DATA RECOVERY

Data recovery is the process of recovering data from a failed hard drive. We use special hardware and software to recover data before the drive becomes completely unusable. This method is successful in most data recovery situations, however there are times when a drive is damaged beyond this level of service. With our free diagnostic, we will let you know the facts and do everything we can to recover the data.

• Diagnose your computer or hard drive to determine if the hard drive has failed
• Use our methods to determine if we can recover the data
• Provide you with a price quote for the data recovery service
• Recover all data on the hard drive
• Sort through the corrupt data and give you back only what matters

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED DATA RECOVERY?

In most cases it is not possible to determine if a drive needs data recovery or simply needs data transfer without a diagnostic. This is because even failing hard drives can sometimes be accessed without the need for the data recovery process. The drive might be beyond use, but not beyond us getting the data off with just a little time. We specialize in data recovery and will let you know which applies to you.

WHAT CAUSES A HARD DRIVE TO FAIL?

Current standard hard drives contain a motor, several magnetic platters, and read/write heads to access the data. Standard hard drive rotation is around 7200rpm, meaning the platters inside spin extremely fast. This motion is the general reason why these hard drives fail, but not always. Sometimes the data on the platter becomes corrupted due to losing its magnetic structure. Other times the read/write heads do not perform correctly. The logic board controlling the transferring of data between the drive and motherboard could fail too. There are a few other reasons, but the most noticeable cause of hard drive failures is motion. If the hard drive is spinning and there is any sharp motion, such as a fall or hard bump, there is a good chance the hard drive will begin to fail. If this ever occurs, time is of the essence, and bringing the drive to us as soon as possible greatly improves the computer repair process.

ARE THERE ANY SIGNS MY HARD DRIVE MIGHT BE FAILING?

There usually will be some signs that your hard drive is failing, but they are often confused with other reasons as well. Sometimes your hard drive might be bad, however the computer still works. The corrupt data might only be on part of the hard drive, meaning some things work, and some things don’t. You may notice your computer runs slower and slower over time – this is due to an increasing number of corrupt sectors on the hard drive. Most users who have had this issue report they noticed the computer getting slower over time before failing completely, where now the computer won’t turn on at all. If you bring the computer to us before a full crash, it’s much easier to proceed with the repair.

HOW DO I PREVENT MY HARD DRIVE CRASHING?

You first need to realize that all hard drives fail at some point. It’s just a matter of time. Although new solid state hard drives are magnitudes more reliable than standard rotational hard drives, they will still fail at some point. The key is backing up your data to one or more external locations. There are many hardware and software solutions for backing up your data – and as long as your data is being backed up you will mitigate the damage of a failed hard drive on your computer. If you do not have a backup solution, please contact us and we can help you protect your data from a hard drive crash.

Backup & Migration

If your data is not being backed up, it is only a matter of time before the storage device it’s on crashes. As we go further into the digital age, the documents we have become more important. We rarely have film for photography anymore. Our music is stored by the thousands on our hard drives. Important projects are being pieced together year after year online. All that data needs to be backed up to prevent loss should anything unfortunate happen. We can help you determine the best backup solution for your home or office, and get everything set up so you’re prepared.
• Determine the number of computers you need to backup
• Assess the amount of data you need to backup
• Provide you with options for backup solutions
• Setup and configure all backup hardware and software
• Set backup schedules depending on your requirements

EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES: ARE THEY GOOD ENOUGH?

When it comes to computer repair, having at least one backup is critical. Many users know their data is important, and when confronted with the desire to keep that data safe, they buy external hard drives to keep copies of their data on. This is a basic solution and works if your data isn’t too important. With this solution, you are manually backing up data, and in most cases you’re not able to backup everything. The only problem with this solution is that external hard drive is probably sitting right next to your computer. This means you’re protected against a computer hard drive crash, which is good, but not protected against any external threat to that data. Even the most expensive insurance policy won’t be able to help you recover family photos lost in a fire if all your data is in one location.

BACKUP TIPS:

• Backup now, don’t wait until it’s too late
• If you use external drives, be careful, they can crash too
• Know what you are backing up and where it’s going
• Pick a backup method that works for you
• Make sure your backup method is simple but effective
• Backup your data using more than one method

WHAT IS THE BEST BACKUP SOLUTION?

There are many options, and it really comes down to price and practicality when determining what is necessary when backing up your data. The last thing you want is to spend all your time worrying about performing backups. Some users opt for an internal backup on their computer, being concerned only with their computer working even if one drive fails. Some users are comfortable with the bandwidth usage and payment plans involved with online storage. Many offices require something more diverse and large scale, for which we often recommend network attached storage. There are many solutions, and for one best suited for how you use your computer, contact us for more information.

WHAT IS A NAS?

NAS stands for “Network Attached Storage” and is becoming one of the best ways to backup files as well as do many other things over your home network. In simple terms, the NAS is a file server. It’s main purpose is to share files across your network, so anyone connected to your network can share files, photos, video and just about anything without having to use other hardware. Beyond that, the NAS solution we recommend turns into your own personal cloud. You can access the NAS from anywhere – even on your smartphone – to view files, stream music or even watch saved videos. NAS devices are servers as well, meaning it has the potential to do just about anything other servers do, from user management to hosting a website. Please contact us if you would like more information about getting your own personal cloud.