Safe Solutions For Common Hard Drive
Problems
Don't let a minor hard drive problem turn into major data
loss. Follow our expert advice to safely and quickly get
your drive up and running again.
Warning: If
your hard drive starts making unusual noises - clicking,
grinding or metal scraping, turn it off immediately! This
symptom typically indicates a head crash that can destroy
your data. Hard drives spin with extreme speed - from 7,200
to 15,000 revolutions per minute - therefore extensive damage
can occur in a short period of time. Turn your computer
off immediately and call Realtime Support immediately!
Tips on using disk utility programs...
While most disk utilities provide excellent preventative
maintenance by fixing minor problems, they can render data
unrecoverable in the event of extreme corruption. Follow
these tips to help ensure your hard drive and data safety.
1. Always Save an "Undo" File, a record of the
changes the utility has made to your hard drive, in the
event it does not correct your problem. By sending this
file along with your drive to us, you help ensure recovery
of your data. Do NOT use a utility program if it does not
allow you to save an "undo" file of the repairs
it makes.
2. Strange Noises? Avoid Utilities! If your hard drive
sounds or acts erratically in any way, DO NOT USE UTILITY
SOFTWARE. Damaging sounds include clicking, buzzing or scraping.
Back up your data immediately (if you are already booted
up). Shut down the computer to avoid further damage to the
hard drive and its data.
Call Our Computer Technical Support Team and we will have
someone out to your home or office as soon as possible.
3. Windows NT/2000, UNIX and NetWare require professional
expertise because of the broad range of circumstances and
potential hazards when using utility software with these
complex operating systems, we recommend contacting us to
handle the data recovery.
Spyware...
Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information
about a person or organization without their knowledge.
On the Internet (where it is sometimes called a spybot or
tracking software), spyware is programming that is put in
someone's computer to secretly gather information about
the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested
parties. spyware can get in a computer as a software virus
or as the result of installing a new program. Spyware is
often installed without the user's consent, as a drive-by
download or as the result of clicking some option in a deceptive
pop-op window. Adware, software designed to serve advertising,
can usually be thought of as spyware as well because it
almost invariably includes components for tracking and reporting
user information.
Virus prevention...
• Install an anti-virus software on your system that
will alert you to viruses that are attacking. Most importantly
that it will check incoming email.
• Do not open any files attached to an email from
an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.
• Do not open any files attached to an email unless
you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a dear
friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves
and spread through email. Better be safe than sorry and
confirm that they really sent it.
• Do not open any files attached to an email if
the subject line is questionable or unexpected. If the need
to do so is there always save the file to your hard drive
before doing so.
• Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward
or reply to any to them. These types of email are considered
spam, which is unsolicited, intrusive mail that clogs up
the network.
• Do not download any files from strangers.
• Exercise caution when downloading files from the
Internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable
one. Verify that an anti-virus program checks the files
on the download site. If you're uncertain, don't download
the file at all or download the file to a floppy and test
it with your own anti-virus software.
• Update your anti-virus software regularly. Over
500 viruses are discovered each month, so you'll want to
be protected. These updates should be at the least the products
virus signature files. You may also need to update the product's
scanning engine as well.
• Back up your files on a regular basis. If a virus
destroys your files, at least you can replace them with
your back-up copy. You should store your backup copy in
a separate location from your work files, one that is preferably
not on your computer.
• Install a firewall. If you are on a permanent connection
such as DSL, Cable, or some other sort of broadband service
you may be vulnerable to hackers and trojan viruses. Routers
may give you some protection as a firewall or you may install
a software program such as BlackIce
or ZoneAlarm made by Zone Labs.
• When in doubt, always err on the side of caution
and do not open, download, or execute any files or email
attachments. Not executing is the more important of these
caveats. Check with your product vendors for updates which
include those for your operating system web browser, and
email. Check the security site section of Microsoft or for you Macintosh users, the security site section of Apple.
For Mac users we recommend Icon Virex by McAfee
or Norton 9.0 by Symantec.
Standard maintenance...
Clean up Cache and Temp files:
Every Browser has a file that stores every picture and cookie
from web pages that are visited while on the Internet. These
are stored temporarily to improve the speed and ease of
browsing. If you spend at least a few hours online a week
it is good to clean out your cache from your browser. Cookies
also build up over time, most of which are designed purely
to determine whether or not you have been to their site
before or to record info about you so that they can improve
there web site. Other cookies store passwords and setup
files so that when you return to a site it will recognize
who you are or will eliminate the need to login to the site.
For security purposes we recommend delete them all. Internet
Explorer, Netscape, and Firefox all have their own storage
files for cache and cookies. Usually you can find in your
browser, at the top, a menu that will let you delete cache
and cookies under categories such as Edit, Tools, Preferences,
Options, File.
Another utility in Windows that is helpful in your cleanup
efforts is to use Disk Cleanup located by clicking on Start
- Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup.
Choose the default drive and check all the boxes.
For Mac users we recommend DiskWarrior made
by Altsoft http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/.
Run ScanDisk: (Windows 9.x,
ME, 2000/XP). ScanDisk is a utility to see if there are
any errors on the system and you can set it to automatically
fix the errors (recommended). You can find this utility
to use by clicking on My Computer - right click on C: Drive
(or Local Drive) - Tools - Error Checking. Make sure you
choose Standard and check the box that says Automatically
fix errors. Click Start. Depending on how big your hard
drive is and how much data is on it and the speed of your
processor, the time it takes can be anywhere from 30 seconds
to 40 minutes. When it is finished you can just close it
out. We recommend you restart your PC.
For Mac users we recommend Disk Warrior made
by Altsoft.
Run Disk Defragmenter: (All Windows OS).
Disk Defragmenter is a utility designed to clean up and
organize the data scattered across your hard drive. Over
time as you add and delete information on your computer,
your hard drive becomes fragmented with information all
over the place. When you run Disk Defragmenter it will take
that information and clean up and organize the data, some
of which is put at the front of the disk where those items
are most frequently accessed. This is why it is smart to
put all of your documents and text based files, music files,
pictures, etc. into My Documents. Microsoft recognizes this
as a frequently accessed file so those files will be able
to be accessed faster than if they were located in another
directory. You can find this utility to use by clicking
on My Computer - right click on C: Drive (or Local Drive)
- Tools - Defragmentation. Simply click OK on the drive
you want to defrag and it will begin. If you only have 1
drive it will begin immediately.
For Mac users we recommend Disk Warrior made by Altsoft.
On-line Updates: for your OS. Windows
Update makes it easy for windows users. The most important
update is the Critical Updates & Security Patches. Update
all of your browsers such as Netscape, Internet Explorer,
or Firefox. Most of all these updates can be done at no
cost to you and simply just takes a little time. Windows
Update at http://www.microsoft.com go under
Product Resources to Windows Update.
For Mac users: Apple Software Updates is a collection of
updaters, utilities, and full software installs to help
keep your Apple Products running smoothly. Apple Software
Updates can be downloaded from this web site: http:////www.info.apple.com/support/downloads.htm.
Software updates for earlier versions of Mac OS and Apple
hardware are available by browsing the Downloads Web site.
One of the greatest benefits of keeping your system up
to date, besides the fact that it will work better, is that
when you need support from a Realtime Support Technician,
they will be able to help you easier and quicker. This may
also save you money.
