Monday 29 June 2020

Hard Drive Recovery Group Shares Insight On Internet Speed And Security

Irvine, California based Hard Drive Recovery Group is reaching out to the community to share information on how to monitor one’s internet connection to guarantee it is working at its full potential. The company specializes in data recovery services, which gives them a great deal of experience in most subjects related to computers and other devices.

In their most recently published article, Hard Drive Recovery Group touches upon one of the most common topics of concern among their readers: Internet Speed. With more people working from home and relying on the internet to complete everyday tasks, issues with internet speed have become more apparent. With users seeking a solution to their unbearably slow internet connections, the local tech specialists have taken it upon themselves to inform their community of the most common causes for a slow internet connection—along with advice on how they may fix these issues.

Maureen Davies, a representative of the Hard Drive Recovery Group, states, “From faulty devices, unwanted background updates and even unwelcome guests, there are a number of factors that can affect your internet’s performance. While it can be hard to pinpoint the thing that is slowing down your internet, there are a number of actions you can take to narrow down the options. We invite you to try these before you reach out to your internet provider and file a complaint as these solutions will work in most circumstances, speeding up your internet connection significantly.”

The first, and one of the most simple solutions recommended by Hard Drive Recovery Group to speed up internet connection, is a simple reboot of the internet router. While these devices are designed to work on an uninterrupted basis, a simple reboot goes a long way in terms of speeding up an internet connection. It can help avoid attempts at hacking the network in addition to freeing up limited router memory and even applying important router updates that may have been on hold since the last reboot. Rebooting a device is as simple as unplugging all devices from it and unplugging the router itself from the power source. After a minute or so, plugging everything as it was and turning the router back on should complete the reboot.

If there is no significant improvement after rebooting the device, the company states that the next step is to manage its Wi-Fi channels, which can also help for data protection. It is necessary to figure out whether the router is dual or tri-band as this will determine how much the connections can be spread across different bands. Different bands work better on some devices depending on their proximity to the router.

“While you manage your Wi-Fi channels, you may want to take a look at the different devices that are connected to your network,” says Davies. She remarks that one cause of poor internet performance can often be uninvited guests on the network who are taking up the bandwidth for their own use. This issue can be solved in many different ways, from kicking out unnecessary devices, choosing to slow down particular connections and restricting the length of time some devices can connect to the network. If nothing else works, changing the device’s password will force all devices out and require a manual re-connection, leaving out all unwanted devices.

Hard Drive Recovery Group possesses several customer reviews that attest to the excellence of their services. On the Google platform alone, they enjoy a perfect review score of 5 Stars, which places them among the best-rated data recovery specialists in the area.

One of the most recent comments on this space, shared by Ramiro Ames, says, “Lou and his team really went out of their way to help me, which was great as I had already been to other data recovery services nearby and all of them said there was nothing they could do. HDRG restored all the data on my hard drive and had it back to me by the end of the week. No nonsense, high quality data recovery!”

The company’s website offers more details on the Hard Drive Recovery Group and their services. Interested parties may reach out to Maureen Davies to follow up on any inquiries as well, and more resources on similar tech-related topics can also be found on their blog.



from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Thursday 18 June 2020

Sharing Documents in the Time of Remote Working

As every working person has been adjusting to the new reality of everyone in quarantine due to the COVID19 virus, working from home has changed from being an exception to becoming the norm.  There are those of us who have done years in the office, reporting five to six days a week, who are so used to printing documents or manage important data through filing cabinets and in and out trays and thus will have to struggle a bit with dealing with data and information. With this new norm, we may need to embrace email and messaging document hacks.  Don’t worry, it shouldn’t be too long ago when you had to adjust to document and email management hacks in the office, so you should also be on your way to adapting to your own best practices in managing documents. Who knows, you’ll get your own system up and running efficiently soon, if you haven’t already.

Adapting to email and IM attachments

Since you are now working remotely, you do not have the luxury of printing important documents or storing them in a flash drive and SD card and giving them to your teammates. Thus, distribution of content can only be done through email or instant messaging. However, there are also some concern with document attachments, including difficulties in versioning (as tracking which is the latest versions can be challenging), concurrency (as more than one person can update the document all at the same time), distribution (is everyone who needs the document been given a copy), and of course, security.

Email is still among the most widely used communication tools in the workplace today. However, while email is still the go-to medium for a lot of people, companies find that its disadvantages overtakes its advantages if they don’t take steps for improving email communication.

(Via: https://www.alert-software.com/blog/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-email)

 

Links rather than message attachments

Volleying emails and instant messaging back and forth can be the most popular, but unfortunately a time-consuming and inefficient manner of document or information distribution. Thus, sending links to increase the control you have with the recipients and users of the document is better. By sending links through “collaborative software” like Google Docs and Microsoft OneDrive, you can be updated with the most recent and updated version of the document in real time, and you will also know who has seen and who has reviewed and edited the document. Moreover, links allow you to avoid bloated attachments that make email sending a pain in the neck.

So now that we have a choice, how do we get our files to our colleagues, clients, and vendors? Do we send them as attachments or get links and paste into the email? Change is never easy, but with this post, I would like to explain and prove why it is time to ditch the old habit of sending attachments and start sending links instead.

(Via: https://sharepointmaven.com/why-you-should-stop-emailing-file-attachments-and-start-sharing-sharepoint-links-instead/)

 

Viewing of documents

These collaborative software suites, as mentioned earlier, allow you and your audience access to the documents you want to share. Moreover, they also allow your audience to edit and review the documents online, so there’s really no need to download these documents. This is because these platforms have online apps that allow whoever gets the link to the document to view and edit the documents without having to download them. Your edits also get to be seen by other people who have been given access to said documents.

Google's cloud storage platform, Google Drive, is a fantastic tool for bridging physical gaps between coworkers and collaborators forced apart in today's business world. It's tightly integrated with G Suite, Google's cloud-based office software platform, and its ease of use makes it a perfect collaboration hub for businesses large and small.

(Via: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-share-files-and-folders-in-google-drive/)

 

What about documents you may have lost or accidentally deleted? We can recover them for you. Take a look at the ways we can help you in getting back your missing documents: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/hard-drive-data-recovery.html.

The following article Sharing Documents in the Time of Remote Working is available on http://www.harddriverecovery.org



source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/sharing-documents-in-the-time-of-remote-working/

Tuesday 16 June 2020

Data Recovery Service Publishes New Post On Data Protection

Hard Drive Recovery Group (HDRG), an Irvine, CA based hard drive recovery service, would like to announce that they have published a blog post titled ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind (Or Your Files) During This Lockdown.’ The post talks about the most effective ways to pass time during this lockdown, an especially important subject considering that many people are being forced to stay at home and work from there. This, for most, can be very difficult, especially for long periods of time and with visitors being banned as well. Fortunately, the article has a number of tips that one can use to keep busy while stuck at home.

“Chances are, your company has already allowed people to work from home, if no one has yet been forced to do so,” the blog post says. “And when you’re already home, there’s also a huge chance that, after a day or two, you’re already thinking of the great outdoors where you can do anything with family and friends. But the reality of the COVID19 lockdown strikes, and you’ll have to make your self-isolation as bearable as possible. Here are a few ideas to keep you entertained and lessen thoughts of boredom and pangs of wanting to leave home and expose yourself to a healing world.”

One of the most time-consuming activities one can participate in while still being entertained during self-isolation is to play videogames. Smartphone games may be somewhat entertaining for a short period of time but console or PC games—which require a great deal of time, effort and attention to complete—are considered the best option for those looking for a way to pass the time. Console games can consume hundreds of hours of one’s time and, depending on the game, can keep one entertained for days or even weeks. With large open worlds to explore, expansive levels and incredibly difficult challenges along with engaging gameplay, console games offer a challenge that smartphone games cannot and can help give one the mental exercise they need after days of being stuck at home.

Another option for those stuck at home is to watch movies. “What we’re thinking of is for you to binge-watch on movies, or better yet movie series,” the blog says. “Surely, you’re very familiar with movie franchises, and now that you have a lot of time, why don’t you go ahead and watch them? You can have a marathon of them in order, or perhaps in a random sequence—it’s really your choice. And the options are endless: Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, MCU, LOTR, that should already last you at least two weeks! Better yet, you can go on a themed marathon—movies where Kiera Knightley is not in a corset, underrated ‘90s gems, foreign crime thrillers. Before you know it, the lockdown may already be over!”

Another option is video conferencing with one’s friends and family, with WI-FI security engaged. If one is already working from home, chances are they are familiar with the concept of video conferencing. What they may not have considered, however, is that it can also be used as a way to communicate with friends that they likely have not seen in weeks or even months.

Hard Drive Recovery Group is a professional data recovery expert that specializes in low cost services. The company has a strong understanding of the importance of data and has helped its clients recover thousands of gigabytes of data. The company says, “Our clients come to us with intentional deletions, fire and flood data loss and many other accidental losses that the client thought would be unrecoverable—only to prove that data, in the hands of data recovery experts like HDRG, is never ‘unrecoverable.’ This is one of the many reasons why HDRG has a 99% customer retention rate and receives over 80% of our customer referrals from current clients.”

For more on how to pass the time during this quarantine or for help with recovering data whether it has been lost intentionally or unintentionally, read Hard Drive Recovery Group’s blog or visit the company’s site. Hard Drive Recovery Group is committed to helping their customers in every way possible.



from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Sunday 14 June 2020

A Changed World After the COVID19 Crisis

The entire world is currently in the throes of the COVID19 pandemic, affecting all facets of our lives. Governments of various countries have imposed lockdowns that have affected companies and office workers, making them miss their offices more. Financial institutions have concluded that the world economy will be on its worst depression since the Second World War. So many people are still being tested positive of the virus, and there seems to be no end in sight as the possibilities for a cure and a vaccine are still months, if not years away.

But then, the government can only hold their lockdowns as long as they can. China has already lifted its lockdown on Wuhan, believed to be the epicenter and origin of the virus, while reporting that its national economy will be contracting for the first time since the 1980s. Other “early adapter” countries like Japan and South Korea still demand their people to maintaining social distancing and prohibit public assemblies but have already allowed people to go back to work. This the question among people is, what will the world be once the dust has settled and we have slightly recovered from the crisis?

Digital and electronic companies will be the biggest winners

As mentioned earlier, the global economy is set to suffer one of its biggest contractions in recorded human history. A number of industries cannot fully operate since their customers are under quarantine. Companies suffering a great deal because of the crisis are tourism, transportation, and hospitality. But there are still some industries that are currently and poised to make a killing precisely because of the nature of their businesses and the consequences of this crisis Because social distancing is encouraged and people are isolated from each other, businesses that provide services and goods that precisely encourage this and discourage physical contact are seen to gain. Thus, cloud computing providers, social media platforms (although not because of ad revenue), logistics and delivery services will prosper. With the consumers’ change in attitudes and a bit of paranoia in what our lives would be after COVID19, there is a promise these businesses will continue to soar.

People are moving online to do their shopping. Already, Amazon is adding 100,000 new jobs to manage the extra demand. Some other marketplaces are struggling to add capacity. For example, online grocer Ocado has suspended new orders until it can clear its backlog of deliveries.

(Via: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-your-guide-to-winners-and-losers-in-the-business-world-134205)

 

Working from home will be the norm, not the exception

Employees have for weeks, experienced a change in their style of work as they have been spared of having to dress up and commute to their offices. Many have found this practice favorable for them, and even once the crisis ebbs, it will be difficult for companies to not allow their employees to continue working from home, as they may not afford overhead expenses (office rent, utilities, operating expenses) anew. Moreover, travel restrictions will be stricter, companies may indeed encourage employees to stay at home and still be productive members of the company.

Investing in remote working will have far-reaching consequences on the way we work after the crisis. It is too early to say to what extent we will not go back to the old way of working, but business leaders should already think about the potential of these investments.

(Via: https://www.ey.com/en_be/covid-19/why-remote-working-will-be-the-new-normal-even-after-covid-19)

 

Cooperation may flourish in a different manner

As of the moment, countries are isolating themselves from each other by closing their borders and discouraging foreigners from entering their country. However, once we get past the COVID19 crisis, cooperation will be a norm among countries that will develop best practices on how to monitor, report, coordinate and act effectively to address future catastrophes that will lessen any adverse economic effects and hopefully save lives.

While the growing COVID-19 pandemic could strengthen nationalism and isolationism and accelerate the retreat from globalization, the outbreak also could spur a new wave of international cooperation of the sort that emerged after World War II.

(Via: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/what-covid-19-means-for-international-cooperation/)

 

However, you don’t have to wait for the lockdown to be done for help in recovering lost documents. Let our data recovery experts do that for you. Get in touch with us by clicking here https://www.harddriverecovery.org/data-recovery-services.html.

A Changed World After the COVID19 Crisis Read more on: http://www.harddriverecovery.org



source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/a-changed-world-after-the-covid19-crisis/

Wednesday 10 June 2020

Hard Drive Recovery Group Publishes Article On WI-FI Security

Hard Drive Recovery Group, a data recovery service based out of Irvine, California, has published a post that explains Wi-Fi security and how Wi-Fi performance may be improved. The company offers a variety of data recovery solutions at affordable prices.

Maureen Davies, a representative for Hard Drive Recovery Group, says, “With the current pandemic growing out of control, people are being encouraged to stay at home and be safe. This major shift in lifestyle has led to American growing more and more dependent on their home Wi-Fi for just about everything—from telecommuting to entertainment. After all, the priority now is to contain the COVID-19 situation so as not to let it affect more people. Similarly, people should not let themselves be exposed to the virus.”

Davies continues, “Considering all this, it is an uncontested fact that reliable internet speeds will be of utmost importance so that people can still work from home, stay up to date with the latest information and continue to be connected with family and friends. Internet service providers will doubtless be overwhelmed in the coming days, if not weeks. However, there are certain things that you can do at home to optimize your Wi-Fi for the best performance.”

In a blog post on their website, Hard Drive Recovery Group explains several methods through which people can maximize their Wi-Fi’s effectiveness. The first piece of advice they share is to move other electrical appliances and lights away from the Wi-Fi router. The company explains that this has to do with the harmless radiation waves that Wi-Fi routers transmit. To the internet, routers send electromagnetic signals that are received by Wi-Fi enabled devices. However,other gadgets, even lights and lamps, also give off electromagnetic waves, which can lead to the router’s signals getting muddled. Certain software can also be an issue.

More than any other electrical appliance, microwaves can be the biggest issue, according to Hard Drive Recovery Group. The company writes in the blog post that, “Your microwave may be one of the biggest causes of your diminishing web speeds. Microwaves give off electromagnetic radiation (more than most appliances we named earlier) that may interfere with the signals given off by your router. Thus, if you are doing something important that would need a strong Wi-Fi signal, like attending a video conference or watching HD videos, don’t operate your microwave at the same time.”

The company also advises that the number of gadgets and devices connected to the Wi-Fi router should be limited. The more devices that are connected to the router, the slower the Wi-Fi speed will be. The blog post also has a number of other tips in it, including moving the router to a better spot, moving the router away from fish tanks, and more.

Hard Drive Recovery Group knows what they are talking about, as proven by the company’s stellar reviews. On the Google platform, the data recovery service has a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 Stars. In a recent review, Ramiro Aves says, “Lou and his team really went out of their way to help me, which was great, as I had already been to other data recovery services nearby, and all of them said there was nothing they could do. HDRG restored all the data on my hard drive, and had it back to me by the end of the week. No nonsense, high quality data recovery!”

Meanwhile, in another review, Roy Poss shares that they were, “Hugely impressed with Louis and Hard Drive Recovery Group. They took what I thought was going to be a truly horrible situation (a crashed laptop drive), and made it better than all right. You won't find a better data recovery services company out there!”

Those who want to learn more about Hard Drive Recovery Group and their services are welcome to visit the company’s website. Additionally, they encourage interested parties to get in touch with Maureen Davies directly via email or phone. The company can also be reached through the contact form on their website. Hard Drive Recovery Group is also present on multiple social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, where they post regular updates and communicate with their customers.



from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Want to Be Effective While Working Remotely?

Working With the world population at an estimated 7.9 billion, close to 5 billion people have to work or study from home. With these figures, you would think that the world economy, as a result, would collapse, and rightfully so. Numerous economic analysts are in fact in agreement that we are heading into one of the worst economic contractions in human history, only comparable to the Great Depression in the 1920s and the aftermath of World War II – unless we adapt to this situation.

And adapt most of us have, as working from home has been the saving grace of so many businesses, not to mention entire economies from a total shutdown. Moreover, if done right, working from home cannot just save companies, but allow them to profit. With operating expenses lessened because offices and shops are closed, companies can actually make themselves fiscally strong. Thus, with remote work looking like it’s going to be the norm, how can we maximize it to make it work for our companies? What are the best practices in remote work that will exploit it to its full potential?

Establish a routine

When you go to work, you have a routine that you have established for the days, months, or years you have worked in your company. You get up, commute to work, arrive in the office on time, turn on your laptop, review your emails, have your coffee, get your meeting, have your lunch, do a lot of work, then go home. The same should go with your work from home arrangement. By establishing a routine of what you should do at a certain time, everyone’s (including yours) expectations are set, you get on the grove at work easier and faster every day, and you develop good habits that make your work more streamlined, simpler, and easier.

As remote workers, our “commute” is often only a couple of steps from bedroom to office – there’s no travel time to signal to the brain that work is beginning and ending. That means it can sometimes be hard to get into “work mode” for the day and also out of it at the end of the day.

(Via: https://open.buffer.com/remote-work-routine/)

 

Have a dedicated work space

As much as possible, you need to have a separate area (with desk and chair) for where you will work remotely. Don’t make it a habit to work from your bed or in an area where you do other activities like watching TV or have your meals. Having a separate area to work puts you in the right frame of mind when it’s time to work and removes you from distractions (i.e., family members who are also under quarantine) and other tempting activities you’d rather do aside from work (because everybody knows a Netflix marathon is way better than working, right?).

If you operate an automotive paint shop, then chances are your workspace will be the garage or a freestanding shop out back. If you operate a dental practice from home, then your workspace will probably be a portion of your home used for a waiting room, a treatment room, and an office. In other words, workspace requirements will vary depending on the business you choose to operate.

(Via: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/207306)

 

Make sure you practice self-care

Along with establishing a routine for work, you should also allocate an amount of time for self-care. These are troubled times and practicing self-care after you get your work done will allow you to maintain your sanity.  Make sure you have time for some physical activity like yoga or a home workout; quiet me time for some meditation, scrapbooking or journal writing; and a bit of grooming with a lockdown pedicure, manicure, or facial!

 

In normal circumstances, remote workers are actually happier than their in-office counterparts. Now, on the other hand, many people share the common feelings that they’re stuck at home and unable to concentrate on their tasks.

(Via: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348116)

 

Maintain clear communication with your colleagues

Nothing destroys the momentum of remote teamwork when somebody suddenly goes missing and doesn’t answer instant messages or emails. Conspiracy theories arise, suspicions surface, and soon enough some team members will voice out that some missing people may just be slacking. Thus, it is important to always relay any issues and difficulties to your colleagues and supervisors. We are all experiencing this crisis together, so telling everyone you’ll be logging off to fix internet connectivity issues or 10 minutes to go off the grid and calm your mental state will be easily understood.

“Communication is really the foundation of good remote work,” says Brie Weiler Reynolds, a career development manager and career coach at FlexJobs, a job listings site. “It helps you stay on the same page as your teammates and supervisors, and with the added pressure of the unique situation we find ourselves in, communication will help keep teams productive and cohesive.”

(Via: https://money.usnews.com/careers/articles/how-to-communicate-effectively-when-working-with-a-remote-team)

Losing important files is absolutely not an efficient way of working remotely. If you need assistance in recovering documents, we can definitely help. To know more about the services we offer, read here: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/repair-hard-drive.html

The following post Want to Be Effective While Working Remotely? was first seen on The Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog



source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/want-to-be-effective-while-working-remotely/

Saturday 6 June 2020

Is Zoom Helping or Destroying Your Remote Work Efforts?

With most of the employed world currently now working at home to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, apps and programs that make remote work easier have become household names. One such program is Zoom, a platform that facilitates video conferencing. However, with the rise of its popularity, many concerns about its security have also emerged. In just the past month since state and national governments started imposing lockdowns, the number of Zoom downloads has increased by more than 500%. High-profile personalities such as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have been known to use the platform as they are on quarantine to attend video conferences.

However, many sectors have also expressed concern regarding its use, with online security experts questioning its security features and doubting the safety of users’ data in the platform. New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, has already demanded the company to inform the public of measures it had taken for security concerns to be addressed and whether the sudden ballooning of its users is something the company can cope with. Zoom announced then that all its resources will be focused on addressing safety and security issues raised by its users in recent weeks.

But what issues plague Zoom? Should we as Zoom users look for alternatives or are our concerns being addressed competently?

The rise of ‘Zoom bombing’

The FBI announced it with the recent rise in the use of Zoom, there have also been more incidents of “Zoom bombing” or video hijacking in the platform. According to the FBI, they are investigating increased incidents of hackers infiltrating video meetings, shouting racial slurs and issuing threats. The bureau is looking into connections of these hackers and ransomware hackers who until recently, have also victimized businesses.

Though Zoom-bombing quickly became a meme, US law enforcement officials are warning users that their behavior is more than just disruptive. In many cases, it could be illegal.

(Via: https://www.insider.com/what-is-zoom-bombing-illegal-2020-4)

 

Absent end-to-end encryption

While it used to be that Zoom boasted its platform as having end-to-end encryption, apparently it is not. End-to-end encryption is a feature that cybersecurity savvy users are always on the lookout for, as it secures communication platforms so that whatever goes into the platform can only be accessed by the users involved. Zoom has since then confirmed that end-to-end encryption is not yet present on the platform.

The Intercept asked a Zoom spokesperson whether video meetings that take place on the platform are end-to-end encrypted, and the spokesperson said that “Currently, it is not possible to enable E2E encryption for Zoom video meetings.”

(Via: https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201234/zoom-end-to-end-encryption-video-chats-meetings)

 

Flaws on its security features

As early as 2019, Zoom users were surprised when it was revealed that a hidden web server had been installed on user devices which could add the user to a call without his or her consent. Recently, there has also been a discovery of a bug that could allow hackers to take over a Mac of a Zoom user through the device’s webcam and microphone.

One year ago, two Australian hackers found themselves on an eight-hour flight to Singapore to attend a live hacking competition sponsored by Dropbox. At 30,000 feet, with nothing but a slow internet connection, they decided to get a head start by hacking Zoom, a videoconferencing service that they knew was used by many Dropbox employees.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/technology/zoom-security-dropbox-hackers.html)

 

In-app surveillance?

Another feature Zoom has been criticized for is its “attention tracker,” as this allows a meeting host to see if a meeting attendant has clicked away from a Zoom window for 30 seconds or more. While it feels like it could allow meeting hosts to know who among the attendees are paying attention, it could also be viewed as an invasion of user’s privacy, as they shouldn’t feel like they’re under surveillance while supposedly just attending a meeting.

Zoom has an attention-tracking feature, for example, which notifies the host of some video calls if participants click away to look at something else. The company has actively promoted this feature to educators, explaining it’s a good way to monitor which of your students is slacking off.

(Via: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/01/do-you-know-how-zoom-is-using-your-data-heres-why-you-should)

 

If missing documents also give you a headache as you work remotely, we may help you with that. Read here to know more about our services: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/hard-drive-recovery-service.html.

 

The blog post Is Zoom Helping or Destroying Your Remote Work Efforts? Find more on: www.harddriverecovery.org



source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/is-zoom-helping-or-destroying-your-remote-work-efforts/

Thursday 4 June 2020

Data Recovery Expert Explores Software That Can Help Users Recover Data On Their Own

Irvine, CA based Hard Drive Recovery Group (HDRG) recently published a new blog post that seeks to identify and explain several programs that can be used to recover lost data without necessitating the help of a professional. As the company is dedicated to helping their community recover and preserve their data, they hope that this information will help those who are unable to access a data recovery expert or only suffer relatively minor problems that can be dealt with on their own.

“Not all instances of data loss would require our help,” observes Hard Drive Recovery Group. “Many pieces of software exist online that can help you recover your precious files, and many of these programs are also freely available in one form or another. We urge you to consider all your options before you decide how to proceed. Should you be able to resolve the issue on your own, that may be the end of it. However, should the loss be too extensive or should you not be able to find a program that can help you recover a specific type of file, we encourage you to get in touch with a professional service like HDRG.” This is true for customers who do not wish to endure the hassle of recovering their data on their own as well. HDRG welcomes all who seek out their assistance.

While data recovery software once sustained a poor reputation, the company’s blog post notes that recent times have seen their popularity grow, fueled by a reported improvement in efficiency and success rates. Notably, free versions of paid software are among the most disliked, as these tend to be nearly unusable. On the other hand, many users report a fairly positive experience with freeware (software that is completely free). HDRG’s post takes a look at a variety of such programs in order to explore the advantages (or disadvantages) they offer.

First on the list is Recuva, a paid software that is nonetheless considered extremely affordable. Available only on Windows, Recuva is known to boast fast scan times that help make it a popular option when combined with its affordability. However, some users who have tried Recuva alongside its peers have noted that it does not seem to have as many features as its competition. HDRG adds that many free or ‘affordable’ programs should also not be considered one-stop solutions that will instantly recover all data automatically. Some computer know-how may be required, and additional software or strategies may need to be used for comprehensive data recovery.

Next on HDRG’s list is MiniTool Power Data Recovery, a relatively easy piece of software to use that has the advantage of being able to recover data from SD cards and CD/DVDs as well as conventional hard drives. Unfortunately, users also report that this particular program can be rather slow if used on large drives.

Disk Drill similarly relies on simplicity to draw in users, laying out their options in an accessible User Interface (UI) that clearly shows them what can be attempted. However, HDRG points out that Disk Drill’s true advantage lies in the fact that it can scan removable media and memory cards at the same level that it does for hard drives.

Next up is Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery, which boasts a multitude of recovery modes that are designed to address a number of data loss scenarios. The software can assist users who have lost data due to accidental deletion, malware attacks and so on.

A number of other programs have been identified in the full blog post, and all those interested are welcome to browse Hard Drive Recovery Group’s website to read more. Computer users who believe they cannot recover their data on their own are welcome to reach out to Maureen Davies of Hard Drive Recovery Group in order to explore additional options.

The company’s online reviews show that many customers have found help at HDRG. Gretchen L. says in her 5-Star Yelp review that she found the company, “Absolutely amazing! My husband, who is a professional photographer, had an external hard drive crash right after transferring thousands of images from his latest job. He had wiped them off of the rented equipment they were stored on so the bad hard drive was the only place the photos were located. We were both devastated at the thought of having to tell the couple their images were gone but thankfully Lou and his team were able to recover all of the images. I highly recommend them and am forever grateful!” HDRG’s website offers more information on their own services as well.



from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Tuesday 2 June 2020

Working From Home Done Right

Right now, it is estimated that four billion people are working from home because of the lockdowns governments all over the world have imposed on their citizens in reaction to the accelerated spread of the COVID19 virus. Since we’re all already reporting to work from the comforts of our homes and trying our best (hopefully) to be our most productive, we may need all the help we can get to do it right. We are in this together and we are not sure of when this lockdown will be over, so might as well make sure our remote work experience is maximized.

So, how do we make the most of remote work to improve our experience, let our companies enjoy the fruits of our efforts, and make the world economy suffer a little less? Here are some ways to make remote work a win-win situation for everyone.

 

Out with voice, in with video

If there’s anything that remote work has removed, the first thing that would come to mind would be face-to-face meetings among colleagues and clients. With the rise of apps and programs that allow video conferencing, why not take advantage of them and take your interactions to another level? After all, seeing other people you are supposed to meet is what makes meetings effective. Only hearing voices in meetings, while it can still be effective, does not promote trust and better relationships because attendants cannot see each other’s body language and facial expressions.

Then came the advent of video-centric conferences. These online meetings not only utilize the audio feature that allows participants to hear themselves and others in separate locations, but they also have video components that allow individuals to engage with each other visually.

(Via: https://imaginenext.ingrammicro.com/ucc/five-benefits-of-video-vs-phone-conferencing)

 

Be aware of software tools and solutions that might help be more effective.

If you casually ask someone working from home to send you a file, the first option they will most probably consider is send an email and attach the document to it. But then, sending a file through email may not exactly be the most efficient way of sharing files nowadays, considering that there are apps or programs that would allow you to share the file and more. Look around and share with the team apps and programs that make remote working a better collaborative experience.

Whether you’re a freelancer, blogger, employee, business owner, content marketer, and others in the digital marketing space, these work from home tools will help you connect, interact, collaborate on projects, and increase efficiency and productivity.

(Via: https://www.business2community.com/business-innovation/top-7-digital-tools-for-working-remotely-during-covid-19-02300142)

 

Be positive and strike a balance with work and home life

Given that we are all working at home because of this bleak period in history, it is not expected that everything and everyone will be Mr. or Miss Sunny Sunshine. But then, no one should also be a party pooper or a Debbie Downer. Putting a positive spin in things when attending meetings and virtual team gatherings will hopefully lift everybody’s spirits up and divert people from a rather bleak outlook. Also, just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’ll be opening yourself to working until before bedtime. Make sure that you still get out of work at the proper time.

A lot of people are experiencing more stress than usual. People have concerns not only about COVID-19, but about related financial challenges, changes in routine, and spending too much time (or not enough) with friends and loved ones. What can we do to manage this stress and maintain a positive attitude?

(Via: https://news.ncsu.edu/2020/04/how-to-stay-upbeat-during-a-pandemic/)

 

And if working from home has you frazzled with your files, don’t worry. Take advantage of our services https://www.harddriverecovery.org/professional-data-recovery.html if you need help in recovering lost documents. We will help you be the best remote worker with everything, especially important documents, in control.

 

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