#hard drive failing data recovery

[mariacallous]

One of the things enterprise storage and destruction company Iron Mountain does is handle the archiving of the media industry's vaults. What it has been seeing lately should be a wake-up call: Roughly one-fifth of the hard disk drives dating to the 1990s it was sent are entirely unreadable.

Music industry publication Mix spoke with the people in charge of backing up the entertainment industry. The resulting tale is part explainer on how music is so complicated to archive now, part warning about everyone's data stored on spinning disks.

"In our line of work, if we discover an inherent problem with a format, it makes sense to let everybody know," Robert Koszela, global director for studio growth and strategic initiatives at Iron Mountain, told Mix. "It may sound like a sales pitch, but it's not; it's a call for action."

Hard drives gained popularity over spooled magnetic tape as digital audio workstations, mixing and editing software, and the perceived downsides of tape, including deterioration from substrate separation and fire. But hard drives present their own archival problems. Standard hard drives were also not designed for long-term archival use. You can almost never decouple the magnetic disks from the reading hardware inside, so if either fails, the whole drive dies.

There are also general computer storage issues, including the separation of samples and finished tracks, or proprietary file formats requiring archival versions of software. Still, Iron Mountain tells Mix that “if the disk platters spin and aren’t damaged," it can access the content.

But "if it spins" is becoming a big question mark. Musicians and studios now digging into their archives to remaster tracks often find that drives, even when stored at industry-standard temperature and humidity, have failed in some way, with no partial recovery option available.

“It’s so sad to see a project come into the studio, a hard drive in a brand-new case with the wrapper and the tags from wherever they bought it still in there,” Koszela says. “Next to it is a case with the safety drive in it. Everything’s in order. And both of them are bricks.”

Entropy Wins

Mix's passing along of Iron Mountain's warning hit Hacker News earlier this week, which spurred other tales of faith in the wrong formats. The gist of it: You cannot trust any medium, so you copy important things over and over, into fresh storage. "Optical media rots, magnetic media rots and loses magnetic charge, bearings seize, flash storage loses charge, etc.," writes user abracadaniel. "Entropy wins, sometimes much faster than you’d expect."

There is discussion of how SSDs are not archival at all; how floppy disk quality varied greatly between the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s; how Linear Tape-Open, a format specifically designed for long-term tape storage, loses compatibility over successive generations; how the binder sleeves we put our CD-Rs and DVD-Rs in have allowed them to bend too much and stop being readable.

Knowing that hard drives will eventually fail is nothing new. Ars wrote about the five stages of hard drive death, including denial, back in 2005. Last year, backup company Backblaze shared failure data on specific drives, showing that drives that fail tend to fail within three years, that no drive was totally exempt, and that time does, generally, wear down all drives. Google's server drive data showed in 2007 that HDD failure was mostly unpredictable, and that temperatures were not really the deciding factor.

So Iron Mountain's admonition to music companies is yet another warning about something we've already heard. But it's always good to get some new data about just how fragile a good archive really is.

[transmascreplica]

i know that everyone else is also out of money and there are people who need it way more than me but if anyone wants to donate to finishing funds for my movie my external hard drive failed and data recovery was 4K. we were already over budget but this used up everything i had for post.

basically submitting to film festivals, applying to grants and paying my peers (aka other 20somethings who need money) who are helping me finish the film is gonna be over 2k so like actually seriously anything at all helps

if you want stuff in return take a look at my etsy where i sell zines and stuff

[not-poignant]

Hi Pia.

I want to ask— do you backup your wips? How do you do it?

I know there are things like Cloud and Dropbox but those are practically at the mercy of big corporations and with ai scraping now being the norm it feels risky saving work with online backup.

Do you use a USB instead?

Unfortunately nothing is risk-free these days.

I once saved a story to three different USBs, all different brands, and they all corrupted. Not all at the same time, but they all eventually lost the data. This was over a period of ten years, but of course some people have been relying on USBs etc. for this long now. Same with CDs burnt with data (something we used to do before USBs were cheap).

In fact a new study shows that over half of all external hard drives and USBs over a certain age (I think around 5 years) are already corrupted and often not being checked enough to check if they're still containing/keeping the data necessary. (To say nothing of entire batches of like Seagate and other brands being notorious for literally just...losing data and corrupting at any point in time - which is an issue for actual hard drives within the computer as well).

USBs and external HDs aren't necessarily safer.

In general it's a good idea to back up in three places, though this still isn't enough to guarantee safety. Those three places should be: a) hard copy (i.e. USB or external hard-drive), b) cloud copy (i.e. Dropbox etc.), c) on the machine itself (if it's a desktop). You can sometimes do like, a + a + c or b + b + a etc.

It still doesn't guarantee preservation of data! I think that's the hardest thing about preserving data and back-ups overall.

I have an extra bonus 'back up' in that 99.5% of all my writing is already public. And that a lot of that writing has additionally been snapshotted into the Wayback Machine. If all my methods somehow corrupted or failed, I could literally copy/paste my stories from AO3 back into Word documents (in fact I've actually done this before because I frequently go back in and edit AO3 chapters for typos etc. but don't mirror those changes in the original documents, so sometimes if I want to update a story, I'll copy/paste the AO3 chapter and override the original document).

Anyway, I use Dropbox Business (cloud), hard external copy (though not as often as I should), desktop version, and then also the AO3 version. Dropbox Business has additional data recovery protections that general Dropbox accounts don't.

We are always at the mercy of big corporations, anon. Big corporations make USBs. They make faulty external hard-drives that we sometimes mistakenly trust. Like no, they're not scraping for AI the same way, but I no longer believe - unfortunately - that this is truly preventable. Short of going a grassroots Linux direction, which...I can't, lol.

(This is a reminder to all writers: Back-up your writing! The beginning of the year is a good time to remember to do it, if you're not doing it every 3 months).

(And also, check all your USB/external hard drives! And make sure they're not your only source for that content, because you would not believe how much they degrade over time.)

If I ever needed a 5th option, I host my own domain and have done so through the same company for over 10 years with very high fidelity, and I would just dump it all into a database there so I could pull it back if necessary. That's not ideal (it's probably the easiest way I could be hacked because I check into the cpanel the least often), but it's doable.

But yeah I've been Dropbox Business for a long time. I don't like everything about them, but I trust them a lot more than Microsoft OneDrive (which I refuse to use) and many other cloud networks.

As for AI scraping, since 99.5% of my stuff is on AO3, it's already been scraped, and it's delusional of me to think it hasn't been. I have already had the majority of my art scraped into Midjourney, so sadly I've reached a level of disgusted acceptance that the gormless unethical billionaires of the world will just do what they want. If it has an internet connection to it, it's probably been scraped or will be scraped and putting something on a USB isn't going to stop that, because it needs to come off a USB if I want to work on an ongoing story.

[coimbrabertone]

Injuries, Job Security, and How MotoGP and Indycar Differ...Or Don't.

In the last two years, two racers I support have been seriously injured. One was Enea Bastianini, rider of the #23 Ducati in MotoGP, and the other was David Malukas, who never actually got to drive the #6 NTT Data Arrow McLaren-Chevrolet Indycar.

So, just to go over what happened to them: Enea Bastianini was injured in the opening sprint race of the 2023 MotoGP season, the Portuguese GP at Portimao. Luca Marini went up his inside into turn five (Torre VIP), lost it, and his bike slid into Enea's bike. Enea broke his collarbone in this crash, wound up missing the opening five races, came back, injured himself again at Catalunya, and missed another three races.

Enea would return for the Indonesian Grand Prix and would then win the Malaysian Grand Prix towards the end of the season. That win, combined with Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati failing to beat Francesco Bagnaia for the championship, secured Enea's seat for 2024.

So, while Enea was enjoying a secure offseason, David Malukas was preparing for his switch from Dale Coyne Racing to a frontrunning team in the form of Arrow McLaren...except, he never actually made his debut for the team.

David Malukas was mountain biking in California, riding an easy trail, when, trying to slow himself, pulled the front brake too hard, went up and over the handlebars, and landed on his hands. He would break his left wrist and it was announced he would miss St. Pete and probably Thermal.

St. Pete and probably Thermal soon became St. Pete and definitely Thermal, missing those two races. Callum Ilott would fill in.

Malukas missed Long Beach next, with Theo Pourchaire in the car now.

Then Theo Pourchaire raced Long Beach as well.

Around this time, various rumors started flying about Malukas getting replaced. This only grew as Nathan Brown reported that Malukas had traveled to Panama in order to receive stem cell shots to speed up his recovery, and only then did he get the pins in his wrist removed.

Then, after Barber - the fourth race of the season, Malukas blacked out his twitter page. I was sat in a discord debating what exactly this meant with some other Indycar fans, with news picking up that he had been dropped. With the story pretty much out there, Arrow McLaren made the announcement early in the morning, David Malukas had been released after failing to meet his contractual obligations.

By now, it's been announced that Ilott will do the Indy 500, and then Theo Pourchaire will fill out the rest of the season in the #6. The Malukas at McLaren story ended before it could even begin.

Meanwhile, in MotoGPland, Enea Bastianini continued with the factory Ducati team. However, with Jorge Martin now building up an annoyingly large championship lead and Marc Marquez on the Ducati stealing all the attention, the whole world seems to think it's between the two of them to get the Ducati factory seat for 2025.

For the record, Enea is tied on points with Marquez, just two behind his teammate, and spent this weekend's race - the French Grand Prix at the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit - starting tenth, getting a penalty, recovering to fourth, setting fastest lap, and finishing just 2.2 seconds off the lead.

Enea is an immense talent, he's the rider I chose to support when I decided to become a MotoGP fan ahead of the 2023 season, and it's so rotten to see his career falling apart because of factors outside of his control.

As for Malukas, he's a young, popular kid and has proven so talented on the ovals in a Dale Coyne Racing car. I was so eager to see what he could do with an Arrow McLaren, particularly at tracks like Iowa, Gateway, and Nashville which seemed like they'd suit him. Now, we're not going to get the chance, and it's unclear where he might land if he were to try and return to Indycar.

So, in theory, MotoGP gives more time to injured racers, but no matter what series you're in, motorsports can be a cutthroat business. Bastianini and Malukas certainly aren't the first racers to lose top rides after an injury, and they certainly won't be the last. It's not exactly an industry known for job security.

If I could manifest a happy resolution to both, I'd have Enea Bastianini go to factory Aprilia to join Maverick VInales, while David Malukas could join Meyer Shank Racing (perhaps with Tom Blomqvist returning to IMSA with the same team) to reinforce their oval program the same way Felix Rosenqvist has revitalized that team on the road and street circuits.

For now though, we wait to see what happens to them.

To end on a happier note, Brad Keselowski won the Darlington Goodyear 400 NASCAR race last night running a throwback scheme in honor of the TOM's Castrol Supra. That is an awesome motorsports word randomizer and the fact that it's real is why NASCAR is really cool in 2024.

One day I'll write a blogpost where talking about current NASCAR is actually the point instead of just spending the final paragraph gushing about last weekend's cool race.

[wandering-wolf23]

Yesterday, my 12 year old laptop died.

This machine was an XPS laptop. It was in perfect working order up until the motherboard decided to die. I've swapped keyboards, screens, batteries, and a track pad on this thing, all with the help of YouTube. I actually wanted to get this machine repaired until I learned it would be about 3 grand for a repair that might work. There would be no guarantee and it would be hard finding someone willing to work on a computer that old.

I'm paying someone for data recovery because he can do it better and quicker. When that's done and I have the hard drive, I'm going to donate my old XPS. It can still be repaired if you have the right part and enough time. People do. I'm donating it to a program that takes old computers like these, fixes them, and gives them to low income students. This computer will probably last another 5 years (or more). Parts for it are easily purchased on Amazon.

My new computer is coming today. It's the same build, just slightly newer. It will last me another 12 years I hope. I will repair it as needed. Parts are easily available on Amazon. It will do everything I need it to and, when it's time, I'll swap it all over to a new computer from that same series.

Being able to repair my own machines has made me an XPS user for life. It allows me to save money and cut down on e-waste. So many people are stunned that my old computer was 12 (the one I had before this was 15 before it failed). We are so used to a society with disposable technology that it's genuinely shocking to people when someone says they fixed their own laptop.

But why should people try? So many laptops are made so you can't just unscrew and pop the back off. So many computers are made to fail after two, three, or four years. So many computers are made to force you to buy a new one for whatever capitalist bullshit reason.

I'll gladly pay extra for right to repair and a solid build with easily available replacement parts. That's what's important to me.

[chimaerabutt]

Still kind of freewheeling through emotions right now.

So last Thursday my hard drive failed. Should I have gotten a backup? Yes, but that WAS the backup, disc monitoring utilities reported it as healthy prior, so I thought I had more time. So I put off getting a new backup because finances are tight right now.

…and then my “healthy” drive failed when I rebooted for a windows update.

I spent Friday trying every recovery trick I knew. I shucked the drive, tried a direct SATA connection, tried multiple data recovery utilities, and finally gave up after a boot in to Linux properly “read” the drive so I could run diagnostics…and it failed to read a partition table.

So it’s time for a professional. There’s a local place, but they don’t be open until tomorrow. I’m worried sick because money is already tight and data recovery is something that goes from the hundreds to the thousands real quick.

The last time I needed data recovery, when my ex-fiancé obliterated my hard drive, it was $2500.

But that’s… the last ten+ years of my life. All my art, all my WIPs, all my documentation of shows. My portfolios. Every sewing pattern I’ve ever made. The entirety of my first solo show , which I need to fill out an application for signature artist.

I mean sure, I’m upset about losing my music, pdf library, and movies, too. But I can reacquire that. I can’t… replace all of the art. I I can’t replace my tax information easily, all of my identity package files for my little sole proprietorship

I’m just.

Hhhh

Now I get to pray it’s an easily repaired mechanical failure and that it will be sub $1000 when we still have to replace my roommate’s back breaks, too. 💀

[andrevasims]

Apparently the SanDisk portable SSD is/was a hot Black Friday deal, but they've been so prone to failing that a class-action lawsuit was filed over it.

I also saw people recommended Western Digital as an alternative to SanDisk, but... Western Digital owns SanDisk. The class-action lawsuit for the failing SanDisk drives is directed at Western Digital.

Specifically, they single out the following devices: SanDisk Extreme Pro, SanDisk Extreme, and Western Digital My Passport SSD in the sizes 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB.

Some of them, like the 4TB Extreme Pro Portable, had discounts up to $200, which is a pretty solid deal considering they've knowingly been facing widespread hardware failures for over 6 months.

I never bought one, but I did have a Western Digital Elements external HD that my dad got me as a gift. It would randomly disconnect itself without being touched, and when I tried to unplug then replug it in, I had to do it 3 or 4 times in a row before it would get recognized again. We bought a new connecting cable since that seemed to be the problem, but it continued doing that with the new cable. Also, idk if it came this way or if it happened over time, but sectors on the external HD became corrupted to the point where my computer would get a Blue Screen of Death every time I tried copying files onto it. I got around that by using the 3rd party program TeraCopy instead of the built-in Windows copying program, but like...

My dad got me that external HD specifically because I've had 2 unrecoverable hard drive failures happen to me several years apart when I was a kid. Losing writing, drawings, photos, conversation logs with friends, stuff that just no longer exists at all. So I became pretty paranoid about backup storage. And having my backup storage randomly disconnect by itself and crash my computer when I try to use it... Obviously not ideal.

Anyway, the new external HD I got to replace that one is SeaGate. I don't know if that's "better," there's a 100% chance people have stories about SeaGate's products that are exactly like mine with Western Digital. So I'm just hoping for the best lol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[itsappleexpert]

Recover Corrupted Data with Our Expert Services

Data corruption is one of the most frustrating and stressful experiences for individuals and businesses alike. Whether it's a personal hard drive containing years of memories or a company’s server housing critical business information, corrupted data can seem like a devastating loss. However, with expert data recovery services, you don’t have to give up on your files.

Data Corruption

Data corruption occurs when files become unreadable, inaccessible, or distorted due to various failures. Unlike accidental deletion, where data is removed but still intact, corrupted files are often damaged at the structural level, making them difficult to access without specialized recovery techniques.

Common Signs of Data Corruption

Files fail to open or display errors (e.g., "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened").

Documents, images, or videos appear distorted or incomplete.

Frequent crashes or freezing when trying to access the data.

Hard drive or storage device is not recognized by the system.

File names, extensions, or sizes appear altered or missing.

If you notice any of these symptoms, stop using the affected drive immediately and seek professional recovery assistance to prevent further damage.

What Causes Data Corruption?

Data corruption can happen for various reasons, ranging from hardware failures to software glitches. Here are the most common causes:

1. Sudden Power Failures & System Crashes

A power outage while files are being written or accessed can cause corruption.

Unexpected shutdowns can leave files in a partially saved or broken state.

2. Bad Sectors on Hard Drives & SSDs

Hard drives and SSDs develop bad sectors over time, making certain areas unreadable.

If critical system files or important documents are stored in bad sectors, they may become inaccessible.

3. Malware & Ransomware Attacks

Viruses and ransomware can encrypt, delete, or corrupt files.

Some malware targets system files, making entire drives unreadable.

4. File System Errors & Software Bugs

Corruption can occur due to improper ejections of USB drives, failed updates, or software conflicts.

A damaged file system (e.g., NTFS, FAT32, APFS) can prevent access to stored files.

5. Physical Damage to Storage Devices

Dropping a hard drive, exposing it to water, or overheating can cause physical corruption.

SSDs and HDDs can suffer from electrical failures that corrupt stored data.

While data corruption can seem like a permanent loss, professional recovery services use specialized tools and techniques to retrieve and repair your files.

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If you suspect file corruption, taking the right steps immediately can improve recovery success rates:

What You Should Avoid

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How to Prevent Data Corruption in the Future

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Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule:

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2 different types of storage

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Invest in high-quality hard drives, SSDs, and external storage to reduce failure risks.

Replace aging drives before they become unreliable.

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Install antivirus software to prevent malware-related corruption.

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4. Avoid Sudden Power Loss

Use UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems to prevent data corruption from power outages.

Always eject external drives safely before disconnecting them.

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[as-if-and-only-if]

hmm, parents’ iMac from almost 10 years ago is dying. Fusion drive; HDD seems fine but SSD seems, well, fucked. Kernel panics causing a boot loop—no Macintosh HD visible—etc.

But not completely fucked. Adventure!

Brought it into the Apple Store today: guy turned the computer on in target disk mode (where it behaves like an external hard drive), connected it to a laptop, and there everything is! all the data!

get home, do exactly the same thing—doesn’t work.

The Fusion Drive shows up in disk utility, but of the (adjacent) partitions under “Macintosh HD”, which are (another) “Macintosh HD” and “Macintosh HD - Data”, only the latter will mount. Can’t seem to read anything from it, though. (“Permission denied”—weird.)

Meanwhile, if you mount and open the parent Macintosh HD, you see four empty folders: Library, System, Applications, Users, iirc.

Trying to restore any of these to an external hard drive via disk utility fails because the “seal is broken”. `diskutil apfs list` shows that every disk is unsealed except for the unmountable leaf Macintosh HD, which has a broken seal. (No data/user is encrypted with FileVault or anything on this disk, fwiw. diskutil unlockVolume doesn’t do anything as a result.)

Ok. So, I try `ddrescue`; this is where “Fatal read error: permission denied” comes from. Then I try it on the physical disks. Works fine on the HDD for quite a while, copying away with no errors. Encounters loads of read errors on the SSD. Pretty regularly, too, which I found odd: one every 6-8 seconds without fail. But it’s apparently able to rescue some data in the meantime, so I figure this isn’t just some timeout.

But what use to me is a bunch of corrupted data? It bugs me that it was working in the Apple Store. Let’s just get there again! What was different?

The only things I can think of are:

it was turned off (but plugged in) overnight beforehand. I don’t know anything about SSD failures, but maaaaybe something electrical is afoot.

maybe there was something about the exact sequence of things he tried first in the Apple Store. What was it? Recovery mode, safe mode, PRAM reset, halfway through internet recovery, then shut it down and go for target disk mode…?

maybe the fact that he had it plugged into ethernet mattered for some wacky reason. maybe some of the relevant components are near each other. what if the wifi card is heating up and disrupting the SSD, or something? well, that probably wouldn’t be immediate, and so wouldn’t explain the kernel panic. but, who knows.

Maybe something just jostled back into place while carrying the computer into the store and jostled back out while carrying it out.

Favorite option so far is something electrical having a really long relaxation time of some sort. So we’ll see, I guess…!

[raidspecialist1]

Synology Data Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide

Synology is renowned for its NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, which offer robust data storage solutions for both personal and business use. Despite their reliability and advanced features, data loss can still occur due to various reasons. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Synology data recovery, covering the causes of data loss, the steps to recover lost data, and best practices to safeguard your data.

Understanding Synology NAS

Synology NAS devices are designed to provide a centralized and accessible storage solution with features such as RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations, data protection, and easy-to-use interfaces. They support multiple users and applications, making them a versatile choice for data storage and management.

Common Causes of Data Loss

Data loss in Synology NAS devices can result from various scenarios, including:

1. Hardware Failures

Disk Failure: Hard drives can fail due to age, physical damage, or manufacturing defects.

Power Surges: Electrical surges can damage the Synology NAS’s internal components.

Overheating: Inadequate cooling can lead to overheating, causing hardware malfunctions.

2. Software Issues

Firmware Corruption: Problems during firmware updates or bugs can lead to data corruption.

File System Errors: Corrupt file systems can make data inaccessible.

3. Human Error

Accidental Deletion: Users can mistakenly delete important files or entire volumes.

Misconfiguration: Incorrect setup or configuration changes can lead to data loss.

4. Malicious Attacks

Ransomware: Malware can encrypt data, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid.

Viruses: Malicious software can corrupt or delete data.

Steps for Synology Data Recovery

When faced with data loss on a Synology NAS device, it’s crucial to follow a structured approach to maximize recovery chances. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Stop Using the Device

Immediately stop using the Synology NAS to prevent further data overwriting. Continuing to use the device can reduce the likelihood of successful data recovery.

2. Diagnose the Problem

Identify the cause of the data loss. Understanding whether the issue is due to hardware failure, software problems, human error, or a malicious attack will help determine the best recovery method.

3. Check Backups

Before attempting data recovery, check if there are any recent backups. Regular backups can save time and effort in the recovery process. If backups are available, restore the lost data from them.

4. Use Data Recovery Software

For minor data loss issues, data recovery software can be an effective solution. Several reliable tools support Synology NAS devices:

R-Studio: A powerful tool for recovering data from various storage devices, including Synology NAS.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: User-friendly software that can recover files lost due to deletion, formatting, or system crashes.

Stellar Data Recovery: Known for its robust recovery capabilities, supporting Synology NAS and RAID configurations.

5. Consult Professional Data Recovery Services

For severe data loss scenarios, such as hardware failures or extensive corruption, it is advisable to seek help from professional data recovery services. These experts have the tools and knowledge to recover data from damaged Synology NAS devices. Some reputable data recovery companies include:

DriveSavers Data Recovery: Offers specialized services for Synology and other RAID systems, with a high success rate.

Ontrack Data Recovery: Known for its expertise in NAS and RAID recovery, Ontrack provides comprehensive solutions for Synology devices.

Gillware Data Recovery: Provides professional data recovery services, specializing in complex RAID and NAS systems.

6. Prevent Future Data Loss

After successfully recovering your data, implement measures to prevent future data loss:

Regular Backups: Schedule frequent backups to ensure you have up-to-date copies of your data.

Firmware Updates: Keep your Synology firmware updated to protect against bugs and vulnerabilities.

Surge Protectors: Use surge protectors to safeguard against electrical surges.

Proper Ventilation: Ensure adequate ventilation and cooling to prevent overheating.

Conclusion

Data loss on Synology NAS devices, though distressing, can often be remedied with the right approach. By understanding the common causes of data loss and following a systematic recovery process, you can effectively retrieve lost data. Utilize reliable data recovery software or consult professional services for severe cases. Additionally, implementing preventive measures will help safeguard your data against future loss, ensuring that your Synology NAS device continues to serve as a reliable data storage solution.

[a-student-out-of-time]

How on Earth did your hard drive fail like that, your Laptop isn't that old...right?

//Well, I figure the problem, as multiple system recovery attempts failed to accomplish and frequent driver error messages suggest, is simply due to bad sectors in my old hard drive

//All the software problems were attempted and unsolved, and so the only real issue could've been due to these bad sectors

//Also, I've had this laptop for about three years now, and my brother used it for quite a while because I was still using my old one, which was literally falling apart, but it was a gift from my ex and I didn't want to part with it yet.

//And starting around the spring, I kept getting "Scan and fix driver errors," which I didn't think much of at the time, but it kept happening more and more frequently, and if software wasn't the issue, bad sectors likely were

//So really, it was just some unfortunate hardware problems that could happen to anyone. Thankfully, all I really ended up losing was my Minecraft world, which I wasn't all that attached to anyway

//I learned the mistake of forgetting to save and backup my data, trust me

[ms-demeanor]

Also:

If your computer is over 5-7 years old but is still working for you that is fine! You don't have to replace your computer because of an arbitrary age. "Functioning" as we define it at my job means that a computer will run the latest standard operating system and the latest versions of various types of business software because that is what is required for a computer to work for an office; a home computer doesn't have to have the same specs to stay functional for a user who is just doing email and internet, which is what most home users use their computers for.

*However* the reliable lifespan of hard drives and ssds is a lot firmer and it isn't planned obsolescence or an attempt to degrade lifespans of consumer devices, it is simply due to the limitations of the hardware. After about five years of use, HDDs and SSDs are more likely to fail. HDDs will give you some warning about this (reporting bad sectors, clicking noises, if they fail data can likely be recovered for a fee), but when SSDs fail they fail catastrophically (they just don't turn on and the data is gone). That is not to say that your drives will automatically fail at the five year mark, it just means that they are much more LIKELY to fail at the five year mark. So now that you know this, you should take steps to prevent a failing drive from ruining your life. Get a large external hard drive and save regular image and file backups from your computer, and if your backup drive is five or more years old buy a new one and copy any important data to the new drive then use the new drive for new backups. You should also get a thumb drive and create a windows recovery disk if you haven't already done so. And you should keep in mind that thumb drives also have an expected lifespan of about five years, depending on frequency of use. And you can also just proactively replace your storage drives on a schedule before they fail to extend the lifespan of the device. If you plan on upgrading the hardware in your computer at five year intervals (a good plan if you don't want to or can't replace an older computer! I support this plan! This is what most people should do!) then you will likely never experience a drive failure on your device.

ALSO here are things that my customers frequently don't consider that can get a lot of life or functionality out of an older/broken computer:

If your laptop screen fails and you can't afford to replace it, go to a local thrift store, get a monitor, then go online or to best buy and get the cable to connect your laptop to your new monitor. Thrift stores have monitors for about 20 bucks and a cable will cost 7-15 dollars, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than $75-150 for a replacement screen and whatever labor would cost. This will mean that your laptop is not a laptop anymore, but it can still be a computer for you.

If your computer doesn't have enough USB ports get a USB hub. A lot of laptops come with only one USB port these days, and many desktops come with 4 or fewer, so an 8-port hub is a great idea.

People are making computers without ethernet ports these days (evil) but you can get USB to Ethernet adapters (here is one by a reliable manufacturer). This is bad and I hate it and I'm sorry.

If the keyboard or touchpad on your laptop fail and you can't afford to replace them, get a USB keyboard or laptop. You can get very small wireless keyboards that will allow you some measure of portability, and there are even keyboard/touchpad combos that you can get.

Talk to like three friends and go in together on a USB CD/DVD drive to share. Most computers, even most desktops, don't have internal optical drives these days, but external readers are available for a wide variety of prices and it is not something that you are going to need every day.

Those things seem pretty obvious, I'm sure, but they just don't occur to a lot of people. Also like at least three of those tips are "if your computer didn't come with hardware it should have then store-bought is fine" and I recognize that that is bullshit but at least if you have your own ethernet port, usb ports, and optical drive it immediately becomes less of a concern if your computer has those things AND you'll be able to use those external components with multiple devices if you want to.

Also I know nothing about gaming specs or video cards but Paul's Hardware on Youtube has a 75-video playlist about video cards that I suspect will have answers to many of the questions people have about graphics cards.

So You Need To Buy A Computer But You Don't Know What Specs Are Good These Days

Hi.

This is literally my job.

Lots of people are buying computers for school right now or are replacing computers as their five-year-old college laptop craps out so here's the standard specs you should be looking for in a (windows) computer purchase in August 2023.

PROCESSOR

Intel i5 (no older than 10th Gen)

Ryzen 7

You can get away with a Ryzen 5 but an intel i3 should be an absolute last resort. You want at least an intel i5 or a Ryzen 7 processor. The current generation of intel processors is 13, but anything 10 or newer is perfectly fine. DO NOT get a higher performance line with an older generation; a 13th gen i5 is better than an 8th gen i7. (Unfortunately I don't know enough about ryzens to tell you which generation is the earliest you should get, but staying within 3 generations is a good rule of thumb)

RAM

8GB absolute minimum

If you don't have at least 8GB RAM on a modern computer it's going to be very, very slow. Ideally you want a computer with at least 16GB, and it's a good idea to get a computer that will let you add or swap RAM down the line (nearly all desktops will let you do this, for laptops you need to check the specs for Memory and see how many slots there are and how many slots are available; laptops with soldered RAM cannot have the memory upgraded - this is common in very slim laptops)

STORAGE

256GB SSD

Computers mostly come with SSDs these days; SSDs are faster than HDDs but typically have lower storage for the same price. That being said: SSDs are coming down in price and if you're installing your own drive you can easily upgrade the size for a low cost. Unfortunately that doesn't do anything for you for the initial purchase.

A lot of cheaper laptops will have a 128GB SSD and, because a lot of stuff is stored in the cloud these days, that can be functional. I still recommend getting a bit more storage than that because it's nice if you can store your music and documents and photos on your device instead of on the cloud. You want to be able to access your files even if you don't have internet access.

But don't get a computer with a big HDD instead of getting a computer with a small SSD. The difference in speed is noticeable.

SCREEN (laptop specific)

Personally I find that touchscreens have a negative impact on battery life and are easier to fuck up than standard screens. They are also harder to replace if they get broken. I do not recommend getting a touch screen unless you absolutely have to.

A lot of college students especially tend to look for the biggest laptop screen possible; don't do that. It's a pain in the ass to carry a 17" laptop around campus and with the way that everything is so thin these days it's easier to damage a 17" screen than a 14" screen.

On the other end of that: laptops with 13" screens tend to be very slim devices that are glued shut and impossible to work on or upgrade.

Your best bet (for both functionality and price) is either a 14" or a 15.6" screen. If you absolutely positively need to have a 10-key keyboard on your laptop, get the 15.6". If you need something portable more than you need 10-key, get a 14"

FORM FACTOR (desktop specific)

If you purchase an all-in-one desktop computer I will begin manifesting in your house physically. All-in-ones take away every advantage desktops have in terms of upgradeability and maintenance; they are expensive and difficult to repair and usually not worth the cost of disassembling to upgrade.

There are about four standard sizes of desktop PC: All-in-One (the size of a monitor with no other footprint), Tower (Big! probably at least two feet long in two directions), Small Form Factor Tower (Very moderate - about the size of a large shoebox), and Mini/Micro/Tiny (Small! about the size of a small hardcover book).

If you are concerned about space you are much better off getting a MicroPC and a bracket to put it on your monitor than you are getting an all-in-one. This will be about a million percent easier to work on than an all-in-one and this way if your monitor dies your computer is still functional.

Small form factor towers and towers are the easiest to work on and upgrade; if you need a burly graphics card you need to get a full size tower, but for everything else a small form factor tower will be fine. Most of our business sales are SFF towers and MicroPCs, the only time we get something larger is if we have to put a $700 graphics card in it. SFF towers will accept small graphics cards and can handle upgrades to the power supply; MicroPCs can only have the RAM and SSD upgraded and don't have room for any other components or their own internal power supply.

WARRANTY

Most desktops come with either a 1 or 3 year warranty; either of these is fine and if you want to upgrade a 1 year to a 3 year that is also fine. I've generally found that if something is going to do a warranty failure on desktop it's going to do it the first year, so you don't get a hell of a lot of added mileage out of an extended warranty but it doesn't hurt and sometimes pays off to do a 3-year.

Laptops are a different story. Laptops mostly come with a 1-year warranty and what I recommend everyone does for every laptop that will allow it is to upgrade that to the longest warranty you can get with added drop/damage protection. The most common question our customers have about laptops is if we can replace a screen and the answer is usually "yes, but it's going to be expensive." If you're purchasing a low-end laptop, the parts and labor for replacing a screen can easily cost more than half the price of a new laptop. HOWEVER, the way that most screens get broken is by getting dropped. So if you have a warranty with drop protection, you just send that sucker back to the factory and they fix it for you.

So, if it is at all possible, check if the manufacturer of a laptop you're looking at has a warranty option with drop protection. Then, within 30 days (though ideally on the first day you get it) of owning your laptop, go to the manufacturer site, register your serial number, and upgrade the warranty. If you can't afford a 3-year upgrade at once set a reminder for yourself to annually renew. But get that drop protection, especially if you are a college student or if you've got kids.

And never, ever put pens or pencils on your laptop keyboard. I've seen people ruin thousand dollar, brand-new laptops that they can't afford to fix because they closed the screen on a ten cent pencil. Keep liquids away from them too.

LIFESPAN

There's a reasonable chance that any computer you buy today will still be able to turn on and run a program or two in ten years. That does not mean that it is "functional."

At my office we estimate that the functional lifespan of desktops is 5-7 years and the functional lifespan of laptops is 3-5 years. Laptops get more wear and tear than desktops and desktops are easier to upgrade to keep them running. At 5 years for desktops and 3 years for laptops you should look at upgrading the RAM in the device and possibly consider replacing the SSD with a new (possibly larger) model, because SSDs and HDDs don't last forever.

COST

This means that you should think of your computers as an annual investment rather than as a one-time purchase. It is more worthwhile to pay $700 for a laptop that will work well for five years than it is to pay $300 for a laptop that will be outdated and slow in one year (which is what will happen if you get an 8th gen i3 with 8GB RAM). If you are going to get a $300 laptop try to get specs as close as possible to the minimums I've laid out here.

If you have to compromise on these specs, the one that is least fixable is the processor. If you get a laptop with an i3 processor you aren't going to be able to upgrade it even if you can add more RAM or a bigger SSD. If you have to get lower specs in order to afford the device put your money into the processor and make sure that the computer has available slots for upgrade and that neither the RAM nor the SSD is soldered to the motherboard. (one easy way to check this is to search "[computer model] RAM upgrade" on youtube and see if anyone has made a video showing what the inside of the laptop looks like and how much effort it takes to replace parts)

Computers are expensive right now. This is frustrating, because historically consumer computer prices have been on a downward trend but since 2020 that trend has been all over the place. Desktop computers are quite expensive at the moment (August 2023) and decent laptops are extremely variably priced.

If you are looking for a decent, upgradeable laptop that will last you a few years, here are a couple of options that you can purchase in August 2023 that have good prices for their specs:

14" Lenovo - $670 - 11th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD

15.6" HP - $540 - 11th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD

14" Dell - $710 - 12th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD

If you are looking for a decent, affordable desktop that will last you a few years, here are a couple of options that you can purchase in August 2023 that have good prices for their specs:

SFF HP - $620 - 10th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD

SFF Lenovo - $560 - Ryzen 7 5000 series, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

Dell Tower - $800 - 10th-gen i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

If I were going to buy any of these I'd probably get the HP laptop or the Dell Tower. The HP Laptop is actually a really good price for what it is.

Anyway happy computering.

[nowdatarecove]

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 When you need a pc restore service, you need one that may do it shortly and correctly. There are many data recovery programs out there on the internet that can save your important data from being entirely erased from your hard disk should problems with it persist. However, not all can really be saved. It will depend on how big the damage is done on your hard disk drive. To get more information on how such important computer solutions are used and learn their limitations. We utilize simplified processes that can assist you in recovering any lost records data in your system. Losing your useful info stored in your storage gadget is a superb. Our data recovery engineers are well-versed in encryption technologies and the nuances required to recover data from failed hard drives of all kinds. Trained in leading encryption software, we are adept at safely retrieving both file and disk-level encrypted data. For more information, please visit our site https://www.nowdatarecovery.com/

[electronicconnoisseurperfection]

Why Data Privacy Matters in E-Waste Disposal

In an era where data is one of the most valuable business assets, the way organizations handle their old electronics can make or break their reputation. While e-waste disposal is often seen through the lens of environmental impact, there’s a far more silent and dangerous threat data privacy breaches.

Disposing of IT assets without ensuring complete data destruction can expose sensitive business and customer information. That’s why secure e-waste management is no longer optional it’s essential.

The Invisible Threat in Discarded Devices

Outdated computers, laptops, servers, hard drives, and mobile phones may appear useless, but they often retain confidential data even after being formatted. Improper disposal methods can leave this data vulnerable to:

Unauthorized recovery

Corporate spying

Identity theft

Data breaches leading to legal liabilities

This overlooked risk can have significant consequences for businesses across all sectors.

Regulatory Responsibilities and Compliance

With rising global awareness of data privacy, laws such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act have made secure data handling mandatory. Companies failing to comply with these standards during e-waste disposal can face:

Regulatory penalties

Civil lawsuits

Loss of client trust

Operational disruptions

To remain compliant and secure, companies must engage with certified e-waste recyclers who follow internationally recognized data destruction protocols.

Techazar’s Role in Secure E-Waste Disposal

Techazar is a leading name in secure and sustainable e-waste management. As a CPCB-authorized and ISO-certified company, Techazar helps organizations across Pan India responsibly dispose of electronic waste while protecting critical data.

We provide end-to-end services, including:

Data wiping, degaussing, and shredding

Compliance with NIST 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M standards

On-site and off-site data destruction options

Chain-of-custody documentation

Certificates of Data Destruction for audit and compliance

Our IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) services are designed to meet the highest standards of data security and sustainability.

Environmental Safety with Data Security

At Techazar, we believe that data protection and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Our secure processes ensure:

No data leakage from retired devices

Reduced electronic waste through proper recycling

Compliance with national and international regulations

Businesses that choose Techazar not only meet compliance requirements but also contribute to a greener, safer digital ecosystem.

Don’t let outdated electronics turn into a data liability. Choose Techazar for certified, secure, and sustainable e-waste disposal.

For more information, visit techazar.in

[hollowhoardbastion]

How to Troubleshoot Computer Problems: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Experiencing computer problems can be frustrating, whether it’s a slow startup, unexpected crashes, or network connectivity issues. This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to troubleshoot these common problems effectively—empowering you with the knowledge to fix your PC or Mac yourself before seeking costly repairs. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate user, understanding how to diagnose and resolve computer troubles is essential to keep your system running smoothly.

Understanding Common Computer Problems

Computer problems can range from minor annoyances to critical failures. Some of the most frequent issues users face include slow computer performance, system errors, blue screen crashes, software freezes, and startup or boot problems. Error messages often give clues about what’s wrong, recommended best repair but their meanings can be cryptic without proper context.

Common symptoms include:

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) indicating serious system errors System freezes or crashes during use Slow response times when opening apps or files Startup failures or boot loops preventing system access Unusual noises from hardware components like fans or hard drives Peripheral malfunctions such as keyboard or mouse issues

Understanding these symptoms helps pinpoint whether the problem is caused by software glitches or hardware faults.

Preparing to Troubleshoot Your Computer

Before diving into fixes, preparation is key to avoid data loss and further complications. Running diagnostics to gather system information, backing up important files, and knowing how to perform system restores are crucial first steps.

Key preparatory actions include:

Backing up critical data to an external drive or cloud service Creating a system restore point or bootable rescue USB for recovery Running built-in diagnostic tools to identify hardware or software faults Reviewing recent changes like new software installations or updates Ensuring your operating system and antivirus software are current

Proper maintenance and backup strategies not only facilitate easier troubleshooting but also protect your data in emergencies.

Step 1 - Identify the Type of Problem Software Issues

Software problems are often related to corrupted applications, update failures, viruses, or malware infections. These can cause security issues, unexpected errors, and degraded performance.

Common signs of software-related issues:

Frequent error messages or popup warnings Slow program launches or unresponsiveness Automatic restarts after updates fail Suspicious activity indicating virus or malware presence

Identifying software problems early allows for targeted virus removal, software updates, and security scans to restore stability.

Hardware Issues

Hardware problems involve physical components such as hard drives, memory modules, fans, or peripherals. Issues like overheating, power Phone repair supply failures, and faulty keyboards affect overall performance and usability.

Common hardware-related symptoms:

Hard drive

[elen-aranel]

Do back up to your personal storage but keep multiple copies if you can, on different media (e.g. your computer hard drive and a separate drive), and check that the backup version works too.

If you have one copy on a cheap USB stick it will find the worst time and then just fail, and you will be scrambling around for potentially expensive data recovery solutions.

I am begging people to use LibreOffice and personal storage devices like hard drives or USB sticks instead of relying 100% on Google Docs. LibreOffice is free and open-source, it saves files to your own computer, and it lets you save as many different file types. You can write in it, format ebooks in it, and do everything you might possibly need to do as a writer.

"Oh, but I'll lose my USB stick--" Fine, back things up in whatever cloud you use as a form of extra protection, but you should also try your absolute damnedest to also put them on some form of storage that isn't a cloud.

I know it's not accessible to everyone, but if you at all have the ability, don't rely on shit that lives on other people's computers. Especially with everything going on with AI theft and aggressive censorship of adult media. If you don't store your files on your own personal computer that you have control over, your files aren't fully yours, and they're at the whims of whoever owns the cloud.

Learn where your files are stored and how to access them. Get into the habit of backing up your files to your own personal storage. Even if you're not up for intense tech research and you don't care about how the computer actually works, please stop letting your art live in corporate clouds.