Since use of computer has entered every aspect of our lives, data stored on a computer has come take on more significance because they often contain important information and files that can cause a great deal of disruption if lost. You may have personal documents, family photographs, your music collection and more importantly, possibly highly confidential information related to work or company files, etc. Although it is possible to recover the data after a hard drive crash, but taking a few precautions is always good in every case. So, here we will discuss some common techniques applied to prevent a loss of your important data in case of a data drive failure.

The first and the most efficient way to achieve this, is to back up your data. Once you have backed up your data, in case of any drive failure you will be at advantage. Now there are a many ways in which you can do this. Which way to do is all up to and considering the size of data will also help you in this case.

Step 1 – Flash Drives

You can use USB flash drives if the data you want to back up is small in size. Though nowadays with the advancement in technology high memory flash drives are available, but it is always safe to back up only important data using this method. Using flash drives for your back up process gives you another advantage also, as you can carry it anywhere without any extra burden. Just put the little USB flash drive in your pocket and your data goes with you!

Step 2 – Store Your Data on the Internet

With the wide use of Internet and World Wide Web a number of useful online storage websites are available offering you the data storing service at no cost. You can put your data to these websites also. All you have to do is to create an account on these sites and just use your high speed broadband connection to upload the data. And your data lies on the online server for a life time period. Though some of them may charge you a little money for offering this service, but it is worth of loosing your valuable data completely. While using this online service you might consider of reducing the size of your data by archiving it. It will save you a lot uploading time and may be some cash also.

Step 3 – Store it on CD or DVD

Now if you want to do it really easily, then the best method will using CD or DVD to back up your data. A CD can give you storage of 800 MB at maximum which is enough to back up your important data. Otherwise you may think of using DVDs which can give you a storage space of 4.5 GB or 8.5 depending on the type i.e. either it is a single layered or double layered one. If you are thinking of using quite a few DVDs to back up your whole drive, then don’t worry, go ahead. There are quite a few regular computer users who like to do it in this way. But let it be known that the whole process can take a real long time. Any way once you do it you are completely secured against loosing your data in the vent of loosing your hard drive.

Step 4- External Hard Drives

With the advent of technology computer manufacturers have also come up with external hard drives which are very handy in case of backing up your data. You can transfer whole data from your hard drive to external drive with no pain at all.

Now if you are computer user of advance level then you might think of using some clever state of the art technology to achieve this target. For you the recommended method will be to use two hard disks instead of just one. Nowadays hard drives are available at very much cheap price, so buying two should be of no problem to you. You can get both the hard drive installed in your system using RAID. It stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. It will allow you to get your data replicated from one hard drive to another. Therefore in case of failure of one you can use another.

Step 5 – Preventing Data Loss

Now it’s all up to you to decide which method to use to back up your data. But you should take at least one way to be at the safer side. You should also take some precautionary steps not to let drive failure happen. Yes, you can prevent logical and physical drive failure by taking some steps as outlined.

• First of all never ever expose your drive to heat.
• Be careful while transporting your computer from one place to another. Because sometimes a little shock can result into physical damage.
• Keep your drive away from dust or any other contamination that may cause a failure.
• Don’t be panic in case of a temporary failure and start shaking and heating your computer. Restarting the system sometimes may get the problems solved.
• Sometimes your hard drive may stop to spin. Check all the power connections properly and if you think you cannot handle the situation get help from someone experience. Don’t try to experiment with the hardware.

So these are all the necessary steps you should take to prevent any data loss during the event of any drive failure. Of course we cannot always prevent data recovery, but time to time we should have our back up checked to assure everything is in piece.