It’s one thing to lose a file. It’s another to still have it but realize that it’s become unusable. Unfortunately, many people accidentally corrupt their hard drives without knowing it. With just a few simple changes to their habits, though, they can easily prevent data corruption from happening. In this article, we will discuss a few common mistakes people make and why they could harm your hard drive:
Not Shutting Off Your PC During Storms
Power outages and power surges are two of the most common reasons why hard drives get corrupted. This is because operating systems need enough time to correctly terminate any and all sequences they currently have running, as MakeUseOf explains. When the electricity goes out unexpectedly, that means those sequences are left unfinished. This renders your PC unusable and makes data recovery more difficult.
Not Properly Shutting Your Computer Down
When you prematurely press the shutdown button while your OS is still running its sequences. It causes your hard drive’s read-and-write head to snap back to its original position, which, over time, could scrape the platter surfaces. This is called a “head crash” and basically means that your hard drive has been destroyed.
Using Your Drive Right After Losing Files
If you keep poking around your computer trying to save your data, you might actually be lowering your chances of saving your data! That is why you need to stop using your computer as soon as you notice that any files have gone missing. That way, you will be less likely to accidentally overwrite your missing files’ data.
If you stop making these very simple mistakes, you can make the data recovery process so much easier. Don’t let impatience get the better of you. Follow better practices to ensure your files are always safe and sound.
