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...
• 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.
• 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.
