Computer Repair UK

The strategy of protecting your computer’s critical data goes beyond installing and passively running virus detection programs, spyware protection and options that identify email spam.

While using your computer, you might not routinely think about what can happen if you lose all your data or programs, but unfortunately such ugly incidents do occur.

This is why it is vital that you back up your computer on a regular basis. That way if you lose your data, you can recover it from the storage media you used for the backup without losing much - if any - of your critical information.

Protecting Your Important Data

By backing up data such as important programs you use frequently, business documents and other files, personal information such as passwords and your favorite web sites along with various folders, you are saving the information just in case you need it later.

The most convenient way to store this information from your computer is to use the backup option that usually comes with your operating system.

Backup Media Options

Many people store their data on CD’s, but those media hold limited amounts of data and may not be able to store everything you need. There are more options that retain larger amounts of information, such as removable media, external hard disk drives, and network drives.

If you back up your data to your internal hard disk, you need to store the information on a separate partition on that drive in case one is damaged. Frequently, computers are configured with both a C and D drive, and most people use the C drive to hold all their day-to-day information. Thus in this scenario, the backup of that data would be stored on the D drive for recovery purposes.

The Inexpensive Flash Drive

Removable media - often called a flash drive - is a popular choice as well. Typically, it can hold one gigabyte of information, while more expensive ones store even more data. Prices for this backup option continue to fall, so it is increasingly appealing for its convenience and for the retention of smaller amounts of data.

To use it, simply attach the flash drive to one of the computer’s USB ports, back up your data, and pop it out afterward. Then to use its stored data later, place it into the USB port of either another computer or back in the original for data recovery.

Using a network drive is an option if it has sufficient disk space available. This could be your network drive or space that you “rent” from a third party provider.

What Data to Store

You are always limited by the amount of free space on a drive, so if you have a lot of data on your computer, you will need to be selective of the specific data you opt to store elsewhere.

Finally, there are different types of backups that you can perform depending on your needs. You can back up all your files, some of them, or only the files you have recently added or made changes to since your most recent backup.

Depending whether you use your computer for personal or business needs, you should weigh the pros and cons of each backup option against cost and your time constraints.

For data backup help and advice or anvirus removal visit Harrogate computer repair

written by DavePF

Starting a new business can cause the new business owners all sorts of worries a particular one of course is the threat of data loss caused by a server failure , or indeed loss of critical data caused by a virus attack despite onerous precautions being taken.

Even though the threat of data loss is quite apparent to many business owners sorting out a disaster recovery plan are often very low down on the list despite its importance. Sadly effective data backup protocols are often ignored even though at the lowest level important documents could be backed up onto a pen drive or USB memory stick.

Sure, even memory sticks fail but at least USB memory data recovery is a viable option and USB is a simple form of data backup

Even if you do not have the time or budget to put in place a decent data backup regime simply copying essential data to an external hard drive is surely better than a lack of any sort of policy, of course the crucial element in an back up procedure is just that , it is a procedure and should be adhered to……regulary!

One of the commonest mistakes in data backup is of course not to test your back up data to ensure that it is retrievable. This may sound strange but it is very necessary as many business have found out at huge cost that although a backup was being made it had not been successful.

As well as the potential cost of attempted data recovery when a backup has been found to fail , there is also the intangible (until it happens) cost of lost business due to system down time, and in extreme cases total business failure if legislation required business records to be kept for any length of time, which can be years.

Generally speaking most small businesses will not think about backup solutions until it is too late and they have lost their data.

As well as back up to external media offsite storage is also an option, however this methodology can be quite time consuming as data needs to be uploaded or downloaded en-masse which is very time consuming and consumes a lot of bandwidth.

Another option which is relatively new is an automatic real time backup using the internet. This consists of a program running in the background backing up data as you are working. This means you do not have to remember to backup up at regular intervals as it does it all for you once it is set up.

Online data backup is becoming a very favourable option for savvy IT professionals instead of hard drives and storage options like NAS devices.

Of course a huge benefit is that if you need to access your data when you are away from your office, even if your laptop has been stolen or you simply didn’t bring it with you, you could access your data anywhere else in the world depending on your configuration.

It is not really important which of these options you choose to implement into your business just as long as you have a backup in place.

An effective backup policy is far more preferential than the expense and inconvenience of disaster recovery and data recovery .

written by DavePF

When it comes to transferring over files from your old computer to the new one you have many options out there. Not all of them are easy but this quick guide should give you some pointers.

One great source is this how how to transfer files site. They cover many of the basics on doing a data transfer and let you know a little more in-depth the actual methods you can use.

For those that just have a few hundred pictures or documents you may find your best option is to just copy them over via a USB thumb drive or burning the data to a CD.

For those that want to transfer over a use profile then you can use the built in Microsoft Easy Transfer software. Don’t let the name fool you. It often times can be a headache. That is why for people who need to transfer over user profiles and a ton of other settings your best option is to purchase software to do so. Check out this XP to Vista data transfer site for some good pointers and reviews on software.

One option many people who are computer savvy can do is just export all their data and then re-install the software on the new machine and import the data back in. This works with IE favorites and other items like Quick Books and Outlook. Refer to the manufactures guide on how to do this or check out how to transfer files some great pointers.

One item we should point out is that not all XP software is compatible with Vista. You should always do a fresh install of the software on Vista and check for any needed updates. Most programs do work well on Vista but you may need an upgrade.

As far as external devices like printers and the like you also may need to go to the manufactures website to get the latest drivers and software updates before you can install the printer. If you have Vista you need to make sure you get the correct driver for the version you have. 32 bit or 64bit. You can tell this by right clicking on the “Computer” icon under the Windows Start Menu and then select “properties”. From there you can see what version you have.

Another item you should be made aware of is how to dispose of your old computer. You should consider donating it to a charity. If you go this route be sure to delete or pull your hard drive.

Of course it goes with out saying that if your data is business critical then it is far better to illicit the help of an IT consultancy service before attempting this yourself.

written by DavePF

Interestingly, Many people who own a computer do not own a small portable hard drive, which is a very useful tool for backing up your favorite music files. If you do not have one, you are missing out on an easy and favorite files and storing them safely. Some people still go through the daunting time consuming task of backing up their files multiple CDs. Some users simply do not realize that a is the easiest way to make sure you do not lose any of your files in the event your main hard drive goes bad . Backing up your computer files on another drive is really not that difficult to do .

What Files do You Want to Back Up on Your Portable Hard Drive?

Look through your computer files and determine which ones you would like to back up to your portable hard drive. This is an important step, as you need to make sure that you have the correct amount of storage space to complete the task . This is generally figured in megabytes (MB) or, gigabytes (GB) depending upon the capacity of the drive . Once you have done this, you will have a general idea of the portable hard drive size you will need. It is always good to add extra storage so that you can add more files later if you choose.

Purchase a Portable Hard Drive if You Don’t Already Have One

The next step is actually purchase a USB hard drive. While there are multiple steps to the purchase, there are a few easy tips to follow. Find a good brand that is reputable make your entire purchasing decision based upon price alone.

Set Up Your Portable Hard Drive

Your new drive will come with a power cord and a USB cable. Using the power cord, plug it into your power supply (either directly into the wall or a power strip), while one end of the cable will simply plug into your portable hard drive and the other, flatter looking end plugs into one of your USB ports located on your notebook computer. It is important to note, however, that many newer drives have a simple extending USB port that, attached directly to the drive that simply plugs directly into your USB port. Make sure you read up on any special features the drive may have come with like fingerprint id or push button backup.

Moving or Copying Your Files

You have already identified the files you want to move onto your portable hard drive, so now it’s time to move them. Simply “drag and drop” the files you want to move onto the folder that designates the portable hard drive in your “My Computer” window. It may take a few minutes for larger files to move over to the portable hard drive. If you feel like moving (and not simply copying), just delete the files on your computer from their original location once you have completed transferring them.

When you have completed the steps, you have officially backed up your files on your portable hard drive. You can store files on both hard drives, but you can also keep files on only the portable hard drive itself, allowing you to effectively double or triple your hard drive space for any new files you would like to transfer or back up.

written by DavePF

Data recovery is what all businesses do. Protecting data is what SMART businesses do. Smart businesses understand that if they lose their data they lose their business.

If you are considering taking steps to ensure the integrity and safety of your important computer data you may be concerned about the security involved when dealing with such a task. When considering a third party such as an online backup solution there are a few things to consider.

For starters, it is critical that your data be secure not only while in the possession of a third party but also while in transit to them. Most modern online secure data backup providers make their services available via the Internet and will provide you with the necessary software to back up a predefined set of your critical data, which is then encrypted (typically up to 448 bit), before it is transferred over a high speed connection to a secure data storage facility. You can be assured that your sensitive data (such as financial reports, company memos, and client databases) are safe from prying eyes. The data may be transferred over a completely encrypted channel (also known as an encrypted “tunnel” or virtual private network). If you will be backing up sensitive data that demands the utmost of privacy be sure to inquire about the level of encryption offered by the online secure data backup you are considering.

When considering a remote data backup vendor you should also take into consideration the facilities in which your sensitive data will be physically stored. In addition to encryption technology other things to be on the lookout for are fully secure facilities, biometric security systems, facility lockout policies, and human security.

Be sure to do your research and investigate the track record and reputation of the online data backup company you are considering doing business with and never hesitate to ask questions when it comes to ensuring the security of your mission critical confidential data.

How long have you been doing business online? Whether you are new or an old timer you need to understand the one important truth of the e-world. That being that the largest threat to business survival is data loss.

Online data backup is not just for huge multinational corporations and computer geeks anymore. More and more everyday computer users are saving important data to their hard drives.

If the statements above describe you, you should consider utilizing an offsite data backup solution. These online-based backup providers come in many forms but can be very easy to use and convenient for end users to implement no matter what the platform or how large the network. That is why before buying a laptop and during compare laptops review, make sure you remember about these matters.

Although there are several methods to accomplish online backup and data retrieval the simplest method is for the end user to install a backup package that has been pre-configured to connect to the service provider’s offsite servers (supplied by the offsite backup service provider). This software will allow you, the end user, to select a number of customizable settings, including what directories and files to backup, how often to back them up, number of file revisions to archive, etc. These packages take care of the complicated details such as server IP addresses, encryption levels, and secure logins for you so you can concern yourself with the important choices of what and when to backup.

Once you have set up an account with a service provider and have configured your software the rest of the process is typically transparent and requires little to no interaction from you.

Whenever disaster strikes the most critical asset that every company should have protected from sudden loss due to fire, flooding, or theft is their data. No matter what happens to your hardware you can be sure to be able to be up and running no matter how sudden or how severe your damage or loss is - if you use an online backup system.

Online data back up is the most cost effective way for you to protect your investment by securely storing your data with an offsite data backup provider. No matter when incidents of data loss occur you can be sure that you will have immediate and complete access to your critical documents as you need it. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year you will be able to access and restore countless hours of work and unlimited amounts of data and documents of any type.

You can choose to restore an entire backup of your account or just the documents you need to get going in the event of a system failure. Access is available to any machine connected to the Internet. Access to backup data can keep employees up and running so even while facilities may be shut down indefinitely, your team can continue to do business as usual with little to no downtime.

Upon configuration of the backup software, offsite remote backups are performed transparently to the end users, so backups are performed thoroughly and consistently without the need for user interaction. There is nothing to remember when using a remote secure backup, you can just “set it and forget it” and be comfortable in knowing that your data is protected from accidental loss due to disaster or user negligence 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

written by DavePF