a final assignment for school or an important project for a big client than having your data suddenly disappear. This is a common issue and it affects more people than you’d think. It’s important to ensure that you’re backing up your data and there are several ways to do that. Some options include regular backups to a cloud program or scheduled backups to an external hard drive.</p>
<p>There is an important thing to remember though: there are essentially two types of hard drive failure (read more here: <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/hard-drive-failure.html">http://www.harddriverecovery.org/hard-drive-failure.html</a>) and not all options work for both.</p>
<p>You’ve got your logistical failure which means a program or software is no longer working the way it’s supposed to. This can corrupt your data and make it hard to read. If this is the case, check out these programs that can help you recover what you’ve lost:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Data recovery can be an expensive business, which is why it's no substitute for backing up your key documents, photos and other data on a regular basis. But that's of little comfort to anyone – even those with good backup regimens – who suddenly find themselves confronted by the stomach-churning feeling of data loss.</p>
<p>As soon as you've become aware of data loss, it's critical you stop using the drive affected immediately. Whether the drive itself is failing or you've simply deleted a file accidentally, this is the golden moment when you may be able to get your data back without an expensive purchase or trip to a data recovery specialist.</p>
<p>We've cherry-picked five of the best free data recovery tools in the business. Just pick the one closest to your requirements and with a bit of luck (and no small measure of help from the app involved), you could yet save your files.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>DMDE Free Edition</strong></li>
</ol>
<p><strong>The most effective way to recover files from a dead hard drive</strong></p>
<p>Our favourite free data recovery tool is often overlooked. <a href="https://dmde.com/download.html">DMDE Free Edition</a> scores major points because it's capable of recovering data from a wide array of drives, including 2TB+ drives rescued from a fried external drive enclosure with proprietary formatting (it's a long story).</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/software/best-free-data-recovery-tools-1321723">http://www.techradar.com/news/software/best-free-data-recovery-tools-1321723</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are four other programs in the list aside from DMDE. Recuva, which is great for recovering those files you accidentally delete from your recycle bin, PhotoRec, which assists in the recovery of all types of file formats, MiniTool Partition Recovery Free, which can help recovery an entire drive or partition and finally Paragon Rescue Kit 14 Free Edition (say that ten times fast) which can help you if you’re having issues booting Windows.</p>
<p>All of these programs have an extensive list of pros, but remember we said earlier there are two types of failures?</p>
<p>The second type of failure is a physical failure. This means that a physical part of your hard drive is broken. These software programs aren’t going to help you recover anything if it’s a physical failure. You can identify a physical failure by the sounds your hard drive is making. Does it sound like it’s clicking? Maybe it’s making a <em>whirring</em> sound. These are signs of a physical failure and you’d be doing yourself a favor if you checked out <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/hard-drive-clicking-what-not-to-do/">what not to do</a> in the event of a physical failure before downloading a bunch of programs that won’t help you.</p>
<p>In the meantime, happy computing and don’t forget to back up your work!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/data-recovery-tools/">Data Recovery Tools You Should Look To</a> See more on: Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-63350149726504609332016-06-14T08:55:00.001-07:002016-06-14T08:55:46.637-07:00Here’s A Quick Way To Speed Up Your Computer<p>It’s agony to wait. Whether you’re waiting for the next episode of your favo<a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/speed-up-computer.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-261" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/speed-up-computer.jpg" alt="speed-up-computer" width="370" height="260" /></a>rite show to come on, waiting for your food to finish cooking or waiting for your computer to just turn on, it can feel like torture.</p>
<p>No one likes waiting and people are getting more and more impatient than they ever have before. They want to be able to find the answer to their question five minutes <em>ago</em> not five minutes <em>later</em>. Admit it. You may just be one of those people.</p>
<p>Computers require maintenance and if you use something often enough you are going to be faced with wear and tear. This is going to lead to a loss in speed. Which sucks.</p>
<p>You might think that you need to buy a new computer every two years or so because technology is advancing and you need a new one to keep up and keep those speeds where you like them. This is where you’d be wrong:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>No matter how much money you spend on a computer, if you don’t maintain it regularly, it can become noticeably slower in a fairly short period of time.</p>
<p>Properly maintained, there’s no reason your computer shouldn’t perform reasonably for at least five or six years, if not longer.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the more time you spend on the internet, the more your computer is exposed to unwanted programs and malware that can have a big impact on your machine’s performance.</p>
<p>There are plenty of do-it-yourself steps you can take to help improve performance, but if those don’t yield the kind of improvement you’re looking for, having you computer serviced instead of replacing it will still be your best bet.</p>
<p><strong>Start with boot times</strong></p>
<p>Start your evaluation with the length of time it takes your system to boot up from a cold start. The longer it takes, the more likely your computer has been loaded with programs that have inserted themselves into your startup routine.</p>
<p>Not only does this cause your computer to take forever to start, it hogs up valuable working memory (RAM), which makes everything slower.</p>
<p>You can do a quick test by opening the MSConfig utility and switching to the “Diagnostic startup” mode, which tells the computer to only load the basic necessities at the startup.</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://wtop.com/consumer-tech/2016/06/column-tips-speeding-computer/">http://wtop.com/consumer-tech/2016/06/column-tips-speeding-computer/</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also, have you ever heard of defragmenting your hard disk? It’s a super easy process that you can access through the Windows Disk Cleanup utility. You should probably do that at least once a month. It’ll definitely help get rid of all those files that you don’t use.</p>
<p>Warning: do not defragment your SSD drive... For one, it is not necessary. Also, an SSD drive accesses all data directly, and isn't subject to the same access issues that a regular HDD is. The main reason you want to avoid this is that SSD drives, if continually exposed to writing and re-writing (exactly what a defragment does), will fail. Read more about this here: <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/recovering-from-ssd-failure/">http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/recovering-from-ssd-failure/</a></p>
<p>These are all simple steps that anyone with super basic computer knowledge can do. If you aren’t sure if you’re running the right tools you can ask someone you know to show you how. Once you get in a routine you’ll be able to keep your system running smooth and quick, just like you wanted.</p>
<p>Isn’t it nice to not have to wait fifteen minutes for a cat video to load?</p>
<p>The following blog article <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/heres-a-quick-way-to-speed-up-your-computer/">Here’s A Quick Way To Speed Up Your Computer</a> was originally published to The Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-17317158062614052292016-06-10T13:55:00.001-07:002016-06-10T13:55:26.736-07:00Laser Data Storage: The Future Is Now!<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/laser-data-storage.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-258" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/laser-data-storage.jpg" alt="laser-data-storage" width="350" height="226" /></a>We are a generation of impatient people. We want everything, at our fingertips, as of thirty seconds ago, without expending a lot of energy to get it done. It’s not that we’re lazy; it’s that we’re constantly looking for ways to make our lives more efficient. No one remembers random facts of knowledge any more when it’s that much faster to just ‘Google it’.</p>
<p>Storing and retrieving our data needs to follow the same vein; it needs to be fast and easy. There has been some research into making the process faster for us and one of the surprising tools used to achieve this is: lasers.</p>
<p>Not shooting-out-of-your-eyes lasers but lasers nonetheless. Read on about how this came about:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>As we use <a href="https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/mobile-white-paper-c11-520862.html">more and more data every year</a>, where will we have room to store it all? Our rapidly increasing demand for web apps, file sharing and social networking, among other services, relies on information storage in the "cloud" – always-on Internet-connected remote servers that store, manage and process data. This in turn has led to a pressing need for faster, smaller and more energy-efficient devices to perform those cloud tasks.</p>
<p>Two of the three key elements of cloud computing, microchips and communications connections, are getting ever faster, smaller and more efficient. My research activity has implications for the third: data storage on hard drives.</p>
<p>Computers process data, at its most fundamental level, in ones and zeroes. Hard disks store information by changing the local magnetization in a small region of the disk: its direction up or down corresponds to a "1" or "0" value in binary machine language.</p>
<p>The smaller the area of a disk needed to store a piece of information, the more information can be stored in a given space. A way to store information in a particularly tiny area is by taking advantage of the fact that individual electrons possess magnetization, which is called their spin. The research field of spin electronics, or "spintronics," works on developing the ability to control the direction of electrons' spins in a faster and more energy efficient way.</p>
<p><strong>Shining light on magnets</strong></p>
<p>I work to control electrons' spins using extremely short <a href="http://phys.org/tags/laser+pulses/">laser pulses</a> – one quadrillionth of a second in duration, or one "femtosecond." Beyond just enabling smaller storage, lasers allow dramatically faster storage and retrieval of data. The speed comparison between today's technology and femtosecond spintronics is like comparing the fastest bullet train on Earth to the speed of light.</p>
<p>In addition, if the all-optical method is used to store information in materials that are transparent to light, little or no heating occurs – a huge benefit given the economic and environmental costs presented by the need for <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.3022">massive data-center cooling systems</a>.</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://phys.org/news/2016-06-lasers-storage-faster.html#jCp">http://phys.org/news/2016-06-lasers-storage-faster.html</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Seriously, is that not cool or what? It’s good for the environment, helps with our increasingly real struggle of finding actual space for all our data. It’s a process that would obviously occur behind the scenes but you’d get to imagine the tiny lasers hard at work storing all your important data.</p>
<p>In the meantime, we're still working with good ol' platter and spindle and the fairly new SSD drives. Times are changing, but maybe not fast enough!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/laser-data-storage-the-future-is-now/">Laser Data Storage: The Future Is Now!</a> was initially published on HDRG Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-5257488774163069632016-06-06T12:11:00.001-07:002016-06-06T12:11:03.963-07:00A Spring Data Cleanup Can Be A Great Thing<p><a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/clutter.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-248" src="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/clutter.jpg" alt="clutter" width="370" height="273" /></a>You’d think with the rise of digital files there would be a lot less clutter in our lives. In many cases clutter has gotten worse. You can open a folder on your computer and sometimes find hundreds of files and photos that you don’t even need. You might also have a dozen email accounts or old digital receipts for that pair of pants you had dry-cleaned five years ago. A lot of this information is unnecessary and if you had received a paper file it would be long gone by now.</p>
<p>You need to be proactive about what you keep and what you get rid of. Do you really need that photo of your dessert that you shared on social media four weeks ago taking up space on your phone? Probably not.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m a digital hoarder. My devices, cloud storage, and email accounts are full of old notes, photos, Seamless receipts, bills, music, and videos.</p>
<p>I usually put off organizing them until it’s too late. Then, inevitably, I’ll pose to snap a selfie on vacation, and find my phone is out of memory. Or while I’m on deadline, I’ll get a notification saying my disk or cloud-storage space is full. And I live in dread of the day a hacker accesses some tidbit of personal or financial information that I’ve carelessly forgotten about.</p>
<p>So, I’ve decided it’s time to spring-clean my digital life.</p>
<p>Just as it’s traditional to clean out our closets, attics, and garages each spring, IT experts say it’s good practice to clear out and refresh your digital spaces at least once a year. It keeps them running smoothly and protects your security. It’s a hassle, sure, but spending an hour or two this weekend to get your digital house in order could save you an enormous amount of time, money, and heartache in the future. Here are few tips to get started.</p>
<p><strong>Close unnecessary accounts</strong></p>
<p>Many of us couldn’t easily list how many online accounts we have. There’s email (I have at least five accounts), social media, online shopping, banking, subscription services, and a myriad of others we may not even remember signing up for. Not knowing what data we have out there makes us vulnerable. Shared passwords and security questions are a hacker’s gateway into your private accounts.</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://qz.com/691307/digital-spring-cleaning-tips-to-help-speed-up-and-secure-your-devices/">http://qz.com/691307/digital-spring-cleaning-tips-to-help-speed-up-and-secure-your-devices/</a></p>
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<p>Just as you wouldn’t live in a house full of newspapers from before you were born, you want to make sure that your digital existence is just as neat and tidy. The tips offered above make cleaning up your digital space easy.</p>
<p>Between smartphones, laptops, tablets and computers your digital storage space can be huge. This just makes it easier to fill up with stuff you don’t need or will easily forget about. The less junk you have to sift through the easier it will be to find the files that are actually important. You’ll also have more memory space to save projects that are current while disposing of information you no longer need.</p>
<p>It may seem like a daunting task to complete, but if you follow the tips and tricks we’ve just given you you’ll find that it’s easier than you think.</p>
<p>The blog post <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/a-spring-data-cleanup-can-be-a-great-thing/">A Spring Data Cleanup Can Be A Great Thing</a> was originally published to HDRG Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-34851167500163969692016-06-01T11:49:00.001-07:002016-06-01T11:49:10.515-07:00Recover Data From An External Hard Drive Like A Pro<p><a href="http://ift.tt/1TQiK3L"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-244" src="http://ift.tt/1TQiK3L" alt="external-drive-recovery" width="410" height="265" /></a>Storage technology has truly exploded over the last 10 years, and has virtually changed the world over the last thirty years. No generation has seen a greater change in the way they communicate, what with email, text and the mass acceptance of the cell phone. Computers are no longer huge machines that can take up an entire floor in a building. With the invention of smartphones, tablets and laptops, all your data is as portable as you are.</p>
<p>But with great advancement comes great responsibility. Many people have learned, the hard way, that you need to have copies of all of your important data in multiple places. If you have all your files in one place you’re going to be in big trouble if that device ever breaks down on you. Oh, and they do. So instead of just saving your files on your laptop or tablet you’d be smarter if you also backed up your files on an external hard drive or a USB stick.</p>
<p>Take caution, however, depending on your back up method. Nothing is foolproof and you want to make sure you save yourself some agony in the long run.</p>
<p>The purpose of backing up files is that you keep current copies of whatever you’re working on in more than one location. You save it on your laptops hard drive but you also back up your files to an external hard drive every other day or once a week, depending on how busy you are.</p>
<p>You should be safe; unless you’re putting unique files on your external hard drive that don’t exist anywhere else. As PC World notes:</p>
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<p>When you store files on an external drive, it’s easy to forget my first rule of tech storage: Never have only one copy of anything. We tend to think of external drives—especially external hard drives—as a backup medium, so of course anything on the drive must be a backup.</p>
<p>But if files exist only on that external drive, they are not backed up. And you need to make sure they get backed up to something other than that particular drive—whether it’s an internal drive, the cloud, NAS, or another external drive.</p>
<p>Okay, the mistake has been made. Now let’s try to get those files back.</p>
<p>When you try to use the drive, does it make noises you’ve never heard before—clicking, for instance, or grinding? If so, make no attempts to recover the files yourself. Send the drive to a data recovery service.</p>
<p>Via: <a href="http://ift.tt/1WwIyAG">http://ift.tt/1WwIyAG</a></p>
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<p>If your device is not making any noises, the PC World article is going to teach you some easy troubleshooting tips to recover your hard drive to its former glory. Computer repair doesn’t have to be intimidating and it’s nice to know that there are some repairs even an average Joe or Jane can do on their own.</p>
<p>Now that you’ve learned these skills be sure to keep them handy. Remember to properly back up your data in the future as well. It’ll save you a lot of tears.</p>
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<p>The following post <a href="http://ift.tt/1TQi5PR">Recover Data From An External Hard Drive Like A Pro</a> is available on HDRG Blog</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-87618158579357097962014-05-26T08:52:00.000-07:002014-05-26T08:52:00.243-07:00Easy Configuring The Shadow Copy Data Recovery Feature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When things go in a wrong direction while working on a computer or some <a href="http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/category/electronic-gadgets/" target="_blank">electronic gadgets</a>, people tend to panic. It happens that users often erase important files from their computer because they thought they are useless. And this is where the shadow copy data recovery can help them. The shadow copy is a feature that is part of Windows Vista operating system and which was created in order to help users restore their lost documents. Of course, this is possible if a user configured the feature like it’s supposed to and also if the feature was enabled.<br /><br />Besides Windows Vista, the shadow copy is also a part of Windows 7 operating system. Indeed, as an idea, it was made back in 2003. It is created as very simple tool, so almost anyone is possible or capable to use it, but still a user should know some details in order to perform the restoration properly. Before using the feature, a user should first configure the shadow copy data recovery. The System Property is where you should start if you want to configure the feature. If you don’t feel capable for doing that, ask an expert to help you and arrange it all for you. <a href="http://www.harddriverecovery.org/raidcenter/san_data_recovery.html" target="_blank">continue reading</a><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-47247445415303860632014-05-19T08:43:00.000-07:002014-05-19T08:43:02.247-07:00Professionals Will Stop Bad Rebuild RAID 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMZ5HycmzzbrGEen0wKSzgiJeURsWMsqjzicjbRxAPB1dzYBicsGIqkSFy0r72XtpQCXh_TrFHzYeY_4aM97hBYv0lkDrsjFrHqYhMuK3VpDsTtEFGSNMdqtQ2BspqwkdHAplZRtStxw/s1600/pwsr5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMZ5HycmzzbrGEen0wKSzgiJeURsWMsqjzicjbRxAPB1dzYBicsGIqkSFy0r72XtpQCXh_TrFHzYeY_4aM97hBYv0lkDrsjFrHqYhMuK3VpDsTtEFGSNMdqtQ2BspqwkdHAplZRtStxw/s1600/pwsr5.jpg" /></a></div>
If you want to avoid bad rebuild RAID 5, search for professionals who will do that instead of you. It is always good to be familiar with basics of how the RAID functions and also know the technical description on a system. But if you want to recover lost data, then you should not focus on manufacturer and their service to recover your data if you need them to rebuild your RAID 5. They will be focused on fixing the drives or how the equipment is functioning and not on how to recover your data because they mostly believe that you made the back up.<br /><br />It is good to replace the damaged disk as soon as you discover the failure or anomaly. Before replacing the disk, the back up is obligatory because you cannot risk losing data. When replacing disks, make sure you have tested the new disk and that it is clean and correct. It has to fit your RAID 5 system and all its specifications. You need to be sure that the system will function perfectly after the replacement because if you are not, then you are risking a bad rebuild RAID 5. If you are not sure, hand it to your coworkers.<br /><br />
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Files Deleted By Accident Returned By Shadow Copy Data Recovery Feature</h3>
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<br />Did it ever happen to you to scroll through your files looking for those you can delete in order to free space on your drive? If the answer is positive, then you are not the only one who did that because many users like to clean the computer drives and make space for new documents. But what if you erased the important ones? In that case, you will need shadow copy data recovery feature. Perhaps you already have it if you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, but maybe you have not enable the feature or you did not know that it is part of your system.<br /><br />For your information, the shadow copy feature is available for the two <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home" target="_blank">Windows operating systems </a>mentioned above, but you need to enable it and then simply use it. The usage is not complicated like it seems. By the way, any feature existing on Windows systems is simple if you have basic knowledge in computer science. For using the feature called shadow copy data recovery, you will need to learn few steps on how to configure the feature properly and the rest will go easy. You will be able to return the documents you have erased. <a href="http://www.harddrivedatarecovery.org/RAID-data-recovery.html" target="_blank">continue reading</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-60194515061206886062014-05-12T08:32:00.002-07:002014-05-12T08:32:45.646-07:00Prevent RAID Repair And Save Your Precious Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Saving time is one of the main things each worker has to obtain, besides earning money. Work is efficient only if it saves time while doing a job. That’s why all the technical things and gadgets have been invented – to save time and help the efficiency to grow. RAID system is just like that; it saves time and enlarges the efficiency. Do not let your time to be spent on RAID repair, but rather prevent the failure by simple steps. One of them is <a href="http://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/disc_replacement/" target="_blank">regular disk replacement</a>. If a disk is old and damaged, it has to be replaced as soon as possible.<br /><br />The other step is listening to the sounds that are being produced by disks. If these sounds are suddenly too noisy or if they remind you of creaking, you can prevent the RAID repair if you immediately call for service who will examine the RAID system and check whether it’s some problem on it. Doing the back-up once in awhile can also prevent the data loss, because if you suddenly lose power while the system is turned on, you may lose the data, but if you have done the back-up, you can feel safe because your data will be saved.<br /><br />
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Do The Back Up Before Rebuilding RAID 5</h3>
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<br />In order to avoid bad rebuild RAID 5 try to prepare yourself for the operation. If you do something wrong, you will risk the success of your work. Make sure that you have tested the subsystem before you try to recover it from a failure that occurred on a drive. Also, make sure that you have done the proper back up. After you do the back up, you will be able to remove the drives safely from the subsystem. You can do that while the subsystem is running. Returning the system back to its original condition will be possible after you replace the drive with completely new and blank one.<br /><br />The drive replacement is the most important part of this recovery process, so if you are not experienced, do not perform it, but leave it to the technicians. You do not want to cause bad rebuild RAID 5, do you? Also, experts like to mention users that they need to know the difference between RAID 5 and other systems such as RAID 0 or RAID 1 and similar. The distinction may seem not important, but it is indeed very important and user should know how the RAID 5 differs from other RAID systems. <a href="http://www.harddrivedatarecovery.org/clean-room.html" target="_blank">look here</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471877377558176999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3436337151538565717.post-28207091006940238692013-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:002013-05-28T11:48:37.860-07:00Selecting A Hard Drive Repair Firm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of the most vital parts of a computer is the hard drive. This is where the files that you saved on the device are stored. It contains the computer’s operating system, too. For this reason, it is of great importance to ensure that your hard drive is always at its best condition. Unfortunately, you cannot keep an eye on your hard drive all the time. You may be surprised that your computer abruptly shows signs of breakdown. <a href="http://www.smeco.coop/yourEnergy/electricalDisturbances.aspx" target="_blank">Electrical disturbance</a>, virus attack, erroneous usage and overusing the device are just some of the causes of hard drive failure. In case any of these happens to your computer, you better call a hard drive repair service company for immediate assistance. When picking a hard drive repair company, take note of its years in service. Many computer repair firms do not last long because of incapacity to perform well. Customers are not likely to come back if they are not satisfied with the outcome. Choose hard drive repair firm wisely and you can do this by seeking recommendations from your trusted friends. They might know of a computer repair company of which performance is really gratifying. This way, you are assured that your hard disk will get back to its normal condition.<br />
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Reputed Providers Of Hard Drive Repair Services<br />
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The hard drive is regarded as the heart and soul of a computer. When you save your files, this is where documents are stored up. Apart from your data, it also contains the device’s operating system. If the hard drive malfunctions, the entire computer will not be operative. This simply means that the hard drive should be well taken care of. You should be cautious when downloading files from the internet. Your computer must be equipped with anti-virus software. Do not click on suspicious links. Also, do not let the kids mess up with your computer. You must guide them when they need to use it. In case, your hard drive still breaks down despite all these precautions, make sure you acquire the<a href="http://www.harddrivedatarecovery.org/" target="_blank"> hard drive repair service</a>. Its provider should be proven in terms of providing quality computer repair service. It should be known for its prompt repair performance and one that does not ask for unreasonable payment. One way you can determine the reputation of any particular firm is when it offers free consultation. The company does not have to charge you of any amount when analyzing your hard drive problem. It signifies that the firm is not just after the money.<br />
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How To Deal With Hard Drive Failure<br />
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The hard drive plays a very important in making the computer operational. It is where the files are stored. It also houses the operating system, which is another vital element in computers. For this reason, you must be very attentive when your hard drive shows signs of failure. You must take advantage of the continuing emergence of hard drive repair service firms. Many individuals are investing on these firms to meet the demands of the public. Almost every household has a computer but not everyone can fix it in case of hard drive failure. However, even if there are loads of companies that provide hard drive services, not all of them are worthy of your trust. Your computer is where your pertinent documents are stored. You need to take care of these files, especially if these are confidential data. You do not just send your computer to a repair shop without knowing if its personnel are reliable.<br />
The internet is a great source of tips when hunting for a reliable and competent provider of this service. Read the testimonials of former clients to weigh up the caliber of the shop and the capacity of its personnel. Ask how much money you will be asked to pay so you can compare it with the other companies.<br />
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Immediate Response On Your Hard Drive Needs<br />
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If you are running a business online, you tend to store too much files on your computer. It is important that you have backup files to secure all these important documents. Also, you must handle your computer at all times. Make sure it is equipped with anti-virus software to keep it protected from the threats of damaging elements. If you notice something strange about your hard drive, immediately consult a hard drive expert. You can easily find <a href="http://www.raidrecovery.ws/" target="_blank">a shop that offers RAID drive repair service</a>. The one nearest your residence is a great option but only if you are certain of its efficiency. In case you do not know where to run to, you may conduct a research at home using your internet access. Find out which hard drive repair firms you can seek help from in an instant. Check on its reputation by thoroughly scrutinizing its website or talking to its customer service representative. It is important to have your hard drive problem attended immediately. Waiting for a few more days is not advisable as you might end up losing your files and you chances of recovering them will be slimmer. Also, advise the technician that you want your files recovered. This is simply to remind the person and to be certain that he will make it one of his priorities.<br />
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