The hard drive is a very important part of the computer. The hard drive contains all the data on your laptop or desktop. It is where the operating system, software, pictures, videos, and other files are stored. For some people the data on it is even more valuable than the computer itself.

Under certain circumstances, the hard disk might suddenly fail with no warning at all. This would cause your computer to be unable to boot up with a warning message like “no bootable device found” or Windows continuously freezing even after a full system recovery or operating system reinstallation. The most common cause of this is an internal failure of the electronic components of the hard drive or problem with the magnetic read/write head inside the hard drive.

Despite the fact that serious hard drive problems are usually beyond our control, it is still highly recommended that we practice taking care of the hard drive to decrease the chance of encountering problems. Here are some tips for proper maintenance of your storage devices.

Disk cleanup – Unwanted and temporary files will slowly accumulate on your computer. You should periodically run disk cleanup to remove the clutter on your hard drive. To access this utility follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and point to All Programs.

2. Point to Accessories and then to System Tools.

3. Click Disk Cleanup. Run the utility to delete unwanted files.

Defrag the hard drive – Constant copying/deleting files, uninstalling and reinstalling of software will slowly fragment the data on the hard drive. This means that a single large file might be stored on several different locations on the hard drive. This might cause the computer to take slightly longer time to access that file. To defragment the data on the hard drive follow the steps below.

1. Click Start, and point to All Programs.

2. Point to Accessories and then to System Tools.

3. Click Disk Defragmenter. Run the program. This might take several hours to complete

Taking care of the hard drive is not limited to internal device only. Your data drive or external hard drive is much more important as it stores all important documents from your internal hard drive.

Here are some tips for taking care of your external hard drive:

Safely remove from USB – Always choose to safely remove a USB hard drive before physically disconnecting the USB cable from the computer. Choose this option in Windows before unplugging it. This would prevent accidentally interrupting any write operation on the hard drive which could cause corruption of data or file system.

Protect from physical abuse – Be mindful of your external hard drive when you move it around or when you carry during travelling. Modern hard drives have a level of shock resistance but you should not count on it to save your hard drive from a bad drop.

Category: Computer Tips & How Tos

Inevitably the time comes when everyone experiences computer problems either at home or in the workplace. When these problems present themselves you need to hire someone for computer repair, meaning that you have the choice to take the base unit of the computer to a repair center, call an onsite technician or use a remote computer repair service.

It is worth considering the potential risks you inherent with computer repair. With off-site computer repair shops once the equipment leaves your home or office you are completely at the mercy of the service center and their technicians until your machine is returned. On-site offers more protection by allowing you to watch what files the technician access’s, but requires you to open your home up to strangers and tends to always cost more money. Remote computer repair is considered the safest because your machine never leaves your home, and you are not subject to unknown people entering your home or office. You can also watch the entire repair take place in-front of your eyes.

No matter what option you choose, these tips will help safe guard your sensitive information.

Protecting Your Documents

A computer problem can happen any time so being prepared is a bonus. With documents of a sensitive nature i.e. bank accounts, employee histories, curriculum vitas etc, it is important to take every precaution to ensure their safety. Try to always keep a backup of your important documents.

Regular Back Ups

The single most important piece of advice for any computer owner is; make regular backups of your hard drive. This can be done with any off the shelf software and a blank CD or DVD. With the speed of the new computers it only takes a few minutes and is well worth the time invested.

Housekeeping

The removal of files and documents that are no longer being used is what we call housekeeping. You should make it a habit to go through your directories and remove unwanted files. Doing this right after you complete a back up is the perfect time just in case you accidently delete a file or document that you needed.

Cookies

Cookies are small files your web browser creates while you are on the Internet. If you use internet banking or make purchases with your credit card or debit card, these files can be dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands.

Web browsers have an option to delete cookies and your browsing history under the tools tab. It is a good idea to take this step prior to allowing anyone to access your system.

If would like to know more about computer security or need help with any of the suggestions in this blog post, try one of MyCuredComputer’s computer lessons. One of the PC Experts will be glad to walk you through it.

Category: Computer Tips & How Tos