subject: What To Do With A Computer Crash [print this page] So much of our daily information is stored on computer these days: financial documents, family photos, calendar appointments, even journals and diaries. That is why computer crashes and data loss can be so frustrating and stressful. Suddenly, treasured memories and important items vanish in an instant. Backing up current data and restoring crashed hard drives can help mitigate these computer disasters.
Long before you have to deal with a crash, make sure your computer is fully backed up on an exterior hard drive or database. You can usually find external drives with a variety of storage sizes, up to around 1 terrabyte. Dumping important information and documents into that drive can keep your files safe in case your computer crashes. Also, some people have turned to online storage sites for backing up their work. This is, in some ways, more secure because even an external hard drive has the capacity to crash at some point. Online databases make your documents safe and more easily accessible. However, they usually require a subscription of some sort, and might be more expensive in the long run. Plus, they usually cannot back-up your whole computer, just certain files.
If you computer has already crashed though, don't worry: there is still a chance you can recover some, most, or even all that you've lost. There are many computer companies that offer a variety of data recovery services to help you retrieve precious computer files. Before you start paying, though, find a company that offers a free diagnostic service to see if any data is even recoverable. Enough companies out there will provide this type of check free of charge that you should be able to get a clear idea of what services are even available to you before you start paying. Also, if you are in a time crunch, make sure your company offers quick emergency service; you don't want your computer sitting on their shelf for days or weeks on end.
One of the other benefits of a data recovery service is that most can handle a wide range of media: USB drives, tape drives, e-mail data, etc. Even if you are dealing with just a typical computer crash, turning to a company that has experience with a lot of different systems can ensure that they will competently handle your system and be available for future problems that might arise.
Before you computer crashes, back it up. After it crashes, don't panic: find a quality data recovery service to help you restore your digital files safe and sound to your computer once more.
