At about 9AM yesterday, right in the middle of work, my laptop faded to black...literally. The screen went blank and the power went off. I thought the batter had died but it was more than that. My computer crashed. For many, this is utterly terrifying! Your first thought is "What about my files?" followed by a long list of other questions. If you computer dies, my first advice is "DON'T PANIC!". Here's a few quick steps to get you back on track without worrying.
STEP 1: Make sure it's really crashed. For laptops, unplug the battery and power, and let them sit for a minute or two. They might have overheated. Reconnect the power and try again. The other specific items you want diagnosed are:
- Power supply
- Memory
Take your PC to a repair shop and ask them to check those specific items. Such testing should cost much less than the usual
STEP 2: Don't waste your time or money at a data recovery service. Your hard drive can be removed, installed in an external enclosure, and plugged into your new system via a USB connection. You'll be able to copy all your data off without paying more than $20 for the external enclosure. Far less than the $100 or so a recovery service costs.
STEP 3: Get a new system. I recommend getting a system with an Intel i5 processor as it has excellent "bang for the buck". This applies to laptops and desktops. Reinstall your programs one by one and eliminate any that you don't need.
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Bryan Robertson, Broker Associate | T: 650.799.9951 | Email: bryan@serenogroup.com | Website: http://www.BryanRobertsonHomes.com |CA License: 01191946 | Sereno Group - Los Altos branch | 369 S. San Antonio Road | Los Altos, CA 94022
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