How to Deal With Data Loss

When we talk about loss these days, we bet everybody has something to say. Some of us would volunteer that they have lost a lot of joy because they miss going out and seeing friends and family. Some would claim they miss the outdoors as they are just cooped up in their houses, not being allowed to explore anything beyond their doorstep and smell the fresh air and flowers.  Unfortunately, some of us would say they have lost acquaintances, friends, and family to COVID-19. And then, for some of us working at home, losing important data because of missing files and documents is one thing they have experienced and are now suffering from. Oh, what a tragedy! Losing important files could get anyone in trouble and for some of us, may cost us our jobs, which at this time is something nobody can afford to lose.

Losing files and documents can happen to even the best of us because of two reasons. One of the reasons important files may suddenly disappear is because our devices, whether a laptop or desktop, may have gotten damaged. When your hard drive crashes, when you drop your laptop, or if somehow, your hard drive gets in contact with a magnet, there is a huge chance that your files may get erased. Another reason a lot of files get lost is, unfortunately, our carelessness. We usually get mouse clicker happy when we want to free up some space for some reasons. We think that fewer files will make our computers faster, so we delete files without too much care. Then, there are also times that we click on “Select All” when we transfer unnecessary files to the Recycle Bin and click on “Empty Recycle Bin” and “Yes” without really doublechecking which files will we affected. Thus, we end up deleting files we should not really.

So, to help you with recovering important files and documents, what should you do? Do you go for a DIY strategy and save some money in exchange for a risky procedure or should you leave it up to the professionals?

 

Should you DIY data recovery?

When you decide to do data recovery by yourself, you would need a data recovery software. This method would be most effective if you accidentally deleted your file or if your hard drive was suddenly corrupted. Even with files that have supposedly been deleted “permanently,” these software suites have proven to be quite effective.

Data recovery is helpful in many ways whether you are at home or in a professional setting. Your photos, videos, and voice recordings amassed and saved on your computer or an external storage medium can’t be recreated or relived. Data recovery helps you get back those treasured digital memories.

(Via: https://www.stellarinfo.com/blog/know-about-data-recovery/)

Things to look for

So, what should you exactly look for when you look for DIY data recovery software. There are quite a number of software available in the market today, each claiming to be the best, that the options can be overwhelming. Do not forget the features and benefits when winding down with your selection.

Good data recovery software should give you the option to preview your corrupted files before initiating the retrieval process sometimes you might spot a file that is corrupted but after restoring, you realize that it is not what you are looking for. Therefore, good data recovery software should have a preview feature to help you save time in finding the right files that you want to retrieve.

(Via: https://www.lifehack.org/499811/8-best-tips-to-choose-a-good-data-recovery-software)

When to go for data recovery services

If you have the funds, if you don’t want to take the risk of letting those lyrics disappear forever, then you can leave the data recovery task to the professionals.

You can get the necessary help from an IT company that provides these services if you are feeling apprehensive about doing it yourself when you want to back up your data. Doing it this way ensures a professional will do the work, and your data is safe. It also streamlines the process of securing the data as the backup is done remotely. Then, everything else can be done when you set it up.

(Via: https://www.911-computer.com/benefits-of-backup-and-data-recovery-services-for-your-business/)

Speaking of data recovery services, look no further! Let Data Drive Recovery Group help you! Know more about our expertise by reading here: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/repair-hard-drive.html.

The post How to Deal With Data Loss Read more on: Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog

source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/how-to-deal-with-data-loss/

Hard Drive Recovery Group Shares Insight On Working From Home

Hard Drive Recovery Group, an Irvine, California-based data restoration service, recently published a new blog post talking about working from home. With many people having to work from their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hard Drive Recovery Group has decided to offer tips that might help make their readers’ experiences with working from home more productive and less strenuous. Not being able to leave the house even for work has proven to be very difficult for some people but, done correctly, it can be just as safe, secure and productive as working at an office.

“We are in this together, and we are not sure of when this lockdown will be over, so we might as well make sure our remote work experience is maximized,” says the blog post. “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? We have a few tips to offer that could make this remote work situation better for everyone.”

It is estimated that four billion people around the world are working from home due to lockdowns imposed by their governments around the world in response to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus. This means that billions can no longer meet face-to-face, be it for social or business reasons. There are, however, multiple apps that allow video conferencing which, while not the same as meeting in real life, make communication a lot easier. Communicating through audio calls or emails and text messages can make it difficult to trust the other party when discussing business as it is nearly impossible to see and judge body language and facial expressions.

Certain software tools can make sending and receiving work files easier. As the blog post says, “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.”

When working from home, it is generally to strike a balance between work and leisure. Being stuck at home can have negative effects on one’s emotional state, but it is important to remain positive during meetings and virtual team gatherings. This can improve the moods of one’s co-workers and improve the overall working experience. It is also important to separate work from leisure as well. Working from home does not imply an increase in working hours, and the blog past advises that workers make it clear when they are on and when they are off the clock.

Hard Drive Recovery Group has a number of services that can help one recover lost documents or manage data. The company provides safe and secure hard drive recovery from Mac and PC hard disk drives using both software and clean room hands-on data retrieval. Every day, the company recovers thousands of megabytes of data for individuals and companies across North America.

A number of clients have great reviews of the data recovery service. One client, T. Chalmers, shares, “On behalf of everyone here, I want to give my utmost thanks for saving our database. While we can't say much about our IT services company (who really dropped the ball here), I have nothing but good things to say about you guys. Without Hard Drive Recovery Group, we would have been in a really brutal situation. I also appreciate the service I received, as you guys kept me notified of the progress every single step of the way. Now that you helped us put a new backup plan in place (and a new IT provider), I feel like we're on very steady ground."

For more information, visit Hard Drive Recovery Group’s website. Their representatives may be contacted for further details as well.

from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Postpone, Cancel, Goodbye?

We are living in uncertain times, indeed. The coronavirus has put our lives on an indefinite pause as the plans that we have zealously tried to plot and implement at the start of the year has been out in the backburner or worse, turned into pipe dreams because the timing has suddenly become askew or finances have suddenly become scarce. It is not actually because people have become more fickle-minded, but even if we have the tools to execute a project, there is somewhat a more enticing proposition: To just curl in bed all day, Netflix and chill. There is just a compulsion in these uncertain times to also be uncertain and just let go – let the law of que sera, sera unfurl in your life. Is it really the best thing to be committed to something nowadays? The thing is, things are so uncertain that if we commit ourselves to something, there is a chance that the thing we have committed to will eventually not materialize because of circumstances beyond our control. So, we end up having this fear of commitment and resolve to ourselves that maybe now is not really the right time to exercise the value of being committed.

The issue of commitment has also been prevalent in the world of technology. Since the pandemic, it seems that companies, not just individuals. have also become allergic to being committed. Participation in major events have become erratic, product launches have been postponed until canceled, and some businesses, unfortunately, have to say goodbye because they want to cut their losses earlier rather than prolonging their agony. We have rounded up some items in the technology that have been canceled, postponed, or moved.

Toshiba Says Sayonara to Laptops   

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Japanese tech company Toshiba was one of the trusted names when it comes to laptops. Toshiba was then known for producing very sturdy laptops that do not get easily malfunction. Then, other manufacturers introduced more laptops that are more affordable, chipping Toshiba’s formerly stable share of the market. Now, it’s goodbye for them in the laptop production field.

Japanese tech giant Toshiba will no longer make laptops after more than three decades in the business, the company has announced.

On August 4, Toshiba transferred its last outstanding share in Dynabook Inc., its laptop computing arm, to Sharp, another Japanese electronics corporation.

(Via: https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/toshiba-sharp-laptop-sales/?itm_medium=topic&itm_source=61&itm_content=2x2&itm_term=2356592)

Google Play Music's Last Note

Google, for all its dominance in some services such as search engines, the Android operating system, and app marketing, has failed in some markets, including music. Somehow consumers really didn’t catch on to Google Play Music as much as they warmed up to platforms like iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify. So now, Google Play Music is playing its swan song.

Google Play Music has been given the death sentence by Google, and today the company has announced a bit more detail about how its execution will be carried out. The main message from today's blog post is "back up your music now," as Google says it will wipe out all Google Music collections in December 2020.

(Via: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/08/google-music-shutdown-starts-this-month-music-deleted-in-december/)

See You Next Year, Halo Infinite

In a time of pandemic when people are in a constant search for anything and everything that would provide them a brief respite from thinking of the dire situation of the world through escapist entertainment, it is a bit suspect for Microsoft to push back the release of one their most profitable games, Halo Infinite.

It’s an unexpected move, seeing as Microsoft has been pushing Halo Infinite hard as the primary reason to purchase the upcoming Xbox Series X console. The move means Microsoft is delaying its biggest launch title.

(Via: https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/halo-infinite-delayed-until-2021/?itm_medium=topic&itm_source=50&itm_content=2x2&itm_term=2356592)

Disney Delays Movies

Alas, as audiences have moved from going to the theaters to consuming everything online, it is inevitable for entertainment companies like Disney to push back the release date of their movies. And now, the much-anticipated and much-pushed back Mulan has already been reported to be released online instead of being released in cinemas once they become operational again.

All scheduled "Star Wars" and "Avatar" films between 2021 and 2027 are being pushed back one year, the company announced Thursday. That means there will be no "Avatar 2" next year and no new Star Wars film in 2022.

(Via: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/23/media/disney-mulan-star-wars-avatar-delays/index.html)

But with trying to recover lost files, you never should postpone or cancel! Make sure you get the best assistance for your issue with us: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/repair-hard-drive.html. Get us to reunite you with your files for worry-free data recovery.

Postpone, Cancel, Goodbye? Read more on: Hard Drive Recovery Group Blog

source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/postpone-cancel-goodbye/

HDRG Publishes Informative Blog Post On Managing Documents

Irvine, California-based Hard Drive Recovery Group (HDRG) recently published a new blog post about managing documents while working at home. The article can be viewed on the company’s official website.

Most people have been in lockdown for several months and, at this point, have probably gotten used to the new norm of effectively working at home. However, many still miss all of the quirks and the perks of working from their office, such as free instant coffee, having noisy and nosy workmates and having important documents printed on command. However, with the help of modern technology, people can now have the advantages of working in an office while continuing to work at home. In fact, document management and workflow implements may be made available so that they can have an easier time with remote working. There are also some great and easily implementable practices that teams and individuals can use to develop systems for processing documents.

As noted in the blog post, document management can be made more seamless and effective by allowing team members to collaborate on documents as opposed to just letting them have access to the document itself. However, there should be an auditing tool for the purpose of recording the actions taken by all recipients of the documents. Other features that can be added include automated document creation, multiple tab views of the document and records of correspondence. In fact, Techgenix, a leading online IT resource, states, “Thanks to growing and emerging enterprise collaboration tools, working from home or any remote location can now be almost as productive and rewarding as working from the office. These remote work collaboration tools allow employees and companies to work together on professional projects and plans while not working under the same roof. They are meant to reduce the bottlenecks of communication gaps, feedback and approval processes and more. They also help drastically in core aspects such as communication, planning, project and task management as well as file and data sharing.”

Another action that can be taken for more effective document management, as advised by Hard Drive Recovery Group, is turning on annotations. There are collaborative platforms (such as OneDrive and Google Drive) that allow users to easily distribute documents to teammates and other involved parties. These platforms also allow recipients to review, download and edit documents. However, there are situations where people do not want other people to make changes to the documents but still want to know the other party’s thoughts. In these situations, turning on annotations can be extremely useful. Turning on annotations and comments allows other parties to give their thoughts and suggestions without making alterations to the documents in question. This is important as providing and receiving feedback are key principles of effective collaboration.

Teams can also make sure to get their electronic approvals arranged. Right now, most people from rank and file to management are working from home. This can make getting proper approvals for documents from higher-ups difficult. Using email trails is an option, but this is neither the most efficient nor the most audit-friendly method for giving and receiving approvals. This is why it is important to regulate requirements and rules for electronic signatures and utilize electronic signature software that complies with legal standards. This helps make giving and receiving electronic approvals as flawless as possible. Workamajig, a company that helps businesses of all shapes and sizes to streamline their operations, explains, “Getting documents approved in a structured, timely fashion is one of the more understated challenges in project management. You might have everything lined up perfectly, but if a key stakeholder doesn’t give the ‘okay’ on schedule, things can go downhill quickly.”

Additionally, working from home presents the possibility of losing documents that are stored on people’s devices, which usually happens when hard drives are damaged. To combat this, Hard Drive Recovery Group is pleased to offer safe and secure hard drive data recovery for Mac and PC hard disk drives (using both software and clean room hands-on data retrieval techniques). They are dedicated to finding the most affordable and most efficient hard drive recovery services for their clients. They have almost 20 years of experience in data recovery, and they charge flat rates for their services. They also give accurate estimates to their clients before they provide their services. This means that clients will not be surprised at the cost of their services. Additionally, they do not charge a fee if they fail to recover the data.

Complete details about the company’s wide range of data recovery services can be found on their website. Alternatively, clients may connect with Hard Drive Recovery Group via social media to stay up to date with their news and announcements.

from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Knowing Google Drive Inside Out

In our current situation, one of the most important things to master is putting files online. When most of us, if not everyone, is working from home and only armed with an Internet connection, it is inevitable that sharing of important files and documents is one skill that everybody should already be a master of. After all, hasn’t it been more than five months and running since the world started this anxiety-driven quarantine where everybody needs to practice a safe distance from everyone else? So by now, we would have already developed a deep appreciation towards devices and apps that allow working from home to be that easy and convenient. Who knew that such things like uploading, sharing, and downloading files would become second nature to us, as essential as knowing how to participate in a videoconference (something which we should be skilled with even outside work because Facetime-ing, Skype-ing, or Zoom-ing relatives from across the country and the world is such a welcome relief) or wearing a face mask and practicing social distancing when outdoors.

One of the most popular file-sharing and cloud storage apps that people use whether for work or for other purposes is Google Drive. Since Google Drive is obviously part of the Google suite of programs that is basically ubiquitous all over the world, then it goes without saying that you would be in the very small minority if you haven’t come across the platform. So, if you’re still at a bit of a loss with Google Drive and making the most out of it, here are some information about it:

 

Upload and Share Documents

In these times when nobody is in the office and everyone is working at home, sharing of pertinent files is of the essence. This is where Google Drive becomes a convenient platform because email attachments can only be of a certain size. If you need to share documents or files of a larger size, your email server wouldn’t be able to handle it and this is where Google Drive comes in handy.

The first method is the simpler of the two, and it involves dragging the file or folder from your desktop, and dropping it into the browser window. The second option is to click on the "New" button on the top-left side of the screen and select either "File upload" or "Folder upload."

(Via: https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-google-drive-guide#how-to-use-google-drive)

Download to Access Documents Offline

One of the most pressing features of a storage and file sharing platform for people working from home is the ability to download the shared files so that they can access it even if they are not connected to the net. This feature is very important especially for those who have intermittent WiFi or Internet connection.

You can use many Google Apps features offline, but only if you first set them up while you have internet access. Keep in mind that if you make edits while offline, collaborators will not see your edits and any edits collaborators who are online make will supersede your changes. Once you regain internet access, any offline edits will be synced.

(Via: https://it.stonybrook.edu/help/kb/accessing-google-drive-files-offline-on-a-mobile-devicecomputer)

Google Groups on Google Drive

If you want to share a file or document to not just one but several of your team members, it is not only possible but more convenient if you make a Google Group composed of these people and share your file with that group.

One of the advantages of Google Shared drives is that the group owns all of the documents in the Shared drives, so even if one member leaves, all of the documents remain. You can use Workgroup Integration to create a Google Group from current Workgroups. Once the permissions are granted to your Google Group, access to the Shared drives is automatically adjusted when you add or remove members from your Stanford Workgroup, allowing you to manage access entirely from within Workgroup Manager.

(Via: https://uit.stanford.edu/service/gsuite/shareddrives/create)

Multiple File Sharing on Google Drive

Another convenient feature of Google Drive is that it allows you to share multiple files all at once, not only one at a time.

If you want to share all the files in a folder, select the folder, click the Share icon in the upper- right-hand corner, enter the email addresses, and then click Send.

If any person you share with has a non-Google email address, you will have the option of either recommending that they sign in with a Google account or turning on link sharing.

(Via: https://www.smartsheet.com/content/google-drive-tutorial-faqs)

Meanwhile, if you have files that you have lost because you were too stubborn or lazy to use online storage solutions, allow us to help you. Read more at https://www.harddriverecovery.org/raidcenter/raid-recovery.html to discover a whole range of services.

The following blog article Knowing Google Drive Inside Out Find more on: HDRG

source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/knowing-google-drive-inside-out/

HDRG: Remote Working May Be What The Future Holds For Everyone

Irvine, California data recovery specialist Hard Drive Recovery Group (HDRG) is reaching out to the community to discuss how daily life may change in a post-COVID-19 world. Their views on this topic were shared in a recent blog post that can be read in full on the company’s website.

"The past few months have been remarkably difficult for everyone. While we are all waiting for this to be over, few of us have stopped to think about how things may never go back to normal," states Maureen Davies, a representative of Hard Drive Recovery Group. According to the local tech support specialists, this pandemic has stirred up new possibilities in several parts of everyday life. While not every change brought upon by COVID-19 is negative, weighing the impact that these changes will have in the future, both short and long term, is of remarkable importance.

Davies continues, "While we know that, currently, all that we have to do is to stay at home, the most remarkable changes to our everyday life are unlikely to go away in a post-COVID-19 world. The way we live has changed, perhaps forever, and while this is not necessarily a bad thing, thinking about how things may never be the same again is truly an extraordinary exercise. From automation to remote classrooms and offices, we are in for a treat after the pandemic ends, and while nothing is set in stone, we have put together a list of what we think will never be the same."

Hard Drive Recovery Group compiled a list of things most likely to change in the near future in another recent blog post. The most likely change, according to the local tech support specialists, will be the automation of everyday tasks.

Davies states, "Businesses will be under pressure to be liquid so as to stay afloat. Thus, costs will have to cut, particularly those that do not return profits. Employees who are not as productive as they should be will be cut off, automated procedures may need to be adapted and other employees may have to continue with remote work for businesses to save on operating costs. All signs point to the fact that the most simple jobs will be occupied by machines, overseen by people who can manage and keep an eye on several of these automated workers at the same time. Even in jobs that cannot be occupied by machines, we are more likely to see companies hiring remote workers, cutting down on costs significantly."

The areas that cannot have their costs reduced will be forced to take great leaps in the advancement of their respective technologies. Significant med-tech innovations and telemedicine are expected, as the government will most likely look for ways to prevent the overwhelming situation that hospitals and other medical facilities have had to deal with over recent months. This is where telemedicine and other remote medicinal services come in. Once the crisis recedes, remote health care will become the emerging default, if it is not already the default. Not only will telemedicine make everything cost-efficient to healthcare insurance providers and the patients themselves, doctors will also be able to provide their services to far more patients.

Online education is also very likely to continue increasing in popularity. This is already supported by the decline in student debt that has been observed recently, as students and their parents have demanded reimbursements for tuition and other fees because universities have opted to move classes online, an issue that is only likely to continue in the upcoming fall semester. Remote learning and its impending success will encourage more learners to go for this more affordable method since they can pursue the same education at a fraction of the cost. This will have a remarkably positive impact on the lives of most US residents, making superior education more accessible for everyone.

The company's website offers more details on Hard Drive Recovery Group and their services. Interested parties may reach out to Maureen Davies to follow up on any inquiries as well. Additionally, the company can also be reached through their social media platforms.

from Hard Drive Recovery Group

Welcome Your Home Videos To The Digital Age

Now that most of us are still encouraged to stay home and not venture too much into the outside, disease-infested world, it is for sure that a lot of us have already rediscovered family memorabilia. If there is something that this pandemic has taught us, it is that family memories are truly invaluable. Births, family vacations, school programs, graduations, weddings, Thanksgivings, and Christmas can only be truly appreciated if they were captured in old photo albums and VHS tapes. And knowing how precious yet delicate they are, the thought of converting these photos and videos into digital formats has surely been considered. The good news is, for photos, the process of digitizing them is quite easy and straightforward. Turning old videos that have been stored in VHS tapes to digital may be a bit more challenging, although there are a number of ways to do it.

If you have old family videos in VHS, take note that the VHS format is temporary and has a tendency to degrade. After all, we may have experienced some videos getting erased as we used the same tape where we recorded a momentous family to record a TV show. That only goes to show that the VHS format is not permanent. So, while you still have the time, why not make it a project to transport these videos to the digital era?

DIY Plan A: With a DVD recorder

One easy way is to have a DVD recorder. You would only need to spend on a VCR player, a DVD recorder, and some DVD-R discs where your videos will be transferred to.  With some cords, you can connect them all to your TV and after some hours, viola! Your home videos will now be on digital format!

If you want to save some cash and are willing to put in a minimal amount of work, a DVD Recorder is an easy do-it-yourself option. It allows you to pop in a VHS (you will need a VCR for this), insert a DVD-R disc, and press record to dub the video over. There's a lot of waiting involved, but it isn't a ton of active work, and it's much cheaper than using a professional service if you have a lot of tapes.

(Via: https://sea.pcmag.com/gallery/30873/how-to-convert-vhs-home-movies-to-dvd)

DIY Plan B: Connecting your VCR with your computer

Now, if you don’t want to use a DVD recorder, another way would be to use your trusty computer and a VCR player. With cords to connect your VCR player and your computer, you can digitize these videos. Make sure you have some DVD-R discs (unless your computer has some seriously huge space where the digital videos will be saved to) so that your converted videos can be played not just on your PC or laptop, but also on your DVD player. Of course, you will also need a software that creates DVDs.

Connect your VHS video player to your PC using the cable or cables supplied with your chosen software. It should look something like the photo above. You may need a special Scart cable which has the red, white and yellow cables, or your video player may already have these outputs. (You won't be able to use front-mounted white, red and yellow connectors are these are almost always inputs - not outputs.)

(Via: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/photo-video/how-convert-vhs-dvd-digital-3417308/)

Use a professional

If you want a professional to do it because you don’t want to be hassled by DIY and you think you may damage your old videos, there are digital transfer services you can take advantage of. There’s no need to invest in software and equipment, but you’ll have to shell out for their services, though. Also, you need of course to check whether the professional services near you are open or not, since a lot of stores are still closed.

Costco offers a digital transfer service through its Photo Center. You can transfer several types of videotapes to DVDs including VHS and S-VHS, Beta, VHS-C, Hi8, Digital 8, 8mm and MiniDV.

(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2016/09/02/digitizing-video-tapes/89551880/)

If you are considering using professional services to shift your home videos to digital, you may also need to trust the pros like Hard Drive Recovery Group if you need to recover some files that have gone missing. Read more of our services here: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/hard-drive-failure.html.

Welcome Your Home Videos To The Digital Age Find more on: HDRG Blog

source https://www.harddriverecovery.org/blog/welcome-your-home-videos-to-the-digital-age/