"What You Should Do If Your Computer Crashes"
Written by: A. L. - February 2011
First of all, don't do anything drastic! We have all experienced that dreaded screen on the computer that says your system is about to shut down or it is infected with some sort of virus, and all your files have been corrupted. This article will take some of the pressure off of you when it comes to taking immediate action when you see a system alert. Fortunately for you, there are ways that your data can be recovered by a tech specialist. Here is a list of important steps you should take that will ensure the best possible chance for your lost data to be recovered.
1. If your computer shows signs of crashing, but it is still operational, you can back up your important data as soon as possible. You will know your computer has crashed if you experience the following:
A loud noise coming from your hard drive
Your computer suddenly starts to run very slow
Errors popping up when you are working
Your computer locks up
A blue screen
A message that your files are corrputed
When any of these things happen, you may still have time to back up your data. Please back up your most important data files first.
2. Shut down your computer as soon as possible. You can make the cause of the computer failure worse if you are continually hitting keys and trying to fix the problem. This is mainly true if the cause of your data loss is because of a virus. For the best possible chance of recovery, shut down your computer safely and get it to a professional data recovery specialist as soon as possible.
3. If you still have information that needs to be recovered, remove the hard drive and take it to a data recovery specialist. In order to decrease the chance of your hard drive from being damaged, it is important that you pack it up properly. Here are some steps to ensure that your hard drive is packed properly:
freezer bag.
Pack the hard drive in sturdy a cardboard box that is double the size of the hard drive
Add bubble wrap to prevent the drive from shifting around
If the drive is water damaged, do not dry it out. Send it with a damp sponge in a sealed plastic
bag. It is easier to recover data before it is dried out.
Your data recovery specialist can retrieve your data for you, in many cases. The process can take as few as 12 to 24 hours or a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on the particular problem and the schedule of the data specialist. The recovery costs will vary depending on the nature of the problem.
The best defence against data loss is backing up your files on a regular basis. Backing up your files to an external hard drive is an excellent way to do it. You can also save your informaiton to USB sticks or flash drives or even record your files on CDs or DVDs. Whatever method you choose, backing up your files on a regular basis will protect your data giving you the peace of mind knowing that you will be prepared should your computer ever crash.