| The scary reality about computer crashes is that the | | | | A change in the way that your computer sounds |
| warning signs are few--if they exist at all--and even | | | | could indicate that the disks within your hard drive |
| when you know what to look for, these signs can be | | | | are having difficulty completing their rotation. |
| very difficult to detect. | | | | Remember: your computer has moving parts, and |
| For this reason, computer backup is necessary every | | | | these parts are situated in extremely close proximity |
| day, because it's near impossible to know if, or when, | | | | to each other. Specks of dust, not visible to the |
| your hard drive is at risk of an imminent crash. | | | | human eye, can damage these disks and impede their |
| I often hear prospective clients say dismissively: | | | | movement, let alone the metal fingers that support |
| "Well, I just bought this computer not too long | | | | these disks. |
| ago--it's practically brand new--so I don't need to | | | | 3. Your computer experiences a read/write error, or |
| worry about backup just yet." | | | | indicates that a disk has failed to respond. |
| And that's when I tell them about Google, the single | | | | According to the Google Inc. study mentioned above, |
| largest owner of computer hard drives in the world. | | | | hard drives are 30 times more likely to fail within 60 |
| In February 2007, Google Inc. released a study that | | | | days of experiencing an initial scan error, than drives |
| they conducted on their own computers entitled | | | | that have yet to receive such errors. |
| Failure Trends in a Large Disk Drive Population. | | | | So how can you protect your computer against a |
| According to this study, which was the most | | | | crash? |
| extensive of it's kind ever completed, hard drives are | | | | 1. The number one BEST way to protect your |
| most likely to fail if they are less than 3 months old, | | | | computer (and your business) is not to attempt to |
| or more than 2 years old. Basically, if you think | | | | protect it against a crash, but to plan for data |
| computer backup is unnecessary because your | | | | recovery after a crash. |
| computer is new, you may be in for a terrible shock. | | | | The reason being is there is no fail-safe way to |
| But if you're still intent on holding off on all | | | | prevent a computer crash. Simply search "automatic |
| precautionary action until you can personally perceive | | | | computer backup" and the name of your city, |
| a problem with your computer, there are some signs | | | | province or state, to sign up with one of the many |
| that--if you're lucky enough to notice them--may | | | | secure online storage services available. |
| indicate that your computer is in imminent danger of | | | | 2. Enlist the services of a reputable IT Service |
| a critical crash. I want to emphasize, though, that | | | | company that offers monthly service contracts, and |
| these warnings may, or may NOT, be apparent. The | | | | have them clean and test your hard drive on a |
| absence of any or all of these signs does not mean | | | | regular basis. |
| that your hard drive is in the clear. | | | | Regular cleaning of your hard drive will not only |
| Remember: a hard drive crash can happen | | | | prolong the life of your computer, but will reduce the |
| unexpectedly at any given moment, and the likelihood | | | | risk for data loss. |
| that you will see it coming is ridiculously small, and | | | | 3. Ask your computer to scan for errors and bad |
| certainly not worth the risk. Operating your business | | | | blocks. |
| on a computer without automatic daily offsite backup | | | | Your computer may not be kind enough to |
| is a recipe for bankruptcy, as over 70% of | | | | automatically alert you when sectors of your hard |
| companies that suffer major data loss go out of | | | | drive are damaged, but you can ask it to scan for |
| business within one year. | | | | trouble. To do so, follow these steps:o Right click on |
| That being said, here are several warning signs that | | | | My Computer.o Select Manage, which brings up the |
| may indicate that your computer is at risk of hard | | | | Computer Management display that is split between a |
| drive failure: | | | | right and a left side.o On the left side look for Event |
| 1. Your computer is slow to boot (turn on). | | | | Viewer, and click the plus sign to its left. A list will |
| If you notice that your computer is not starting up | | | | appear below.o Click System. A list will appear in the |
| quite as quickly as it usually does, and this decrease | | | | right side of the display.o Scroll down the list to |
| in speed cannot be attributed to the installation of | | | | search for any red "X" Error entries. These entries |
| new anti-virus software, your hard drive may be | | | | indicate an existing problem.o Double click on the red |
| suffering from bad blocks/sectors. | | | | "X" entries to bring up the Event Properties display, |
| Your hard drive contains magnetically coated metal | | | | which will tell you more about the error. |
| disks that spin at a speed of about 5400 times per | | | | In closing, I highly recommend that you commit, right |
| minute. If these disks (or their coating) become | | | | now, to backing up your computer via an offsite |
| damaged in any way, a catastrophic failure is likely | | | | secure storage service. Waiting one more day to |
| within 6 months time. | | | | protect your business, may just be one day too |
| 2. Your computer starts to whir, and/or make noise. | | | | many. |