The What, Where, When, Why and How of Data Backups

Whether you are a business executive or a homeowner, computer data backups should be on your checklist of very important matters. Data backups are a form of fail-safe procedure to protect the files on your computer in case of any loss for any reason. This article expounds on some of the ideas behind data backup systems.

So what kind of data would warrant a backup? While businesses can clearly see the need for a data recovery plan using data backups, most homeowners do not. PC owners who have no backup hardware or backup systems stand to lose a lot – their online bookmarks of favorite sites, family pictures, possible work documents, software and programs installed, etc. So basically, all kinds of data that is important to the user should be backed up.

Next, where should you back them up? You can choose your backup hardware or media to be an external hard drive, online data storage, CDs or DVDs and magnetic tapes. You may also choose to create a backup of your files on your main hard drive, but if your computer hard drive fails, the backup data would most likely be gone too.

When should one back up data? Ideally, it should be immediately after reading this article unless, of course, you have already done so before this. Data backups should be performed regularly – if possible, everyday – to reduce the amount of data lost in case of drive failure.
Why should you backup your data? Easy, it’s because your hard drive will fail, sooner or later. It is inevitable. Data backups will ensure that you have a failsafe data recovery plan when your computer finally decides to give up on you.

Now, how should you go about backing up your data? This is also easy. If you are using an external hard drive, you can simply plug the external media into your computer with a USB cable and then copy and paste all the files, documents and pictures which you want to keep safe.

DVDs and CDs are usually not a good choice for backup media, as they can only store so much information. Business networks, especially, would need more than just ten or twenty of these in order to backup even a quarter of the files they need.

Some would prefer online storage as it is accessible anywhere. Most of them, however, require a monthly payment. Most users prefer to use automated backup systems which can be downloaded from online sites. This would be the easiest way to backup your files, but one has to keep a diligent watch over the process in order to minimize any backup failures.

Secure Your Data With Safe Data Backups

Almost everyone is familiar with data backups and why they need it, but not many are well versed in how to keep their backup hardware or software safe. As such, when their data backup systems fail, they are once again left to start all over again. But there is no cause for worry. This article can give you a few tips on how to keep your data backup systems safe and, at the same time, keep your data secure.

They always say prevention is better than cure. One can apply the same to data backup systems. If the hardware or software used is not secure, then the data is not safe either. When using external media for data backups, the backup hardware must be stored in a place where neither fire nor water can reach it easily.

One thing to remember is never to skip or forget the backup schedule for your computer. Depending on how much data is changed or modified per amount of time, you can set your schedule backups for every day, every week or every month. Whether you set your schedule to daily, weekly or monthly, you must keep to that schedule religiously. If not, you risk losing a lot of information even after data recovery.

Computer users must always consider a strategy to create a secure and protected data backup. For example, backing up a lot of information at one time can slow down your computer progress and impede any other work being performed; not to mention it would also take a long time to back up everything. Most people will perform the backup process incrementally.

Finishing the backup process does not mean one’s work is done. Indeed, one must always keep testing the backup system through performing data recovery tests. This is to make sure that the information is being backed up properly and to keep track of the backup system’s functionality.

Some users are not content with a single mode of backup. As there are different types of backup plans, users have a wide range of options such as internet-based data backups, network-attached servers for backups, external hard drives and the like. Creating multiple data backups is a popular way of securing any data on your computer.

These are the best methods of keeping your data secure in your data backup. Don’t wait for your data to disappear before creating a safe environment for your data.

Solutions To Data Loss

With computers comes the joy of having everything done simply from the luxury of your desk. With all the hassle of having piles and piles of hard copy gone, computers now come with a new hassle. When using a computer one can have all sensitive documents stored under a password that only allows access via this password. Despite all these security measures there is one problem that we are yet to face off completely and this is the nightmare of losing important data - either by crashing of the computer or simply deleting vital information.

The nightmare of losing important data is now becoming a thing of the past and many would take it to be a hoax on hearing that one can actually retrieve lost data; and lost data could mean a crashed hard disk or data deleted from the recycle bin or, to make it worse, files that have been infested buy a computer virus. The truth about recovery software is that it does exist.

Computers are made in a way that even after deleting an important document the data is not entirely lost in that the information is actually still in your machine and waiting to be overwritten by other data; and simply this is the mechanism that the shredder software uses. When shredding a document one would have to choose a set of algorithms to determine how to shred the document. What happens is that binary codes that the computer cannot understand are used to encrypt the data, or in other terms overwrite it, so no recovery can be done.

A splendid example of recovery software is that of MDB file recovery software as if one is experiencing problems with access files this recovery software can make it all go away. Equipped with an advanced mechanism, the software scans through the corrupted files and simply recovers the files in no time, repairing operating systems; and fine details like auto numbering and field sizes are also fixed.

Working with Microsoft Outlook also comes with some hitches that are in relation to data loss and file managements; thus the introduction of Outlook PST File Recovery Software. This recovery software is advanced in that it is able to recover lost, deleted or even corrupted emails on Microsoft Outlook.

Another option one could settle for is anticipation of data loss, thus the online data protection service is basically referred to as being best for data protection. What one needs to have this function is simply to be active on the internet and do all backups online. With online backup comes CDP, simply known as continuous data protection. Here, when data is written on a disk, it is in turn stored in a different storage point automatically, with no manual backing up.

Data Recovery Methods For Various Data Loss Situations

Data loss can happen in a variety of ways – accidentally deleted files, hard drive breakdowns, a frozen computer, etc. No matter the reason, data loss is something everyone must deal with sooner or later. When the information stored in your computer has no data backup, it is quite possible to lose crucial files in the blink of an eye. As they say, accidents happen.

Data loss can occur just because of a simple user error. For example, it is not unthinkable for a person to delete one file by accident. Fortunately for users, these files are not “gone”. Most information deleted this way can be recovered using data recovery systems bought in software stores.

Corrupted files and file systems are even harder to deal with. Data recovery can only restore portions of the file or system by scanning the file system data directly, but data is almost always lost in the process.

Some users refer to a data recovery method called data carving. Different file formats have unique hexadecimal signatures which the user can use to identify a file directly. For example, a JPEG file will begin with the hexadecimal signature 0xFFD8FF. Data carving means that, in case of the loss of a JPEG file, the user would have to find it in the file system logs by searching for files that begin with that hexadecimal string.

However, it is not always the case that files identified with these signatures are JPEG files. Also, it will take a long time to look for a particular file in the whole system.

Defragmentation can often completely erase files which could otherwise be recovered. The sectors containing the deleted files are reused and thus the data is lost. There is no way to recover erased data after defragmentation.

The most excellent method for data recovery during data losses is to keep copies of all important files using backup hardware or software. When you consider it, you will realize that backing up your files is the best solution for every kind of data loss. It can deal with malfunctioning and failed hard drives, software as well as human error and deleted files. In addition, defragmentation is no longer a data loss risk, because the files are properly backed up on different hardware, such as the computer’s hard drive.

These methods can be done at home by any user. Although damage to the hard drive from fire or flood may need professional help, the more minor errors can be given home solutions.

Tips on data recovery – How to survive a hard drive crash

If your computer is the most important gadget that you have, you probably treat it with extra care. You could be using it to save work, pictures, music, and a whole lot of other things. You probably think it is built to last, but it doesn’t last a lifetime. You would be lucky if you get t to work for more than three years without needing to do some hardware overhaul. You could do the usual things to keep it running at its peak, like conduct disk scans, run diagnostic checks and update anti-virus software, but like Murphy law predicts; there is only so much you can do to prevent disaster. Most people are advised to back-up all their work to make sure that data recovery is easier should something go wrong. However, people are not fastidious about backing-up their work, so if something were to ever happen to damage the hard drive, they would be gutted and would panic about hard drive recovery.

Hard drives have been known to die at the most inopportune time, and when they do, you might think you’ve lost everything. This is not entirely true. What most people don’t know is that there are different ways that a hard drive can fail. Unless you are a technician who has some professional knowledge of computer hardware, do not attempt anything. Put away that screwdriver and find a data recovery professional.

If you can switch on your computer and your hard disk drive is recognized by the unit, then you know it’s not a hardware issue but a software problem or even a problem brought on by a virus that your anti-virus checker inadvertently missed. If it’s a virus, you simply have to find the corrupted file and clean it out of your system. Most of the time, hard drives become unreadable because you haven’t de-fragmented the driver program. The first thing that a technician will have to check is whether the problem is a hardware problem or a software issue. A mechanical failure results in strange sounds emanating from your system. Only a professional technician can help salvage the important data from your hard drive. It is also ideal to own a disk image software as this would help your technician when working.

Creating file backups can be tedious but as they say, “prevention is better that a cure”. This is why it is vital to own backup software on your computer. Don’t wait for disaster to strike before you even begin to think about implementing a sound backup plan. By taking simple preventive steps, like backing up files, could save you a lot of time and money. There are online storage services that you can use, like ftp sites, that allow you to create files on the internet up to which you can back your system. Therefore, if your hard drive crashes, you still have your work somewhere in cyberspace for you to access when you need it.

Data Recovery Software for Fat Review

Data recovery software for FAT will help you recover your inaccessible or lost/formatted emails, videos, documents, pictures and more from the FAT file system based computers. FAT stands for File Allocation Table and is a file system that is now used on computer systems and digital camera memory cards. You can find this type of file system on memory cards, digital cameras, floppy disks and many other devices that are portable. This is because they are simple to use and are supported by all of the existing operating systems for personal computers.

This type of file recovery software supports both external and internal hard drives and is compatible with most Windows operating systems. This recovery software also includes free utilities such as:

• Drive cloning which is a utility that will create a replica of the hard drive.

• Raw recovery which means that it can recover files from a hard drive that has been severely damaged.

• Drive imaging which means that it can create an image of the hard drive.

• Drive station which means it can scan, in the background, the hard drive in order to show SMART attributes.

Data recovery software for FAT has four tabs or sections which include the Resume Recovery tab, Data Recovery tab, Recovery Services tab and the Advance Options tab. When you use this software there are three simple steps that you use to recover any deleted or loss data. These three steps are:

1. The first step is to select the type of recovery you want to do from the four recovery options (tabs).

2. The second step is that you need to scan the storage media from where you lost the data and once you have finished scanning you will get to see the deleted files in a three pane structure.

3. The third and most important step is that you make sure that you save the recovered data to a specific location.

This is a very easy do it yourself file recovery software which is capable of recovering your lost data or files that have been lost due to any number of reasons, including a software or system malfunction, file system damage, cross linked files and more. For complete data protection, Data Recovery Software for FAT is the best on the market with its easy to use recovery system and is the only one that you should use.

Removing Drm from Itunes by the Use of Tune Clone

The entertainment industry of today has grown this big and this successful owing to the fact that they managed to ensure to get all the appropriate revenue from all of their products, such as movies, music, video games and so on. DRM, also known as digital rights management, is one of the ways in which the entertainment industry is protecting the copyrights of their digital media, which has become the most important aspect of the modern entertainment industry. This can be easily explained with Apple ITunes, which are protected by DRM. What this means is that if you buy Apple ITunes, these music files are limited in a way that prevents them from being played on a limitless number of different computers.

Now, even though many people are afraid that data restore programs, system deployment and removing DRM from ITunes is a very difficult task and that it cannot be done unless you are a professional, the fact is that all of these tasks have today become very easy to perform. The reason for this is the fact that people who use their computers on a daily basis have had to learn how to perform all of these tasks in order to save their own time and money.

One of the best ways is to use the virtual CD to remove DRM from ITunes; and this is best done when using a program called Tune Clone. Basically, this program will enable you to listen to Apple ITunes on a limitless number of different computers without any restrictions. It has to be mentioned that using the program called Tune Clone is not the only way of removing DRM from Apple ITunes, but it is probably the most efficient and the most popular way of doing this, not to mention that it is by far the easiest way to perform this task.

In order to remove DRM from ITunes by the use of Tune Clone, you will first have to get the program, which can be done by downloading it. After you have done this, you will need to run ITunes and create a playlist you want to “set free” of DRM protection. This playlist is then burned to a CD with the help of Tune Clones, which will later enable you to play this new CD with your ITunes without DRM wherever you want and enjoy the music you like without any limitations or restrictions.

Ideas on Using Backup Software

There are occasions that usually do force us to embark on some particular strategies especially in the case where we would be using some electronics to store data. These electronics include computers, discs and any other devices used for data storage. It is a known factor that most computer users already do understand the meaning of the words system restore point. System restore point is a function within most computers’ Operating systems that usually enable the user to restore the computer to a known settings before any program that may have caused instability or a virus infestation that could be resolved by restoring the device back to a known date or time.

What happens during a hard drive recovery is ideally the same thing as restoring a system back to a known period of time. The only difference between the two is that one uses the operating system while the other uses the computer hardware system. In order to perform a successful back up, there are some requirements that usually come in handy. First we need to understand that most important tool during this process is a backup software also called a disk imaging software.

The uses of this software are diverse and in order to clearly succeed in the process, we need to contact someone who knows how. This person might possess particular skills like IT, which could conform to his wishes. Either way, it has been proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that this software sometimes come with manuals in soft or hard copy depending on the software on which one makes a purchase. These manuals direct the user on the necessary process required in order to back up data from the system, however if someone does not completely possess any past knowledge in IT, it is then usually recommended that he or she contact an individual with similar knowledge

The backup software as the name suggest should be used with caution, first it is important for one to understand that the back up software is usually used primarily to restore data. Unlike others, the system restore point software brings back what was considered lost where as system restore point can only restore data involving previous settings of a computer before a new installation has taken place. Lost work can be retrieved from computers, hard drives, flash disks and even crashed servers.

The Best Backup Solutions

In the age of modern technology, your data is the most relevant thing for you. That is why in your computer, the item that is most cared for but sadly is the most fragile too, is your hard disk. Around ten years ago, hard disk technology was not reliable enough and users could not save their data. The reason was that there were no flash drives, at least not of higher space and the CDs and DVDs were not rewritable.

You could lose your data for any reason. It could be because of abrupt shutdowns, power failures or any voltage flickering. The hard disks were not even safe from the viruses that would make the hard disks crash. There are similar reasons that could cause a hard disk to crash. Today, there is loads of quite heavy software which could cause a meltdown in the hard disk.

Luckily, there are a few methods of protecting your data now being introduced into the market. There are many companies that are looking for various backup solutions. These companies have terabytes of data transmissions all throughout the day. The backup solutions not only allow these companies to save critical data separately, they can also protect it from intrusions or viruses.

There are different kinds of backup solutions available on the market. Of them, two are very famous. One is hardware in nature and the other one is software. In the software method, the process of hard disk recovery is used, where the data lost is recovered by accessing the points of the hard disk where all the data is dumped. The recovery process is quite swift and easy as well. There is a wide range of data recovery software which allows companies to recover the data within minutes. These service providers have state of the art software for that purpose and are quite reliable too. Furthermore, there are companies that could provide you with a number of virtual drives on their server that are password protected and can only be used by the company.

The hard method involves hard drives to keep recording the data and the company could keep storing it. This is only feasible for companies that require sound recording or data analysis on the acquired data, which means that it is quite expensive. This is why the virtual drive and the recovery methods are the most profoundly used.

Laptop Backup Solution For Organizations

While working in your office you might face a hard disk crash or corruption. This causes a huge loss of critical data. Thus there are many companies which opt to backup all the data on which their clients are working. This prevents any such mishaps and allows a faster and more effective work environment.

There are many companies which have created particular software that could be used by a server. The software could create a whole backup of a laptop or a PC on a server. The software not only creates the backup of the drives or the data in question, but it backs up the whole operating software and the associated software so that when a crash or corruption occurs, there is no time wasted on reinstalling the operating system and the other software with it.

Many people consider this as data recovery software. However, this is not the case. They are quite a few steps ahead of the recovery software. Such software is considered to be some of the best backup solutions. The software is installed on the server and the server creates an instance of all the laptops connected to it. The instance is not just an image of a profile of the laptop; it actually copies all the data on the laptop using LAN or WAN.

The data is duplicated at quite a fast speed and it is up to the users to keep the data on LAN, which is pretty much protected; or the high speed WAN. The disadvantage with WAN is that it is not protected like WAN. The server stores all the data on the virtual drive and one can access within the server to recover the lost or corrupted data. The backups created are usually accessible anywhere and at any time, as it is a choice of the user. Multiple predetermined access points can also be created which are given the names of stations.

There are multiple advantages of using such systems. The first advantage is obviously the security of the data. The second is the speed of the data duplication, as the medium used is the internet which allows unlimited and constant data transmission. Next is the time, as this whole process of data copying and recovering is very fast. A laptop could be up and running within hours of the failure. The software is the perfect solution for big companies and organization, as they could monitor all of their computers and the data being stored from a centralised location.

Data Recovery Software For USB Drive

Whenever one gets caught up in a particular situation, especially in the case where he or she has lost a massive amount of data due to a universal serial USB failure, then concern should disappear as data recovery software for universal serial USB is actually available.

A USB is an electronic digital storage device used by many people because of its portability. It is actually the size of a pen and thus many people prefer using it. Although CDs could be used to back up data, they usually suffer from getting scratched and thus are not a favorite when it comes to storing important data. Other reasons that make people choose flash drives or USBs rather than CDs include data recovery.

It is necessary to understand where a USB device could be connected. USB devices range from external hard drives, flash disks, card readers to modems. It is easier to recover lost data through a USB device rather than a CD. CDs suffer from cyclic redundancy and thus the lens becomes unable to read the lost data as if it is scratched, that area is usually treated as a blank.

By overcoming situations that lead people to purchase CDs or USBs, owning a flash disk has proved to be better than owning a CD, although each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The backup solutions will be dictated by the processes both inputs use to recover the lost data.

Work in DVDs or CDs makes it very hard to determine whether it’s actually in a soft copy or a hard copy. In order to bring the particular understanding back to its rightful position, we need to understand that both drives are examples of virtual drive, but the mitigating difference is, of course, with the formats. The CDs have their own unique formats while the USBs also have their own unique formats.

The reason why people go looking for data recovery for USB drives is because they have a continued fear that they might undergo accidental file deletion or formatting the media and fear thus the resulting outcome. Other problems that amount to this may include a crashed drive, improper device handling or unexpected system shutdown.

The software features are several but the most important feature of all is to be able to ensure that the formatted or lost data is retrieved and can be resaved in other formats, depending on the wishes of the user.

The Importance of Data Migration

The technological advances in the computer industry have allowed most companies to run their businesses much better. Most employees make use of a computer to be able to input all the necessary details needed by the company. Through these devices, data entry has been done in a faster way and at the same time, files are managed properly through a database system with the use of a database server. This server stores and keeps all the files and at the same time it ensures that these files are secured and can be retrieved for future use.

Data migration is the process of transferring data from one file system to another. This is basically a key component for every database. Without this process, transferring of data would be much harder and complicated at the same time. This process makes an exact replica of the original file so that it will be easier to transfer them and input them into the new system.

There are reasons why this process needs to take place:
A database needs to undergo maintenance from time to time so this process is needed so that data transferring is done in a much easier way. This is usually done by IT Personnel and they ensure that everything will run smoothly. Through a series of commands, data transfer can begin.
Another reason could be is that there is a software application upgrade.

Most companies need to update their system to be able to keep up with the newest versions that are being launched in the market today. Upgrades are necessary to be able to make the computer run faster and so migration is important.

Some companies change their database system, so this process is important in order to make the transition in a much faster way. Since most companies have large files to transfer, the use of migration is needed with the help of server back-up software.

Through migration, data is retained through data recovery. This process allows the user to apply the old and the new system as well without encountering any problems. Since computer applications are always changing, the use of migration can meet the demands of the businesses within the given time frame and can adapt for future demands also. Because of this process, it allows the end-user to make the necessary improvements in the database and maximize its full potential. Plan, migrate and validate are the three key ingredients that you need to make a successful migration of files.

Data Recovery Software For Camera

Life is full of surprises and so is in the world of technology. There are occasions when people working in the media all undergo various challenges that may account for losing newsworthy stories. For example, if there was a very newsworthy story and audio, but it appears to be somewhat damaged, then they usually forward the recording to audio forensics to see what they can pull out of that recording. This is the same with digital photography.

Data recovery for a camera comes as the savior to a situation that seems to be continuously affecting many people. It is very easy to lose data, it doesn’t rely on individuals, credibility or credentials. When it comes to accidents, we can all cross the line and insist on the fact that no man is an island. Either way, data recovery software is not actually the most important thing, but is actually the first. Being able to retrieve information that you probably thought you had lost is what spearheads the understanding of this factor.

Backup solutions can be undertaken from many angles. There are the angles that depend on what the user needs the backing up for, or what exactly needs to be backed up. Like all other digital devices, digital cameras have the supporting features of USB inputs on a computer and thus being able to support the virtual drive which is used during the backing up process.

The way digital cameras function is more like a cell phone with a memory card, or cameras that use a PS2 cards as its recording media. There is the memory stick in digital cameras which is usually used to record and save pictures in many known formats. Because of this capability, the memory stick can be ejected and placed in another media which can then be used to read the data. if the camera is unable to do so.

If the digital camera however has a built in memory, this means that recovery software will be needed to recover lost data within the camera. It is usual that when anything is mistakenly deleted from a digital device it is never completely gone, but rather lost between two dimensions. If it was within the normal world, then we could use the words ‘no man’s land’ to bring proper attention. Camera related recovery software needs to be used to forcefully bring it back to the virtual world.

Server Backup Software: A Prime Solution to Data Loss

Backup software is software principally designed to automate the routine procedure of making copies of data so that it can be restored or retrieved to its original form when data loss occurs. Server backup software is specifically intended for backing up a server or the main computer machine that provides specific programs, services and data to other computers connected to it. These are called clients.  Thus, backups are important in the server because in case of data loss or corruption of the server, all clients connected to it will be negatively affected causing a whole systems failure. 

The automation of backing up data is hence, extremely helpful for people and organizations that are too preoccupied with their primary functions and operations that they often neglect the need to back their files or data.  Backup software essentially has two primary functions:  data recovery due to losses caused by deletion or corruption (i.e. viral infection); and recovery in compliance to data retention requirements as provided by company policy or as mandated by law.  Because it provides protection from data loss, backup software systems are deemed to constitute the disaster recovery program of organizations. 

A typical back up software provides a range of settings including: configuring the location where the files will be copied, setting the timing and frequency of creating backups; and selecting specific files to be backed up or providing a full backup of all operations conducted in the computer.

More sophisticated software further provides the option of providing back up data in an offsite location such as an external hard disk or other data storage devices. Still, some other software provide online backups wherein data migration is done to a protected offsite server and permits users to access said back up data online via the internet.  This software is especially valuable for people with numerous offices, as the software can synchronize all clients in real time to create the latest version of the data that is accessible online to any client computer of any branch of a company.

Aside from backing up ordinary data, some backup software has features providing backups for web data as well as software programs installed in the server including the operating system. In case of the later, the backup software generates a recovery disc which users or technicians can use to restore, repair or recondition the corrupted or damaged software program.  Having backup software is fervently suggested in any computer system because data losses can be awfully damaging to the operations of a company.

Advantages Of Using A Virtual Drive

Today, the world of virtualization is expanding. It has allowed people to create multiple PCs on a single PC. However, if you need to backup your files or data in order to protect them from different virus attacks, or simply to make a library for future use, the virtual drive is the best solution for you.

There are many ways to protect your data. Today, there is a wide market of backup solutions. You can opt to use a complete software set that could save your data as it is and wherever it is, if you are looking to store files in any place rather than a memory stick. If you are tired of using data recovery software, then it is better to switch to virtual drives. There are numerous advantages of getting a virtual drive.

It is a better option to have storage online. The first advantage of a virtual drive is the protection of the data. The virtual drive has a fixed location that can only be accessed using a user ID or password. This way you can authenticate the use of the drive yourself. Furthermore, as these drives are virtual, they cannot be attacked by viruses. This doubles the protection of your data as well as your computer, as there is no dealing between the real hard drive and the data.

The next advantage is the speed of the work. Virtual drives are a 100 times faster. As they are not real, there is no physical reading or writing of the data. Everything is related to data packets on the internet or images through a location. This also increases the life of your physical hard drive, as the drive does not go from the process of reading to writing all the time. Furthermore, you can make your own libraries of your documents or data files. This allows easy access to your files, all in one place and organised. With the virtual drives, you can access more than one drive at a time, allowing you to search faster than usual.

You also get a financial advantage, as you don’t need to buy any sort of memory drives to store you data. Usually, online storage is free of charge. However, to get a higher size like 16GB or 32GB of space, you have to pay. The price you pay is still very cheap in comparison to the price of a flash drive. There are many similar advantages that are attracting lots of people to opt for virtual drives, rather than physical drives.