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The dream start for Te Aroha Cobras football teams came to an abrupt end over the weekend, with thre…
As I write this on my 10" laptop, my desktop computer is packing a sad. Suddenly the hard drive failed to write a few things to disk, and as it rebooted I saw the all-too-familiar screed of errors indicating imminent failure or data loss. I immediately stopped and took time to backup my … View moreAs I write this on my 10" laptop, my desktop computer is packing a sad. Suddenly the hard drive failed to write a few things to disk, and as it rebooted I saw the all-too-familiar screed of errors indicating imminent failure or data loss. I immediately stopped and took time to backup my existing data to an external drive before more damage occurred. The fact that I didn't have all of my data regularly backed-up speaks volumes about my own hypocrisy; I regularly prompt clients to back up their data. Why? Because hard drives have lifespans and you don't know how long they are.
Often referred to in the tech industry as 'spinning rust' hard drives, magnetic hard drives have been the main storage devices inside modern computers for 3 decades. They work well, last a reasonably long time and are relatively reliable. But even so, 10% of all hard drives fail within the first 3 years of use, 20% within the first 4 years, while most fail after 6 years of use (source: Backblaze, an online data warehouse). For some it seems inconceivable that these devices which we rely upon so much could spontaneously decide to die.
But they do, and so you need to have your data in more than one place; ideally at all times. When I say data, I mean whatever documents, photos, etcetera that you have which are not stored online in some form, and that you would be at a loss without. The simplest solution is to buy an external drive (either a USB thumb drive or something a little larger depending on how much data you've got) and copy your important data to that. You can do that manually, or most operating systems (eg. Windows or MacOS) have built-in backup solutions which work pretty effectively.
You might think that a new storage mechanism will come along and solve this problem indefinitely. Unfortunately not: solid state hard drives, for example, are quicker but less reliable. The closest we've come to that goal is tape, but tape drives are expensive, and uncommon as a result. An external drive that is not plugged into the computer for most of the time will have a pretty good lifespan, provided you don't drop it or decide to feed it icecream someday. I have hard drives which're still going after 10 years - but they are the minority.
There's also some concept that with the internet 'your data is forever' and so we can stop worrying about losing things. That's not really true; the lifetime of your data online is the lifetime of the company which stores it. And if there's anything which the early 2000's dot-com crash taught us it's that no online company is insoluble. So don't rely on Facebook being around in 15 years time (even though it probably will be) to store your photos.
If there's something important to you, in the physical world as well as the virtual world, you need to take care of it. The procedure for doing that in the virtual world is to create copies. I'm not sure how well that works in the physical world, but I'll get back to you once the prototype cloning machine in my shed gets a council permit.
- Matt Bentley is a computer repair expert with Waikato Home PC Support.
Email info@homepcsupport.co.nz or phone 0211348576. www.homepcsupport.co.nz...
Hey neighbours,
Have you heard Transport Minister Phil Twyford's views on wheel clamping? He says it either needs to be banned or regulated - and he was working on legislation to see it banned. What are your thoughts? To read more, click here.
Are you a pet lover looking for an alternative to domestic cats and dogs?
Farm-style animals like chickens, goats, and even pigs, are gaining in the pet popularity stakes, but have specific needs and regulations you need to be aware of. … View moreAre you a pet lover looking for an alternative to domestic cats and dogs?
Farm-style animals like chickens, goats, and even pigs, are gaining in the pet popularity stakes, but have specific needs and regulations you need to be aware of. Here's what you need to know about keeping them in residential areas.
Post-earthquake demolition has pushed a Wellington landfill into new areas – creating an unfortunate…
The splendour of the Elysee Palace was on full display, the Republican Guard in their finery, to wel…
Taxpayers are being asked to fork out $25 million to help pay for the $165m construction cost of Sir…
Neighbours of a neglected and vandalised hotel on a Christchurch main street have called for action …
Teachers said her son didn't have autism, he was poorly behaved, and she was a bad parent. Sarah Bl…
It's been 60 years since the Piako Gliding Club was formed, but Lew Hale remembers it like it was ye…
Auckland to Honolulu from $720 per person return.
Limited seats available over May and June, you will need to be fast!
Contact Steve on 027 345 3456 or swilson@hot.co.nz for further details on this or anything else travel.
Terms and conditions apply.
The water quality problems which surfaced on Cambridge's Lake Te Kō Utu over summerlook set to remai…
Personal trainer Alison Storey's weekly column, Storey on Sport, answers your questions on fitness a…
If you’re looking to sell and buy a home at the same time, it pays to know and understand what tools are available to you upfront. Download our free guide for answers to common questions:
- Should I sell first or buy first?
- How can I afford to buy, if I'm still waiting to sell?
- Can … View moreIf you’re looking to sell and buy a home at the same time, it pays to know and understand what tools are available to you upfront. Download our free guide for answers to common questions:
- Should I sell first or buy first?
- How can I afford to buy, if I'm still waiting to sell?
- Can I transfer our mortgage?
- What are important legal clauses to know?
- Am I looking in the right suburbs?
With this guide, you can march, rather than muddle, through the buying and selling process and get on with the business of enjoying your new home.
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