Data recovery and laptop advice
Practical guides on backups, failing drives, data recovery and keeping your files safe.
Signs your hard drive is failing, and what to do
Clicking, slow start-ups and disappearing files are all warnings. Here is how to spot a failing drive and protect your data before it goes.
The hard drive freezer trick: why it no longer works
Putting a failed hard drive in the freezer is an old internet tip. On modern drives it is far more likely to destroy your data than save it.
How to back up your Mac properly
Time Machine, iCloud and an external drive: how to set up a Mac backup that will actually get your files back when you need them.
Choosing a backup system for home or a small business
External drives, NAS devices and cloud backup all have a place. The 3-2-1 rule shows how to combine them.
Protecting your business from ransomware, and getting your data back
Ransomware encrypts your files and demands payment. Good backups are the best protection, and fast action limits the damage.
How to safely dispose of an old hard drive
Deleting files and formatting a drive doesn't remove your data. Here is how to make sure nobody can recover it.
Dell laptop hard drive recovery: what to do when your Dell won't start
If your Dell laptop won't boot, your files are usually still safe. Here is how to tell what has failed and how to get your data back.
Laptop repair or data recovery: which do you need?
A laptop that won't work doesn't always mean lost files. Here is how to tell whether you need a repair, data recovery, or both.