Data Recovery

Data recovery becomes necessary when your hard drive
memory card or USB flash card fail
and you have no backup available. This article gives an idea on the necessary steps and precautions during the data recovery process.

Before attempting the recovery
you must be aware that the data cannot always be retrieved. In case of a physical failure of a hard disk such as the infamous "click of death" situation
you won't be able to do much good to the hard drive except bring it to the recovery experts. Modern hard drives
however
are complex yet reliable pieces of electronics. They rarely fail for no reason
at least on a physical level.

Logical corruption prevails with the complex operating systems
buggy software
malicious or careless acts of the end-users
malware and viruses. Power failures and computer hardware malfunctions also account for many cases of corrupted hard drives and lost data.

The logical corruption can be dealt with at home. Provided that you have the right data recovery tools
you'll be able to do it yourself without any special skills.

Be aware that the data recovery process is a lengthy one. You'll need plenty of time and enough space on a working
non-corrupted hard disk to facilitate the recovery. Before you begin
make sure that you restrict any write operations onto the damaged disk. If you don't have data recovery already installed on your computer
don't save or install the data recovery product onto the corrupted drive. Instead
use a different drive letter
a flash memory card or a USB drive. Even a flash card from your digital camera can be able to store the data recovery tool!

The choice of a proper data recovery tool is a very important one. If you have no previous experience in recovering data
choose one that offers maximum level of automation for an inexperienced uses. It's a good idea to make sure that the tool you pick allows saving a copy of the damaged disk onto a healthy one in order to work on a backup copy instead of operating the live disk. Mareew Data Recovery by http://mareew.com is a good choice for the inexperienced user.

Further data recovery steps depend on the data recovery software that you choose for the job. If you settle with Mareew Data Recovery
there's not much to talk about. Mareew Data Recovery can optionally create a backup copy of the damaged disk (I highly recommend that you do so)
and performs all recovery operations on the copy instead of the original. If something goes wrong
you still have the source hard disk in its original condition; just make another copy and try again.

The data recovery process is pretty straightforward with Mareew Data Recovery. You get a step-by-step wizard that guides you through the recovery process. Even if you don't read the prompts except the choice of the damaged disk if you have more than one in your system
and simply click the 'Next' button several times
you will be able to recover the damaged disk!

Mareew Data Recovery is able to fix the most complex issues with modern hard disks. Corrupted file systems
bad partition tables
FAT or NTFS failures are not a problem. Most importantly
Mareew Data Recovery values your data more than the integrity of the system structures. You'll have a chance to save your documents
digital pictures and archives from the damaged drive before attempting the recovery. All in all
a highly recommended tool.

Try it free at http://mareew.com/data_recovery/data_recovery.php

Today's computers are much more reliable in general than the older generations. Modern hard drives fail less frequently
and they warn you well in advance about upcoming failures with the recently adopted SMART monitoring.

Modern hard disks have greater storage capacities than their predecessors. Retaining the same physical size
they feature a much higher storage density
allowing storing more files on the same space of their surface. And hence the big problem: if your hard drive fails
you have a lot to lose. Much more than you would just a few years ago
with much less chances to get your data back without precision tools and clean labs.

While there's little you can do about a physically damaged hard drive except send it to a dedicated data recovery service
there's still hope if hard drive failure didn't cause it to stop spinning. Even if your disk is not accessible from Windows you can still access it with dedicated data recovery tools such as The Undelete NTFS Partition Recovery http://the-undelete.com/ntfs_partition_recovery.php or other FAT and NTFS partition recovery tools such as http://www.softinstitute.com/partition-recovery.html

These tools used by non-professionals can often recover damaged partitions and restore the hard drive to its original condition. Is it safe to use the same drive after it failed once? Maybe
depending on the reason of the failure. If data corruption occurred because of a system crash or a power failure
your hard drive is probably unaffected and should be used without a trouble. If a badly written application caused system instability and data corruption
it's not your drive's fault
and you should not be concerned about its reliability.

If
however
the instability was caused by the hard drive failure
exercise extreme caution. Have a look at the drive's SMART logs accessible from Windows Administrative Tools
save your data onto another disk and replace the faulty one. And remember
even if your hard drive is completely inaccessible
you still have a strong chance of getting your data back with data recovery tools from http://the-undelete.com/

According to most people
there are two types of hard drives: those that have failed and those that will fail. But for folks who use Data Recovery Services
there is a third type of hard drive: one that does not fail.

A hard drive is the most vulnerable part of a computer; it has moving gears and is hence prone to wear and tear. So when you need hard disk data recovery
you must deeply consider the service and practice of the various repair companies in your area. A company that has been around the block more than a few times is ideal.

But more importantly
experts that ask questions and appreciate your situation are a necessity; companies that approach your needs in an impersonal way simply cannot diagnose your computer problems properly. For example
an expert who is on hand to ask specific questions about your hard disk will know whether or not to go about repair with mere software or through more professional means.

There are a variety of problems that lead to hard drive failure. If the hard drive is part of a mirror set
mirrored stripe set
or stripe set with uniformity
then all you will need to do is replace the drive – any lost data will mechanically regenerate.

A local service company can handle all your concerns though. Fixing a hard drive yourself is a tedious process
requiring lots of time and even research. Your next-door neighbor might be a computer geek
but that doesn’t mean his or her advice is remotely accurate. After all
a computer can fail for many different reasons and they are not always easy to pinpoint.

The ideal solution is usually to replace a failed drive and re-establish your backup. This does not always work though
as many people find the necessary backup is outdated or sometimes
non-existent.

If a hard drive is beyond repair
data recovery is obviously not an option. So prepare for unexpected charges; you might have to buy a whole new drive. In this case
just be careful when replacing it
as you don’t want to lose your data.

Your computer’s data is at risk. Whether you use a Mac or a PC
viruses
power surges
hackers
human error
natural disasters
hardware failures
and more are real everyday threats. To keep your data safe and sound
you will first need to back up your files on a regular basis. Secondly
when hard drive failure does occur
data recovery is the only solution.

Of course it is ideal to back up data and avoid the complicated process that is data recovery altogether
but even when you take the necessary steps to prepare for hard drive damage
you might run into problems.

Here are some procedures to follow if you experience trouble.

If a program is not functioning well on your computer
turn the computer off! This may seem a simple task
but shutting down a computer at the moment you notice your hard drive to be working overtime – perhaps you hear unusual sounds (like “cleaning”) – can prevent damage to the disk and data loss. If you let a failed hard drive run
it will eventually self-destruct. Damage to your disk is inevitable in this scenario.

If this is the case
unless you know exactly what you’re doing
don’t fix your computer yourself. Professional expertise is not a luxury in this situation – it is a must. Data recovery is a difficult and sensitive process requiring special tools and a clean environment. Not only will it be tremendously challenging to repair a hard drive on your own
but you might actually make matters worse and ensure irreversible data loss.

There is “do-it-yourself” data recovery software
but be cautious of things like this. With most computer problems of this nature
at-home instructions can be more dangerous than useful. Even if a company boasts that its products and instructions will handle your vulnerable data properly
it is important to be a skeptical consumer.

A local service provider is the average solution. Repair can happen on your own premises and you can be assured that your computer is in good hands. However
there is always the possibility that your hard drive is beyond repair – even for expert technicians – so be prepared to buy a new hard drive altogether; data recovery may not be an option any more.

Let's get to the important part first - if you've just lost your data
skip past this introduction and go directly to our first tip
so you can start your rescue operation. If not
a few minutes spent now might help you a lot in the future. Pay special attention to our third tip.

I always thought of myself as a reliable guy with reliable data. I never deleted my files accidentally
I made regular backups and had a power supply for my computer to protect me against surges and outages. However last year I experienced two cases of data loss where I needed to use recovery software. The first was a dead hard drive that'd hardly served a year. Subsequently
I accidentally deleted a large project file that was too big for the Recycle Bin. Happily I've got all my data back
thanks to good advice and a little preparation.

These handy tips will help you stay confident in the face of data loss
no matter how it occurs.

Tip #1: Use your system as little as possible until you recover all of your lost files. The more activity taking place on your hard disk
the greater the chance that some of your lost data might be written over.

- Don't copy any files to the disk containing your lost data;
- Avoid browsing the web
because your web browser saves cache files on the disk;
- Don't launch any unnecessary programs
because they can also use your disk;
- Don't restart your computer.

Tip #2: Before you go further
take steps to free up some space on the disk containing your lost files. The more free space your system has
the less chance of overwriting any lost files with new ones. You can do one or more of the following things.

- Delete old files that you don't need anymore (you can also move them to another source
like a USB flash drive
instead of deleting);
- Empty your Recycle Bin - making sure that you haven't put any important files in there by mistake;
- Empty your browser cache. For Internet Explorer
click on the "Tools" menu
then select "Internet Options". Then
on the "General" tab
click the "Delete Files..." button.

Tip #3: To install any software after data damage increases the risk of your data being overwritten
so if you haven't had any data problems yet
consider installing a data recovery program just in case. Prevention is always better than cure
and a recovery program is good insurance for your data. However
if you don't yet have a recovery program
find one and - if possible - avoid installing it to the disk where your lost files are located.

Most recovery programs work fairly similarly. You need to select the disk where the lost files are located
let the program analyze the content of the disk - this can take a while - and then select the file you want to recover. Then
provide a location where you want to save that file. You should try to avoid recovering files to the same disk. You could use another hard drive
a network or removable media like a floppy disk or USB flash drive.

After you recover your files
check that they are correct. If you've recovered applications
check that they still run
or if you've recovered documents
check that your words are still there. Even the best recovery software can't guarantee 100% results. If some parts of your files were overwritten - meaning that other data was saved to their location on your disk - after recovery they might contain invalid information. Depending on the type of file involved
partially recovered files like this can be mended by special utilities.

Data recovery or Datenrettung is the process by which the data is recovered from damaged or inaccessible storage media. Data recovery is done from storage media like CDดs
DVDดs
Floppies
Hard disks
Magnetic tapes etc. There are two reasons due to which the data becomes inaccessible. They are logical damage and physical damage to the storage media.

Physical damage to storage media can occur in many ways. Magnetic tapes can break
get crumpled or dirt may settle on the tapes. CDดs and DVDดs can have scratches or the metallic layer may get damaged. Magnetic heads in hard disks can crash or motors may fail. The floppy is notorious for failing frequently due to bending
overheating
cold
dust etc.

There are other reasons like fires
electrical surges etc that can cause data to become inaccessible or lost. There are many methods by which data can be recovered from magnetic media or optical media. The methods most commonly used are Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM)
Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM)
Magnetic Force Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) etc.

In these methods a sharp magnetic tip is placed closed to the surface to be analyzed. It interacts with the stray magnetic field. An image of the data is generated and then repairs are carried out on logical damage and thus the data is recovered. Many companies carry out data recovery.

Logical damage is the damage to the file system. It is not physical but a software problem and also tells us that we need to be cautious and have a quality system for data recovery
datenrettung. It generally occurs due to power cuts
system crashes etc preventing file system structures from being written resulting in file system being left in an inconsistent state.

Logical damage is more common than physical damage. This may cause strange behavior like infinitely recurring file directories
loss of data
system crashes
hard disks reporting negative space etc. The end result is that the operating system cannot mount the file system.

Most operating systems come with repair facilities like
Linux has fcsk utility
Mac has disk utility and Windows has chkdisk facility. There are other specialized programs available which have better repair facilities than the operating systems.

There are also other systems called journaling file systems like NTFS
EFS (used in Windows XP)
ext3 and xfs which can be reverted back to their earlier consistent state. These file systems reduce the amount of data loss.

Data back up is the best way to prevent loss of data and itดs the most common system for data recovery
datenrettung. The simplest method is to keep data on drives on which the operating system is not loaded. The other method is to write data on magnetic tapes
CD’s or DVDดs or have online backup.

Backups are very important for databases. Data backup is of 3 types. Full backup means backing up all data. Incremental backup means backing up of only the files that have changed. Differential backup is a mixture of these two. There is another method called continuous data protection in which when data is written to a disk
it is also written to another computer in a network.

Most private persons with a computer do nothing in advance
they just use their computers. Too late
when an incident has happened they learn about data recovery or datenrettung.

Have you ever wondered if what you know about data recovery is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on data recovery.

Sooner or later your company could become the victim of a natural disaster
or something much more common like a lightning storm or downed power lines.

Just because your company may be a small business doesn't mean it's immune to data disasters. If a small business does not have a good and tested disaster recovery plan in place when disaster hits they may never fully recuperate and it may even cause them to go out of business. Sometimes even a data recovery service is unable to be of any help.

Following are some questions that should be answered in order to give you some idea of what you need to do to that will help you if you do have a data disaster situation.

Do you know where your company's most important data files are located?

Are these files being backed up and by what means?

How often do you run these data backups and are they verified and tested?

Do you have automated controls that correctly and on a consistent basis do the backups?

Do your data backup tapes go off-site and how often?

Do you have some kind of security against tampering or theft of your data backups?

Do you keep your servers
routers
hubs
and phone system controllers in locked areas to keep them more secure?

Does just anyone have access to your servers and your other technology assets or do you limit access to at least two
but no more than four people?

Do you run a locally securable operating system
such as Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows XP
or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4
on the company's desktop PCs and notebooks?

Do you have any confidential data stored locally on any desktop PCs or notebooks? Are any of these systems running an inherently in-secure operating system
such as Microsoft Windows 9x or Microsoft Windows Me?

Do you prevent unauthorized boot-ups or tampering with BIOS configuration settings by using power-on passwords?

On your desktop PCs and notebooks
how are main updates
service packs and releases kept current?

The bottom line is that you can't plan when a data disaster may strike but taking a few steps beforehand may help with your company's survival in the days and weeks following a disaster.

Booting issues
virus attacks
or corrupted file systems are very much present in any exchange or mail servers and can cause many of your archived email messages to apparently disappear. Companies which rely heavily on email communication and do not have back ups might find this a pervading problem. But data recovery designed specifically for email recovery can fix this problem.

Here are a few examples of data recovery steps in three of the most widely used email clients:

IncrediMail Email Data Recovery

• Select File | Data and Settings Transfer | Transfer from Old Computer... from the menu in IncrediMail email client.

• Click on the OK button.

• Click Open; then click OK.

• IncrediMail Email data recovery process will then start.

• Once done
a dialog box will appear
indicating that the data recovery process is finished. Click OK.

• IncrediMail will auto-restart to complete the data recovery process.

Outlook Email and Other Data Recovery

• Select File | Import and Export... from the Outlook menu.

• In the drop-down menu that appears
select Import from another program or file.

• Click Next.

• Run your mouse over the Personal Folder File (PST) to highlight it.

• Click the Next button again.

• Using the Browse button
select the backup copy of the PST file you want to recover from your backup location.

• On the dialog box
place a check mark on the box that says Replace duplicates with items imported to start the data recovery process.

• Click Next.

• Once the data recovery process is done
click Finish.

Outlook Express Email Data Recovery

• Select File | Import | Messages... from the Outlook Express menu.

• Choose the Outlook Express version that you have as the email program to import from.

• Click the Next button.

• From the dialog box
make sure that you again choose the right Outlook Express version.

• Click OK.

• Select the folder containing your back up copy of your Outlook Express mail store by using the Browse button.

• Click Next.

• Choose which folders to import and the data recovery process will start.

• Click Next; then Finish to finalize the data recovery process.

It is a fact that exchange and email servers are a vital aspect of any company. So to protect this fragile part of your company’s IT asset base
you need a splendid back up program and state-of-the-art data recovery system that has been tested and proven effective in its job.

The realization about the need to prepare for safeguarding crucial data on your hard disk may come a little too late when the computer or the hard disk has crashed. Data loss could mean
for a small business
going out of business unfortunately
sometimes permanently. Rebuilding years of data is out of question. It is pertinent to know the whys and hows of data loss in order to understand data recovery better.

Important Causes of Data Loss
What you hoped will not occur
perhaps because of no reason
could always hit you hardest unless you are safeguarded against them. Computer running slowly could be because of spyware scrupulously installed could be working behind screens to destroy or transmit data to their masters eventually causing hard disk to crash. Others like electric storms
power surges
mechanical failures
fires & floods and user errors (sometimes in disregard of warnings) could affect your computer without any or sufficient warning.

You could also loose data because of sudden but unintended deleting of files or programs. Accidental disk format
virus attack
partition loss are some more causes for data loss.

Data Protection
Data protection is the best policy than ruing over the loss. You can make use of trusted data backup software which automatically backup your data regularly
if you can’t do it yourself manually. Keeping backup of backups will safeguard you against the worst eventualities
too. Turn off your computer immediately as you hear strange noises like creaking run of hard disk. It is also wise to unplug power cords
modem and telephone cables when you are going out of home or office for a long time.

Data Recovery
The first thing you need to understand when dealing with data recovery is not loosing cool. Never act in haste and don’t attempt data recovery yourself unless you are an old hat at that. Call for professional help from your area and who you know.

Data recovery software does a neat job in most of the cases. There are quite a few reliable softwares available
no matter what platform your computer operates on. Data recovery softwares are available for Mac
Windows
Linux
and so on. Don’t attempt to use the software yourself out of gut feeling. If you must
check for user friendly personal packages.

An average company in US alone spends anywhere between $100
0
and $1 million in total for desktop-oriented disasters. This should more than emphasize the need for data safety and disk recovery.

How many times have you experienced that sickening feeling when your hard drive suddenly fails? How many times have you experienced that your hard disk just does not boot and all the data may be gone forever? A hard drive failure is one of the most common problems and worst nightmares faced by computer operators all over the world. Precious data is lost either at home or in big corporate environments. What can be done in these situations? Well
there are certain solutions that can be performed by you in order to revive your hard drive. We will talk about the solution later. First
let us discuss why a hard drive fails.

Whether the data on the hard drive can be recovered or not depends on the extent of the problem. A hard drive can be damaged due to firmware corruption
electronic failure
mechanical failure or a logical failure. Many times your hard drive may lose data due to the combination of the above mentioned factors. A hard drive may also develop bad sectors due to which the data on those sectors is lost or becomes unreadable.

Firmware refers to the information used by the computer to interact correctly with the hard drive. If the firmware fails or becomes corrupted
then important data on the hard drive is lost. In case of an electronic failure there maybe occur an electrical surge that can knock out the controller board on the hard drive and make it unusable. However data can be recovered by data recovery experts who use special data recovery software. Swapping the controller board with another one can prove to be dangerous as the information on the controller board is unique to the hard drive on which it is fitted. In comparison to electronic failure a mechanical failure can turn out to be worst as data recovery can almost become impossible. Mechanical failure includes head crash and also read/write head failure. Head crash can occur due to physical shock
power surges and movement of the computer. Next come the logical errors. Logical errors have nothing to do with the hardware part. Logical errors can occur due to corruption of the file system on the hard drive or improper entries in the file allocation table.

In case of hard drive failure it is vital to call the data recovery experts. In most cases
the information on the hard drive is important and you cannot bear to lose it. The experts enhance the possibilities of hard drive recovery in the case of failure of hard drive due to software malfunction
virus attacks and other reasons mentioned above. Data can be recovered on any type of operating system including all versions of Windows as well as Apple Macintosh
Novell
Linux
Unix and also on all types of file systems like FAT
FAT32
NTFS
NTFS5
HFS
HFS+
NWFS
EXT2 and EXT3. The experts may take the hard drive to their workshop in order to recover the lost data and then return it to you in a few days. Most of the data recovery experts have their own laboratories that are involved in testing the hard drives and repairing them.

Loss of data is the last thing that you as the customer would ever want. This is where the data recovery experts come into the picture. They cannot extract only data from hard drives
but recover data also from tape drives
cds
dvds and other important storage media. You as the consumer can take up some preventive measures like backing up all your important data at least once a week. Windows has its own feature rich backup program. There are other backup software programs available in the market that can avert a possible disaster.

Besides the concern of recovering your data
another problem is the time it may take for an expert to help. This can be a slow and tedious process. I recommend having a second complete computer source such as a laptop (for portability) that you can continue your work. This way you are never completely down and you can share important data between the two.

ท Definition of Data Recovery

The salvaging of lost data or making available the previously damaged data stored on various damaged media such as hard disk drives
magnetic tapes
magnetic disks
zip disks
CD-Rom
flash cards and other storage media is known as Data recovery. For example the data of a file which has been deleted by some accident can be recovered again.

ท Data Recovery Service Providers

There are various Data Recovery Service Providers who are working for 24/7 in order to provide their customers with the best available data recovery services. These service providers have highly trained staff and they are continuously improving the process technology and their quality systems. These providers allow their customers to recover every important piece of data from all the popular file systems in case of accidental file deletion
malfunctioning of software
formatted hard drives
damaged or deleted partitions and erased or corrupted by a virus.

These data recovery service providers offer a complete range of solutions for the restoration of lost data. The different softwares used by these providers are compatible for all the Microsoft Windows Editions
Apple Macintosh
Sun Solaris
AIX
Linux and Unix operating system. They also provide data recovery from different file systems such as FAT
NTFS
HFS
HFS+
NWFS
EXT2 and EXT3 file systems. They prevent the various important data of our computer by different data safety and data security softwares from unwanted accessing of data
corruption
modification or deletion by another user or from various harmful programs such as viruses
spy ware
Trojan horses
etc.

ท Some common Software used in Data Recovery

There are different data safety and data recovery softwares for hard drive data recovery. Some common software used in Data recovery are mentioned bellow.

Data Recovery with Fire: The FIRE is a portable bootable cdrom based software which can provide an immediate environment to perform data recovery which includes different forensic analysis
virus scanning
incident response and vulnerability assessment.

Data Recovery with LDE: The LDE or the Linux Disc Editor was originally made to recover the deleted files in Linux. The simple curses interface of the LDE resembles very much to the old version of Norton Disk Editor for DOS.

NT Data Recovery: The NT Data Recovery software provides read access to the NTFS drives in the MS DOS environment. The functionality of this software includes support for files with long names and as well as compressed and fragmented files. The NTFS Reader for DOS allows the files to copy them from NTFS to FAT volumes in network drives.

Data Recovery with PC Inspector: The PC Inspector File Recovery software is compatible for NTFS and FAT file systems. It has the capability to recover files with the original date and time stamp and can also restore them to the network drive. They can also recover many lost files even when the header entry is not available. The software can find partitions automatically on FAT systems even if the boot area/sector has been damaged or erased. The PC Inspector File Recovery software offers a user friendly interface that scans the hard drives and automatically recovers the files from the deleted folders.

When it comes to hard disk recovery
the best method is to insure that you will never need it. Besides making frequent backups
the following measures will keep your system running smoothly.

Antivirus Protection

New viruses are invented every day
and system security is a concern for every business. Malicious software can damage your system to the point where it will not even boot up. The latest versions of Windows are the favorite targets of malicious programs such as spyware and viruses
and it is helpful to use 2 or more antivirus/anti-spyware programs to prevent destruction or theft of your data.

Spyware Scanner

The clues that spyware is on a computer include a barrage of pop-up ads
a hijacked browser
a sudden or even repeated change of your computer’s Internet home page
the appearance of a new toolbar or new screen icons
malfunctioning keys
random error messages
and most of all
sluggish computer performance. Any sytem with access to the internet is prone to this problem
but there is software to block spyware installation. In addition
make sure all employees using the office network do not download from unknown sites
and set your internet browser security at "Medium" or higher. Install individual firewalls to prevent uninvited users from accessing your network. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if spyware already on your computer is sending information out. Purchase an anti-spyware program from a vendor you know and trust. Set it to read on a regular basis
at least weekly and if possible each time you run your computer. Delete any programs the anti-spyware program detects on your computer.

Computer Maintenance

The best way to avoid having to use file recovery software is to be sure that no corrupt data is stored on your computer. Companies like Norton sell disk optimization programs keep your network running at top speed
correct problem files and maximize the available space on your hard disk. Run disk optimization and anti-virus programs at least once a week.

Hard Disk Recovery

There are disk recovery applications specifically geared to recovering files of a certain format
like graphics files as opposed to word document files
and there are general-purpose programs to hunt for any type of misplaced file regardless of the format. There is no program on the market that can guarantee recovery of every lost file
but you are able to increase your chances for recovery by selecting the appropriate program for the file you are trying to save.

Do-it-yourself programs are a lot less expensive than hiring a data retrieval company that specializes in information recovery
and to save money you should at least attempt to utilize of this type of program before calling a professional.

In addition to recovering deleted files
there exists information recovery programs that can restore files after you have formatted the drive
after a power failure
natural disaster
or even files damaged by a computer virus.

RAID

RAID is short for Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks
a category of disk drives that employ 2 or even several drives in combination to improve data storage fault tolerance and performance. RAID disk drives are frequently installed on servers but can also run on individual computers. Because of the duplication of data
it is possible to recover files from one or another disk when the need arises.

As you might expect
RAID disk repair is quite a complicated process. However it is one of the most foolproof methods of data storage because the RAID architecture strategically distributes information randomly across the array. However
this sort of architecture demands the services of a recovery professional.

S2s Ltd is a UK provider of network consulting and implementation services
that needed data protection to ensure business continuity
even in the event of a server breakdown.
s2s was previously using disk-to-tape to back up all the various systems the business was running on.
Backing up and recovering data was not only a very complicated and time-consuming process
it was also very unreliable. When retrieving data
from the tapes
once they had been delivered back to s2s
a lot of the data from the tapes was irretrievable.
SecurStore’s online solution automatically transfers data offsite in real-time
eliminating the risk of having backups located onsite in case of a disaster or loss of data during transportation to an offsite location. Data is transmitted and stored offsite in a state of the art data centre on a reliable disk subsystem
which is in turn duplicated and backed up onto a second disk sub-system located apart from the primary disk sub-system.
Due to the nature of the business
s2s runs on a variety of operating systems. Most of its servers are Linux-based and some of them are Mac-based

because many s2s employees use Apple Macintosh machines. It also has the obligatory Windows applications and operates with a SAN architecture. SecurStore also needed to take into account the fact that most of the s2s servers are virtualised and that s2s already had a NAS (network-attached storage) system in place.
The backup service uses many defense mechanisms
such as strong
authentication
data encryption
password protection and client and
system side log legitimate users at s2s to perform a data recovery
when needed.
SecurStore backs up the critical data of s2s (120GB) online on a continual basis
so that from the moment a server goes down
all the data can
be quickly retrieved online. The remaining less critical 80GB of data is either backed up to SecurStore’s Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) offline service
or backed up by the outsourced provider.

SecurStore is suitable for businesses that need to protect data from a few gigabytes to terabytes. The service ensures that any data held on PCs
Macintosh computers
file servers and application/database servers is securely backed up. SecurStore supports many platforms including Windows
NT/2000/2003/XP along with AS-400 iSeries
Unix and Linux. SecurStore can also protect a wide range of databases including Oracle
SQL
Exchange
Lotus Notes and DB2.

Data can be restored immediately to either the original server or an alternate server. Restores can also be redirected to an alternate physical location if the original office is no longer available. The server disaster recovery solution lies in having devices and technologies available which allow us to restart the vital information systems in a shorter time period than the estimated critical. These mechanisms
and all the associated plans of actions
are known as data disaster recovery.

Why should I have a data back up and recovery system!
By not having a data center disaster recovery plan
you are quite simply
putting your business at risk; don’t take chance with your vital data. Would you leave any other aspect of your business to chance? Not really. Always be prepared for a natural calamity or any disaster
don’t leave any if’s and but’s
leave no stone unturned when it comes to backing up your important data.

Care should be taken while selecting a data disaster recovery services. The reason being your computer backup systems are the core piece of every data center disaster recovery plan. That is why your computer backup system must posses the ability to accommodate online computer backups for the most efficient protection.

Have a back up of your important programs
files
and applications as your priority. For the best protection it is imperative that your computer is backed up. Back up your data to an online server. What will your software systems do to automatically and quickly get your users back online? Data disaster recovery plays its vital role here.

How do I find the best data recovery services?
You can begin the work of finding the best data recovery expert by asking people around. Check with your colleagues to find who their data recovery services provider is. If you have already short-listed some experts
the next step is to check their experience in the field. Prefer to choose a service provider who has a minimum five years experience in the line. Also
find out his record of accomplishment for performance.

Always identify the risks to critical business information that may not be addressed by current disaster recovery plans; Optimize the value of the current backup and recovery infrastructure. New or improved processes to enhance overall disaster recovery capability are advisable. Resort to a reliable online Data Disaster Recovery. Bank on cost-effective remote backup and data disaster recovery solutions.

What is a data centre?

Data centre is the room where the servers are stored. Others visualize quite a different picture. It is true that at one time
the data centre was little more than a secure server room. However with technological advances and data centric businesses of today the term could better be expressed as a "mission critical data centre". Business models have gone through a complete cycle from centralized data centres to decentralized and now back to centralized. Businesses realize that data is their strongest asset and as such are making strides to assure its availability
security and redundancy.

IT Solutions and Services has a pure service culture
nevertheless
applying the manufacturing discipline of uniting your technology
perfecting your processes and elevating your business performance. Comprising four service elements – servers
storage
mainframes and data center printing – Data Center Solutions uk form an integral part of the unique IT solution and Services. It combines continuous service improvement with adaptive business tracking to deliver dynamic outsourcing that fits to your changing needs and generates progressive value. Evolving over four successive states – from responsive solutions and proactive management to enterprise performance and the global network of innovation – the solution brings you unbeatable flexibility and expandability.

We continue to drive our partnerships with innovation
leading the way in the utilization of new technologies and service-oriented architectures such as web services
grid computing
document management systems and virtualized back-up. Using powerful 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics modelling software
Professional Services create a virtual model of the existing facility
from the walls and floor to the racks and equipment in them. The software uses mathematical modelling to validate design assumptions and can assess the thermal and environmental impact of future equipment deployments within the facility prior to installation.

Data Centre Solutions uk!
The data centre concept has also grown into its own business model. Companies that provide redundant and offsite storage for other companies are building state of the art facilities on a global scale. At the heart of these facilities is the IT infrastructure. This paper will address infrastructures and components of a data centre. Whether a company implements all or part of these components
one core element will always remain
that is the cabling system infrastructure. This planning guide is designed to provide you with a basic roadmap for your data centre.

Data centre colocations help gain direct access to the most reliable
widely deployed networks in the world. Data centre team of professionals offers you fully managed support services including OS installation and configuration to something as simple as a server reboot. Try out the online route to avail of data solutions and recovery.

Complete control over your web hosting provision!

Each data center has full power backup in case of an outage. Generators
in combination with UPS systems
guarantee maximum availability. Industry-leading Service Level Agreements (SLA) define the level of guaranteed availability
ranging from 99.9% to 99.999%. The configuration of the electrical connection for a client’s equipment depends on his specific requirements.

Data centre collocation industry offers comprehensive approach to information technology
enables businesses to focus on increasing revenue and profit
not managing technology. One can benefit from this experience and gain direct access to the most reliable
widely deployed networks in the world.

A client’s server will be in good hands with collocation services. Take benefit of such services from our years of experience and quality non stop support. Gain direct access to the most reliable
widely deployed networks in the world. Such data centre eliminates the need for expensive equipment such as generators and UPS's as these are all included in the standard service charge. For the highest availability colocation services you can compare online and choose the right place. Data centre team of professionals offers you fully managed support services including OS installation and configuration to something as simple as a server reboot. With a round the clock on site staff of highly trained engineers and support staff
client’s servers will be backed by the best in server collocation professional services.

Colocation services are available via some web hosts through the use of their private cages
or you can pay a data centre directly to have your server located in a cage which is run by the data centre itself. Other equipment such as networking equipment and storage equipment can also be colocated within server racks. Colocation hosting has many advantages above ordinary dedicated server hosting
such as the fact that most data centres provide a ‘remote hands’ service if your server needs a task doing such as an OS reinstall which can only be done from the console; also
the connectivity that your equipment receives will probably be better than that you would receive on a dedicated server
the reason being that your equipment is surrounded by your own equipment meaning that you don’t have any other customers around you that could be a burden on your connection speed.

Data Colocation network is wired in a redundant
meshed configuration for maximum uptime. In the event of a failure in any one device the redundant hot-spare takes over automatically within seconds. Not that our equipment is liable to failure in the first place
with redundant PSU's
processing engines and blades.
In practice
this means your own server is installed in a rack in one of the data collocation centre
taking advantage of our bandwidth and network resilience to connect to the Internet.

Get your confidential data secured with the help of fully automated back up. Such automated back ups can eliminate the need for traditional tape based back up solutions. Data is stored in remote mirrored locations for resilience. If the back-up is too large to transfer over the available bandwidth
a snapshot is created and saved to a physical device
which is then uploaded to the back-up platform.

Data back up and Recovery!

The backup process starts after the installation and registration of backup software on the user's system. The backup process automatically detects important data files that are located anywhere on your hard disk and creates a backup set. You can fine-tune your backup set by adding and deselecting files and folders.

Back ups are quick and efficient
even over a dial up connection!
After the file selection is made you can initiate the backup process at any time. The initial backup will be the most time consuming since you must transfer all of your files to the data center. Online backup process has features such as Send-Once technology and file compression to perform this transfer as efficiently as possible. Easy backup utility unlike the conventional back up makes your backup process quick and very easy to perform. The Backup Solution software can store multiple versions of each file backed up during the last three months. This backup restore utility allows you to quickly restore a prior version of a file if an accident occurs overwriting a file template without changing the name.

Our scheduled
unattended backup process assures that backup occurs regularly and with certainty. Our backup software is smart enough to tune the backup process
it can happen automatically on a schedule
can be initiated by the users
or can be configured to occur in the background whenever a traveling computer is connected to the Internet.

What happens in case of emergency?
If data from your computer
laptop
PDA or mobile phone is ever lost
stolen or corrupted
Data back up and recovery ensures that there is always a current copy available for immediate retrieval. All you have to do is simply select the data you want to restore
be it a single document
digital photos
music files or your entire hard drive
then select OK and watch a copy instantly return to your computer. It's that easy. Such data back up services automatically archives 30 previous copies of your data
so if you ever get a virus
you can go back in time and retrieve a clean copy that was made before the attack. Try online to find out how you can get your data recovered on time.

Secure your imperative information. Always have a data back up and recovery to your system. Reach out to Data Back up and Recovery Solution online. Trust the right source and make your start.

How vital is the data on your system?
How important is your data. This importance determines whether or not it needs to be backed up. As well as when and how it should be backed up. Have redundant backup sets that extend back for several backup periods
if your data is critical. For other less important data
you don’t need elaborate back up plan. By having your data backed up regularly
you can retrive it back at later point of time.

What’s the frequency of your change in data?
How often does your data need a back up. This determines the frequency of the back up. For instance
data that changes daily should be backed up daily.

What kind of information does the data comprise of?
Data that doesn't seem important to you may be very important to someone else. Thus
the type of information the data contains can help you determine if you need to back up the data—as well as when and how the data should be backed up.

How quickly should your data be recovered?
Get back your critical online data swiftly. Alter your back up plan based on the importance of your data. Time is an important factor in creating a backup plan. Strengthen your data recovery with the help of data back up and recovery solutions.

Do you need to store backups off-site?
In case of a natural calamity
storing copies of backup tapes off-site is imperative in order to recover your systems. Also
do not forget to include copies of the software
in your off-site storage location
as you may need to install to re-establish operational systems.

Do you have any equipment to perform backups?
You need to have back up hardware to perform all back ups. You may need several backup devices and several sets of backup media in order to perform timely back up. Backup hardware includes tape drives
optical drives
and removable disk drives. Generally
tape drives are less expensive but slower than other types of drives. Seek help from data back up and recovery solutions.

Which is your best time to schedule backups?
If you want to speed up your back up process
fix up your back up schedules when your system use is as low as possible. At times it becomes inevitable
and you would want to store your data during peak hours too. So have to plan your back up carefully in case of a key system data.

Data Backup and Recovery Solution can perform all your back up and timely recovery of your data in times of crisis. Bank on the best and reliable source.

Data backup is rarely a part of a home computer user’s or business IT administrator’s plans
we all say it will never happen to me or my company
but in reality we are just mentally preparing for the time we lose our data. Its like trying to stop smoking
we all know we should do it but will find every excuse not to. So be honest with yourself and ask yourself the question
do you have a backup plan for your data
or more importantly
do you have a restore plan which will protect your business should something go wrong? All business leaders and owners will now tell you that computers are way past being a useful part of our lives
but now they are an absolute necessity. We acknowledge the data which resides on our computer infrastructure is the most important asset of any organization. I ask again
what would happen if you lost your data and what are you doing to protect it?

The reasons for data loss are endless
human intervention
hardware failure
software failure
natural disaster
loss
theft
we can go on
but we can be sure of one thing
as time goes by the list will get longer and longer.
Ever had anything stolen or lost anything before?

I have been in the IT industry for some 25 years now
and as you can imagine
I have heard some bizarre stories of how computers and servers have been stolen. Laptops stolen from back seats of cars (data lost)
a colleague forgot he left his laptop on the roof of his car; problem is he realized when he was 160 miles down the road (lost data). My friend’s office was broken in twice in two nights
first time resulted in loss of desktop computers and totally trashed alarm system (some data loss)
and second night was to take the servers along with the backup device and media! Apparently the heavy stuff was stolen the second night as the thief’s had more time due to the alarm not being repaired quickly enough (total data loss and company ceased trading within 8 months). Save yourself money; prevent data loss in the first place by implementing a data backup plan.

Hardware Failure
If you have managed to never lose your laptop or have you whole IT infrastructure stolen then well done
so now let’s prepare ourselves for hardware failure. There are mainly only three mechanical parts within a laptop
computer or server; 1) hard drive
2
backup drive 3) CD or DVD. Hard drives do fail and if it has not happen yet it will. Don’t get me wrong
if you take a failed drive to an expert
they will probably get most of your data back (phew) but expect to pay in excess of ฃ5000 for the pleasure (not phew). Save yourself money; prevent data loss in the first place by implementing a data backup plan.

Fire or Disaster (natural or not).
I live in the UK
it’s a lovely place as we don’t have issues with forest fires
earth quakes
and hurricanes etc. so there will never be any large natural disaster which will wipe out the majority of a city. This is what I thought until the Bunsfield oil refinery blew up and flattened everything within a 3 mile radius. There are a million and one reasons and scenarios I can give you illustrating why you should backup your business data. We all know the practice of data backup is nothing more than good common sense. Mission critical or sensitive data you don't want or can not afford to lose should be secured. PROTECT YOUR DATA! If you honestly think you do not need to backup your data because you will never lose it
please stop reading this article now and go and do something less boring.

Let’s talk about the various ways of securing your data and other backup services. If you take the following on board you will be able to find the solution which will best suit you or your company.
Backup to CD solution.

To backup your file data to CD is easy
it may be time consuming to do this every night and you will have to be disciplined to put up to an hour aside to carry out this task every night. To backup data to a CD drive is not an automated process and we all know people get busy. Once you have backed your data to CD please always verify that the data is actually on the CD and then take it home with you. There is no point leaving it to be stolen or destroyed by fire along with your hardware.

Please do not us a CD to archive data (safe documents for a long time) as I would not expect this form of media to remain stable for more than 2 years.
Backing up to CD has many limitations but it is certainly better than not backing up your data at all.

RAID – Not backup but will protect your server disks.
All servers should be given every opportunity to stay alive
running a RAID configuration will help prevent data loss due to hard drive failure. If you have 3 drives running in a RAID 5 configuration
your server will tolerate a single drive failure. RAID will not protect you from fire
flood
theft or any other disaster waiting to happen
but does offer business continuity.
This solution doesn't usually protect you from theft as the extra hard drives for RAID storage are usually installed in your computer or in other equipment on site. It usually won't protect you from fire either so this method does have its limitations.

Secure Offsite Data Backup and Recovery via a third party organization.
Offsite Backup or Backing up via the Internet methods are usually associated with larger enterprise companies. In the past the high cost of high speed connectivity has been prohibitive to smaller companies.
This method of data backup is now become totally accepted and is gaining momentum around the globe. The main reason for such grown is because the price of high speed internet connections has greatly reduced
virtually every business and home is connected to the internet via a minimum 2MB pipe as a result it is now possible to backup high volumes of data to a secure offsite data centre.

For me
the best element of an offsite backup solution is not the high encryption security levels in place
the price or the purpose designed replicated infrastructure where your data is stored
but it is the fact that an offsite backup solution is a totally automated process. Set and forget
once you have set the software to backup your data at a certain time of every day you can just forget it and let it get on with its job of protecting your data.
If I controlled your backup process
I would implement all three of the options mentioned. A RAID system for business continuity
offsite backup to securely protect all my business data
and to enable a quick restore
a CD backup of just my mission critical data which will keep my business running.


To find out more information about secure offsite data backup solutions
please visit

www.perfectbackup.co.uk

There is a calculated trend in all business corporations and firms: when the enterprise is getting bigger
its support of data increases its complexity
volume and value. The larger your enterprise is
the more significant your data files become. The traditional tape backup can no longer produce in-depth data information about all the important features of your business. That’s why many people get acknowledged to a more adequate file protection. A secure offsite backup system can be the possible solution. Business owners and offices managers have got it straight: if the business is to flourish
precise data information storage should be used.

Offsite backup systems offer something
which no other data store can do: they protect to the greatest extent all your files. But why should they do that
you may ask. Imagine you are a business owner. You have your own office computer
which is crammed up with all the valuable info. Well
what if the computer gets stolen
or a short-cut puts it out of practice? What will happen to your enterprise? If you are still not convinced enough to the rational extent
let’s consider the following statistic data. 1 in every 4 computer users suffers a critical data loss every year. Last years over 500
0
were stolen. Disk and other hardware failures are so numerous that major disk and computer manufacturers/resellers are reducing their warranties to 12 months. Over 25% of data loss is a result of computer program errors
software viruses and natural disasters (factors completely out of your control). 50% of businesses that lose their data never open their doors again. Of those businesses that do manage to stay open
90
end up failing within two years. Data loss will cost business an estimated ฃ12 Billion this year.

Still not believing? Consider the following fact: computer experts say that once data is lost
it can no longer be recovered to the full. Some data that contains pieces of valuable information will be forever lost in the digital space
with no hope of getting it back. Disaster recovery planning (DV) often fails to extract the lost files in the similar way as they were before the disaster struck. This happens because of the various regulations and compliance
which occur during the recovery process.

Data loss can happen to anyone
no matter how good the tape protection system is. There is no tape backup that can comprise all the valuable information without omitting some precious stuff. Text documents
financial records
contact records
address books
email messages and databases that you have created on your computer or servers may disappear forever unless you take a serious action to prevent it. The lost files are hard to recover
and it takes a lot of precious time and nerve-racking to recover even to the approximate extent the ruined system as it was before the disaster. The value of data highly exceed the mere cost of your computer or server
as you have to pay a great amount of money for reproducing the whole information as it was before the crack down. So
the most reasonable thing to do
if you don’t want to spend a lot of money afterwards
is to re-ensure your system using secure online backups.

Even though that is the sacred truth
most people avoid taking backup precautions. They leave their data files unprotected
and thus expose their business on the danger of bankrupt. Why do people do it? Because of laziness
because they don’t want to spend additional money
or just because they think that would never happen to them. Is it so hard to take some pre-consideration and backup your data? Sooner or later
everyone gets a strike in their unprotected file systems. Then it is too late to split hairs over the lost information. You should better take the action in advance and construct a data backup system
so that your files are fully protected and your business is ensured.

To find out more information about secure offsite data backup solutions

please visit www.perfectbackup.co.uk

Technology has certainly come a long way in the past few decades. Gone are the huge contraptions that used to characterize computers. Nowadays
you can easily purchase a notebook computer that weighs in at less than 6 pounds. However
one thing hasn’t changed. Hard drives still occasionally crash and frustrated users are left trying to figure out just how to do hard drive data recovery on their own.

Hard drives aren’t perfect
although they’re amazing examples of mechanical engineering. Physical damage can easily occur since these disks are spinning at such high speeds. The smallest interference while in use can cause damage in certain areas. Various features have been put into place to reduce the likelihood of a critical hard drive failure
but these are not 100% effective. Sadly
physical damage isn’t the only reason why you may need to attempt hard drive data recovery. Many people accidentally wipe out their hard drives because they’re not sure what they’re doing.

If you do know a good deal about computers
and are not the one who messed up the hard drive in the first place
it may be possible for you to do your own hard drive data recovery. Keep in mind that to do this
you may need to fix your master boot record
or retrieve data from a physically damaged disk. If you can’t do this
then you’ll need to employ the services of a hard drive data recovery expert. Actually
if your system crashes and you don’t actually recover data for a living
I’d suggest you go straight to a hard drive data recovery expert. One thing though…they’re expensive. Come on
these guys are specialized in what they do. You didn’t really expect that any hard drive data recovery expert would do it for free
did you?

You know what can really help you save money if your hard drive does crash? Backing up your data. It seems like such a sensible thing to do
doesn’t it? Some users partition their hard drive. This makes it easy for you to do your hard drive data recovery because chances are only one partition will fail. If you’ve backed up your files
you can continue working or
better yet
you can save them to an external source and get a new hard drive. You should definitely invest in an external back up. Yes
it’s an inconvenience to remember to back up important files
but at least you won’t have to pay for a hard drive data recovery expert.

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-MMVI
PCSupportTips.com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

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-MMVI
PCSupportTips.com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

COMPUTERS AND HALLOWEEN
DO THEY MIX?

Computer backup is so important to your computer that to ignore it is to risk its damnation.

Computers require care and feeding. They require that you attend to their needs. If you don't
then they will most surely be sent to Hell.

Halloween means Hell. What! What do you mean that Halloween means Hell?

Well
if your computer is given the option of trick or treat
which will it accept? Will it accept the trick or the treat? What do you think?

Halloween is the time that computers are subject to tricks or treats. Did you know that more computers fail on Halloween than any other day of the year? That’s right. It’s true (smile). Your computer is in danger! Protect it. Do your computer backups.

Back to the Hell thing. Hell you say? Yep. Well
what do you mean by Hell?

Computer hell is the place for computers without computer backup. The failure to perform hard drive backup means that you are playing Russian Roulette with your data. Data needs your protection. Failure to protect your data may cause your home or business records to be sent to Hell.

Hell in this instance is for the records and files that cannot be resurrected. Resurrected you say
what does that mean?

It means that without computer backup as a source of salvation then the files can safely enjoy eternal oblivion. Oblivion you say
what does that mean? That means they are eternally lost from computer resurrection.

Is there any mercy for my precious files
you ask?

Why yes there is. Would like to know what the mercy for your files is? Yes! Yes! You say.

OK boys and girls listen carefully. The salvation
mercy
resurrection and redemption of your files lies in regular and consistent and persistent computer backup.

If you backup your computer consistently and persistently your files will be resurrected and saved from accidental deletion
hard drive failure and those nasty things like fire
flood
theft
earthquake
hurricanes
tornados and the like!

Computer backup is the key to your data's salvation!

Do your computer backups boys and girls.

Milk and cookies will be served in the pantry.

Trick or treat for your computer backup?

Flash memory gets its name due to its microchip arrangement in such a way
that its section of memory cells gets erased in a single action or "Flash".
Both NOR and NAND Flash memory were invented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka from Toshiba in 1984.The name 'Flash' was suggested because the erasure process of the memory contents reminds a flash of a camera
and it's name was coined to express how much faster it could be erased "in a flash". Dr. Masuoka presented the invention at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) held in San Jose
California in 1984 and Intel recognizes the potentiality of the invention and introduced the first commercial NOR type flash chip in 1988
with long erase and write times.

Flash memory is a form of non-volatile memory that can be electrically erased and rewrite
which means that it does not need power to maintain the data stored in the chip. In addition
flash memory offers fast read access times and better shock resistance than hard disks. These characteristics explain the popularity of flash memory for applications such as storage on battery-powered devices.

Flash memory is advance from of EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) that allows multiple memory locations to be erased or written in one programming operation. Unlike an EPROM (Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory) an EEPROM can be programmed and erased multiple times electrically. Normal EEPROM only allows one location at a time to be erased or written
meaning that flash can operate at higher effective speeds when the systems using; it read and write to different locations at the same time.

Referring to the type of logic gate used in each storage cell
Flash memory is built in two varieties and named as
NOR flash and NAND flash.
Flash memory stores one bit of information in an array of transistors
called "cells"
however recent flash memory devices referred as multi-level cell devices
can store more than 1 bit per cell depending on amount of electrons placed on the Floating Gate of a cell. NOR flash cell looks similar to semiconductor device like transistors
but it has two gates. First one is the control gate (CG) and the second one is a floating gate (FG) that is shield or insulated all around by an oxide layer. Because the FG is secluded by its shield oxide layer
electrons placed on it get trapped and data is stored within. On the other hand NAND Flash uses tunnel injection for writing and tunnel release for erasing.

NOR flash that was developed by Intel in 1988 with unique feature of long erase and write times and its endurance of erase cycles ranges from 10
0
to 100
0
makes it suitable for storage of program code that needs to be infrequently updated
like in digital camera and PDAs. Though
later cards demand moved towards the cheaper NAND flash; NOR-based flash is hitherto the source of all the removable media.

Followed in 1989 Samsung and Toshiba form NAND flash with higher density
lower cost per bit then NOR Flash with faster erase and write times
but it only allows sequence data access
not random like NOR Flash
which makes NAND Flash suitable for mass storage device such as memory cards. SmartMedia was first NAND-based removable media and numerous others are behind like MMC
Secure Digital
xD-Picture Cards and Memory Stick. Flash memory is frequently used to hold control code such as the basic input/output system (BIOS) in a computer. When BIOS needs to be changed (rewritten)
the flash memory can be written to in block rather than byte sizes
making it simple to update.
On the other hand
flash memory is not practical to random access memory (RAM) as RAM needs to be addressable at the byte (not the block) level. Thus
it is used more as a hard drive than as a RAM. Because of this particular uniqueness
it is utilized with specifically-designed file systems which extend writes over the media and deal with the long erase times of NOR flash blocks. JFFS was the first file systems
outdated by JFFS2. Then YAFFS was released in 2003
dealing specifically with NAND flash
and JFFS2 was updated to support NAND flash too. Still
in practice most follows old FAT file system for compatibility purposes.

Although it can be read or write a byte at a time in a random access fashion
limitation of flash memory is
it must be erased a "block" at a time. Starting with a freshly erased block
any byte within that block can be programmed. However
once a byte has been programmed
it cannot be changed again until the entire block is erased. In other words
flash memory (specifically NOR flash) offers random-access read and programming operations
but cannot offer random-access rewrite or erase operations.

This effect is partially offset by some chip firmware or file system drivers by counting the writes and dynamically remapping the blocks in order to spread the write operations between the sectors
or by write verification and remapping to spare sectors in case of write failure.
Due to wear and tear on the insulating oxide layer around the charge storage mechanism
all types of flash memory erode after a certain number of erase functions ranging from 100
0
to 1
0
0
but it can be read an unlimited number of times. Flash Card is easily rewritable memory and overwrites without warning with a high probability of data being overwritten and hence lost.

In spite of all these clear advantages
worse may occur due to system failure
battery failure
accidental erasure
re-format
power surges
faulty electronics and corruption caused by hardware breakdown or software malfunctions; as a result your data could be lost and damaged.

Flash Memory Data Recovery is the process of restoring data from primary storage media when it cannot be accessed normally. Flash memory data recovery is a flash memory file recovery service that restores all corrupted and deleted photographs even if a memory card was re-formatted. This can be due to physical damage or logical damage to the storage device. Data even from damage flash memory can be recovered
and more than 90% of lost data can be restored.

What’s colocation hosting?

Colocation hosting wherein multiple customers locate network
server and storage gear and interconnects to a volley of telecommunications and various other network service provider thus minimizes the complexity and cost. Have a dedicated hosting right away and enjoy complete freedom.

Added features of dedicated hosting!

Data centers should be monitored 24-7. Your systems should be housed in a state-of-the-art data center
with redundant air cooling and filtering systems
designed to operate even in the event of a power failure. Data centers should be located and built to withstand natural disasters
and other emergencies. Don’t you want to safeguard your data centre too. Evaluate your business's power
cooling and security requirements and design a solution that meets your need and scales to allow you to adapt in the future. Appropriate to businesses both large and small
co-location is a highly flexible
cost-effective and best practice solution to ensuring your business' IT service uptime.

Be one among the world’s leading players or excel them with secure and well managed colocation. Colocation pricing queries can be dealt with our online professionals with just a click or a phone call. Have a single rack or a dedicated private suite
your servers and core systems need to be housed in a secure
well managed
and environmentally controlled environment. Sometimes the server is hosted with one and the other provides the Internet connectivity. Here
there are issues with cross-connection fees
which can complicate the matter. The host must be able to provide uninterrupted connectivity without any major hiccups.

Colocation hosting can offer reliable power with clean
uninterruptible power
through a combination of multiple power grids
generators
and best-of-breed maintenance practices. Colocation facilities manage their climate with two kinds of dedicated cooling systems
chillers and CRAC units. Chillers are systems of pipes which circulate chilled water throughout the server rooms. CRAC units (computer room air-conditioning units) are targets air conditioners which never shut off. Servers generate enough heat to overheat a several-thousand square foot room in only a few minutes; by continuously cycling
CRAC units prevent heat buildup in server rooms.

• Single rack to full private suite options
• Fully complemented value-added connectivity and managed service solutions
• Have high bandwidth on-net network connectivity to tier one carrier backbones for Internet access and private network connectivity
• Ensuring maximum security and uptime

Meet the requirements of your business! Get on to the online route and find a Colocation Hosting provider for your business.

What are clean rooms? Why is clean room data recovery important? We look at these issues first.

What Are Clean Rooms?

Clean rooms are rooms that have been designed to reduce the level of particulates in the air like dust aand airborne microbes. Clean room construction employs filters extensively. Outside air is filtered to prevent dust entering the room. Filters and processes will be in place inside the room to remove internally generated contaminants during production and working areas are often further filtered locally such as laminar flow bench.

Staff would usually have to enter clean rooms through airlocks and wear protective gear while working inside the rooms.

There are different "classes" of clean rooms
with each class limiting permissible different numbers of particles per cubic meter
as well as the maximum sizes particles. Thus a Class 1 clean room is one where the number of particles should not exceed 1000 particles per cubic meter.

Clean rooms are used extensively in the pharmaceutical
semiconductor manufacturing and biotech industries. Data recovery centres typically use a Class 100 clean room that has an allowance of 100
0
particles per cubic meter (compared to 35 million particles per cubic meter in a normal room).

Why Use Clean Rooms for Data Recovery?

Clean rooms are used for data recovery to prevent dust
electro static discharges and such disturbances. These kinds of precautions become necessary because even microscopic dust particles can damage the image on the drive platters
and make data recovery difficult.

With each generation of disks
data is packed more and more densely on the disk platters. It is thus increasingly important that data recovery be attempted in exceptionally clean rooms.

Drive manufacturers usually specify that their product guarantee will become void if the drive is opened by anybody other than themselves
or their authorized agents. And typically
one of the conditions they impose on authorized agents is that the disks be opened in clean rooms meeting specified standards.

Thus clean rooms are necessary for data recovery on both performance and product warranty considerations.

Clean Room Data Recovery

Disk drives are opened only in clean rooms and kept there until the recovery is complete and the drive is closed. All devices are also protected against electro-static discharge
physical shocks
temperature fluctuations and electrical disturbances.

Staff wear special clothing while working in the rooms and particle density is constantly monitored using particle counters. A typical objective of clean room data recovery centers is to maintain Class 10 conditions during production.

Conclusion

Data storage media are getting packed with data more and more densely with each new generation of drives. It is thus extremely important to attempt data recovery in exceptionally dust free rooms.

These days
clean room data recovery uses Class 100 clean rooms where the number of particles is reduced by some 350 times compared to normally prevailing particle density.

Clean room data recovery centers actually aim to achieve even higher levels of dust free conditions during production operations. Even minute specks of dust on the drive platters can damage the image on the media
and make data recovery even more difficult
if not impossible.

When you store important information on a USB device
you take the chance of losing that information. Losing data on a USB can be kind of a mystery
but there are companies out there that can help you get that data back. These companies use engineering that can recover your lost data over ninety six percent of the time. These companies can even recover data that has been stored on a damaged USB device. So when you find yourself in a situation where you have lost valuable information you should not assume that this data can not be retrieved.

There are some companies that specialize in repairing damaged USB memory devices. In the process of retrieving your data
companies can also repair your device. Types of the problems they can repair broken solders
loose plugs
and broken internal connections. Some of the devices that they can fix are USB ports
USB sticks
USB drives
USB thumb drive
and Flash memory devices. These companies use a type of recovery called a jump drive recovery. They can recover any files from any type of USB drive or memory stick. Sometimes the chips inside the devices will be damaged
but don't fret; there are some companies that can fix that problem too.

So the conclusion on USB data recovery is that just because information seems to have disappeared
doesn't mean that it is lost forever. There are companies that can find and retrieve lost data on a damaged or removed USB device. In the process of finding data
the problems that caused the data to go missing in the first place will be fixed. This is helpful because it insures that it won't happen again. There are programs out there that can help you retrieve your data by yourself
but the problem might be bigger than you know
so you should always seek professional help. There could be problems inside your device that prevent your device from working properly.