.(73) Computer Data Backup - Data Backup Solution Will Give You A Peace Of Mind
Imagine that you have been working on a file for the entire
day and there was a power surge that caused your computer to 'black out'.
It would have been a frustrating experience for us as we had put in a lot
of time and effort into it. I am sure that many of us would have
experienced data loss in some form or another and have learnt to be wiser
to backup our data to avoid any form of data loss.
Have you ever thought of a worst case scenario where a fire broke up and
destroy your computer or where your laptop got stolen? Should that happen,
the first thing that comes into your mind is the thousands of dollars that
you spend on your computer or laptop and you would feel very upset about
it. However, when you thought for a second moment, you started to realize
that what is really valuable are the amount of data that you have built up
over the years in it. Though hardware can always be replaced, even at no
cost to you if you have insurance, but lost data is gone forever.
Lost data such as the thousands of mp3 and movies that you have downloaded
from the Internet, thousands of digital photographs that are impossible to
replace are lost in an instant. This form of data loss hits home
especially hard when the laptop holds the lifeblood to your business.
Imagine all your business contacts documents and contracts that you have
painfully built up over the years would be vanished just like that. Your
business would be wipe out overnight.
Do not wait for the worst to happen before you start to consider about
data backup solution. Having a data backup solution will give you a peace
of mind as you know that your data is in safe hand.
About the Author
Justin Koh is a freelance writer whose articles have appear in most
major ezines. You can find more of these at:
http://www.backupcenter.info
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print,
free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of
your publication would be appreciated.
Written by: Justin Koh
(74)Computer Data Backups: Test Now or Cry Later.
If you’re like most small business owners, your computer
data backups are one of those things that you rarely pay
attention to. Computer data backups are kind of like
flossing your teeth and eating low-fat, high-fiber foods...
everyone knows what they’re supposed to do... but how many
REALLY do these things religiously?!?
Unfortunately when it comes to your computer data backups
however, complacency can be very dangerous. Of course, it’s
always a good idea to have a local computer service company
that you can rely on for advice on selecting and maintaining
your computer data backups. But, unless you’re prepared to
put a full-time PC support person on your company’s payroll,
it’s really important that you get some basic understanding
of the major issues with computer data backups.
So here’s a compilation of some really crucial tips on
computer data backups that I’ve put together, after nearly
15 years of helping small businesses protect their valuable
computer data files.
Test your computer data backups regularly and monitor their
log files.
To be effective, computer data backups must be highly
automated to ensure that jobs are launched consistently and
correctly, but your computer data backup system also needs
to be watched over diligently to make sure it continues to
function reliably.
Unfortunately, monitoring the computer data backup system
generally isn’t a priority until something goes wrong. By
then it’s too late. Like the article title says, "Test Now
or Cry Later!"
People have a strong tendency with a computer data backup
system to set it and forget it. Automation clearly has many
benefits, but a totally hands-off approach can be very
dangerous if no one is overseeing your computer data backup
process.
Test and Then Test Again: VERY Important with Computer Data
Backup Systems
With any newly installed computer data backup system, don't
assume everything works correctly right out of the box. Even
more important, don't take for granted that your backup
system will continue working indefinitely. You need
periodically to restore some folders and files from your
backup media to validate that your computer data backup
system still works.
If your automated computer data backup routine is configured
to include a verify run with each backup job, testing a
sample restore job monthly should be adequate. However, if
you have an extremely low tolerance for risk, you may want
to simulate a sample restore job once a week.
The Hazard of Moving Parts and Open Design with Computer
Backup Systems
Why do you need to take these precautions if you’re
purchasing a reliable, business-class computer data backup
system to start with? Typically, a tape drive or other
backup device is one of the few components in a PC or server
that still have moving parts.
As a result, it’s more prone to mechanical failure. In
addition, because a backup device generally is open, as
opposed to the sealed design of a hard drive, it’s easy for
the inside of the computer data backup system device to
attract a significant dust buildup in a relatively short
period of time.
Sample Restore Jobs and Cleaning Tape Heads of Computer Data
Backup Systems
Testing a tape for a sample restore job is also a great time
to clean the heads of the backup drive if your backup system
requires this kind of maintenance.
Restoring a few hundred megabytes (MB) of data to a scratch
directory and running a head-cleaning tape should take no
more than 15 to 30 minutes.
When running a test restore job, always restore the data to
an alternate server folder path, so as not to disrupt the
use of any shared folders.
Building a Computer System Backup and Restore Procedure
Checklist
In times of crisis, the most crucial issue becomes how
quickly you can get the data back onto your system,
undamaged. So, as you build your computer data backup
system, be sure to document your test procedures into handy
checklists.
This documentation also can be great for cross-training and
crucial for avoiding panic during an emergency. Be sure you
have a hard copy of this documentation next to your system
and stored off-site with your backup media.
Watching the Log Files of Your Computer Data Backup System
In addition to running test restore jobs, you must inspect
your computer data backup system log files daily. When the
backup system is first installed, take time to get familiar
with the way log files look when everything is working. This
way, if something goes awry, you’ll be better prepared to
pinpoint the nature of the problem immediately.
As network operating system (NOS) suites and backup software
have become more sophisticated, it’s now possible to monitor
backup system log files remotely and more proactively. In
most cases, the backup system log files are just plain text
(.txt) files.
Many third-party tools and utilities, as well as those
included with Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server
(SBS) and Microsoft BackOffice Server, can automatically e-
mail or fax a backup system log file at a preconfigured
time.
Automatically and Remotely Monitoring Tape Backup Log Files
Many computer consultants have their small business clients’
log files automatically e-mailed to them daily, so the
consultants proactively can watch out for potential problems
with the computer data backup system.
However, don’t think this proactive monitoring is limited to
professional consultants. If your company has one or more
branch offices you support from a centralized location, you
also can use a similar method to monitor backup system
health in remote locations.
For greater flexibility, you can set up an e-mail alias so
the computer data backup system log file automatically is
sent to you, your second-in-command and perhaps an external
computer consultant... so you are all kept in the loop.
Also, this way, monitoring continues even when you’re out of
the office or on vacation.
The Bottom Line
If your small business depends greatly on its computer
systems, backing up your data is not optional... and it is
not something that can be casually brushed to the back
burner.
Use the computer data backup tips in the articles to help
you become a more IT-aware small business owner. And
remember, when it comes to computer data backups, "Test Now
or Cry Later". The choice is yours.
Copyright MMI-MMV, PCSupportTips.com, All Worldwide Rights
Reserved.
About the Author
Joshua Feinberg is a 15-year veteran computer consultant, an
internationally recognized expert on small business computer
consulting. He has appeared in dozens of business and IT
trade publications including American Express OPEN Platinum
Ventures, Entrepreneur, Inc, SCORE, Small Business
Computing, and USA Today. To learn more about Joshua’s
money-savings tips for small business PC support, visit his
site at
http://www.PCSupportTips.com
Written by: Joshua Feinberg
(75)Computer Data Recovery Options
Losing files on your computer can be a frightening
experience if the files are of importance to you personally or
professionally. Computer data recovery techniques include the most simple
of operations, like simply retrieving an accidentally deleted file, to
very complex file retrieval procedures that only professionals should
attempt to do.
If you are trying to proceed with your hard disk recovery solution on your
own, first start with the most obvious answer. Look in your recycle bin to
see if the file has been placed there. If it is, you can choose the
"restore" option, and your system will automatically put the file back on
your computer where it was stored originally. Of course, if every
retrieval was this simple, there would be no need for computer
professionals who specialize in data recovery, so chances are you'll need
to try a different technique to find your lost data.
If you've deleted a file on your computer, and you've emptied your recycle
bin, don't despair. When a file is deleted on a computer, it's not erased
immediately from the system. What actually happens is the computer marks
the deleted file as "deleted", and it is no longer in view to users within
your computer's files. The file remains on the hard drive until new data
is saved over it, similar to recording songs on cassette tapes. So, in
order for computer data recovery to happen on files that have been
deleted, you'll need to attempt to recover them before new data has been
written over the file.
The best thing you can do to increase your chances of success is to
immediately stop using the computer until you've retrieved the deleted
file. The more you use your computer, the more information will be saved
and the more likely the information could be saved over the file you are
hoping to get back!
About the Author
*******************************************
Brad Triggs provides more information on
Data Recovery at his website:
Data-Recovery-Central.com -
Computer Data Recovery
*******************************************
:(76)Computer Disposal - Throwing Away Your Computer, Money, and Idenity .
You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as
long as the bylines are included.
Original URL (The Web version of the article)
------------
href="http://www.defendingthenet.com/Newsletters/Throwing
AwayYourComputer-Money-And-Identity.htm" target=_blank>
Computer Disposal - Throwing Away Your Computer, Money,
and Identity?
Title
-----
Computer Disposal - Throwing Away Your Computer, Money, and
Identity?
Computer Disposal and Security
------------------------------------------------------
Computer Disposal - Security is not only important while
using your new PC, but when disposing of your legacy or old
computer equipment as well. Information can be retrieved in
several different ways once your system leaves your house or
office. In my state we have a recycling container at the
solid waste authority which you can bring your old PC’s to.
On May 31st, 2009, I decided to do an experiment and see
what people actually throw away. So, I took my trusty
laptop, an external USB hard drive shell, and waited for my
first victim. (All identities have been changed to protect
the newest casualties of the TCAD)
Leaving Your Credit Cards At The Dump
--------------------------
John Doe (age – 46)
I explained my reason for being there and asked if he would
like to participate. After obliging, I asked him a few
question. I got a laugh out of this one.
Jackson – “What would you say your technical skills are?”
John – “I don’t know -bleep-, this is my son’s computer, and
he said it was broke”
So I proceeded to take his hard drive out to see what I
could find. (And boy did I find stuff) I found 64 word and
excel documents containing everything from a book report
titled Trusting Human Nature to a detailed spreadsheet
titled Our Debt. John said "a year ago, we refinanced our
house, and my son helped us put this spreadsheet together of
our credit cards and miscellaneous debts". Believe it or not
it, actually had the names of the credit cards, account
numbers, and amount owed on each one. After I showed John,
he asked me to check if his son was surfing on sites he was
asked not to go on. I told him the system looked clean and
his son was following his rules to a T. (You owe me Junior)
Out of 5 PC’s I saw that day, all of them had recoverable
files. John Doe’s being the worst with the Our Debt
spreadsheet.
What should I do?
-----------------------------------
There are many applications that can help you format your
hard disk drive, but even their lawyers won’t allow them to
say its 100% effective.
So, what should you do? Here are a couple ideas on computer
disposal that may help:
* Go ahead and recycle your computer in an EPA fashion,
but remove your hard disk drive and add it to your new
system for extra storage (Secure);
* Find a local company that will melt you hard disk
drive. Usually a recycler or machine shop will do this for
you (Secure, but it will cost money);
* Find a local company that will use a degaussing
machine in order to eradicate your hard disk drive (Secure,
but it will cost money);
* Use a secondary application to format your drive, but
run the program 3-5 times even if it states it’s not
necessary (99.9% secure, but still possible to recover
data).
Computer Disposal and the EPA
----------------------------------------------
Make sure when you recycle your old system you comply with
the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") guidelines. Here
are some basic facts on computer disposal that will help
you.
According to the official EPA website
www.epa.gov:
* The Environmental Protection Agency has strict
regulations regarding the disposal of hazardous materials;
* Penalties for violations are distributed in the form
of fines as well as Public Service;
* Nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in
the next five years;
* Many people discard computers every three to five
years;
* In 2009, only 11 percent of personal computers retired
in the U.S. were recycled.
Conclusion
----------
TVs and computers can contain an average of four pounds of
lead (depending on their size, make and vintage) as well as
other substances of potential concern like chromium,
cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc and brominated
flame retardants. These materials need to be handled
carefully and are potential health hazards.
On top of all the chemicals and biohazards, your computer
probably contains personal information. If this information
falls into the wrong hands, you could be on the receiving
end of identity theft and various forms of fraud.
Websites that may be of interest:
* The Computer Disposal Requirements section of the
EPA;
* SnapFiles Handy Recovery data recovery freeware tool;
* R-tools Technology R-Wipe & Clean disk cleaning and PC
privacy software.
Jackson Morgan,
President of 'The Technical Coalition Against Dumbness
(TCAD) :)
About the Author
About The Author
----------------
Jackson Morgan is a Sr. desktop support specialist and works
with small to large businesses. He is certified to work on
many platforms and has over eight years experience in the
field. If you would like to contact Jackson you can e-mail
him at jackson.morgan@paralogic.net.
Written by: Jackson Morgan