Have you ever had a computer failure? If not, the odds are that you will experience it at least once in your lifetime.  The question that you should ask is not how you should prepare for this “IF” it happens, but “WHEN” it happens.

Personal computers have become a part of our lives and we have become dependent on them for many things.  Productivity software that we install on these machines enable us to perform many functions such as  simple and complex calculations using spreadsheet programs, produce documents, letters, greeting cards, etc., using Word Processing applications, prepare our taxes, or conduct on-line banking, just to name a few.  As time goes on, we begin to accumulate data on our pc that is very important to us.  Such things as family pictures, resumes, financial information, scanned documents, etc. that we store in electronic files and folders could prove to be disastrous if they were damaged or lost.

Computers are sensitive instruments.  If you ever removed the cover and looked inside, you would see a mass of wires, connectors, and components. Many people have claimed that the system board resembles a city consisting of tiny houses and streets. In fact, these “houses” are really small electronic parts that enable your system to function. 

The most common component to fail is the hard drive.  This is the device that holds all of our files and data that is stored from the programs we run.  The hard drive is delicate because it is mechanical and contains parts that are constantly spinning and moving.  The hard drive’s platters spin at approximately 7,000 to 10,000 RPMs and the read-write head that retrieves and stores your data moves across these platters without touching them. 

If the read-write head ever comes in physical contact with the platters, it is referred to as a hard drive “crash” and can damage your data, or worse yet, cause your drive to be unusable. Some books put this hard drive process in perspective by comparing it to a 737 Jet airliner traveling six inches above the ground at a speed of 600 miles per hour.  Pretty amazing!

So, with all of that said, how can we protect our important data and prepare for computer failures? There are a few important steps that should be taken.

1. Keep your original disks, CDs, DVDs and documentation in a safe place, along with the serial numbers or product codes of the installed software.

2. If you have downloaded and installed programs from the internet, print out a copy of your registration information, including product codes and serial numbers.

3. Keep your operating system up-to-date by installing the latest updates, which include many newly released security patches that will protect your pc. (This can be set up to automatically update your computer each time they are released)

4. Ensure that you have a program installed that protects against viruses, adware and malware, and most importantly, ensure that they are kept up-to-date.  This can also be set up as an automatic process.

5. Implement a backup strategy using an external device to hold your backup files.  Once you have decided on a strategy, perform the backups on a regular basis and test them periodically to ensure that they are working properly.

6. Perform a pc cleanup (or tuneup) on a regular basis to eliminate extraneous files that have built up over a period of time.  These files effectively can slow down your pc. Part of this cleanup contains a defragmentation process, which also helps to improve performance.

7. Have a technician service your pc at least once per year to check the internal fans and clean the pc interior.  Dust that builds up on the fans and components creates excess heat and can cause damage to the sensitive parts.  Proper ventilation to remove internal heat is most important.

Computer repairs can be costly. Some hard drive failures have resulted in costs ranging from $500.00 to $3000.00 for mission-critical data to be restored by Data Recovery Service companies.   You can keep the costs down when a failure occurs by performing the recommended steps stated above.  These will ensure a quicker and more painless recovery when the time comes.

Computer Questions

Phone Call: I occasionally get pop-up messages that want me to install files. What should I do?

Answer: As a rule, you may have to use the “best judgment” approach. At times, a program that you may be using needs to install a version update or support files. A common prompt is the ActiveX installation prompt which is normally ok to accept.  However, if you are not sure, contact your technical support person for guidance.

Bud Sparks is the principal operator of Diamond Spring Technical Services.  His certifications in computer science range from Senior Systems Engineer to Microsoft Certified Instructor.  Additionally, as an adjunct professor, he teaches advanced Microsoft courses at Mercer County Community College.

For your computer questions or concerns email bsparks@dispritech.com.