A vital step in Laptop Repair concerning Data Recovery, Migration or Maintenance is having a solution in place before a critical situation arises. At our Boston Computer Repair shop we have all the tools and experience to recover your important data from a failed hard drive or crashed system in most cases. However, for the inevitable times where a hard drive has catastrophically failed and Data Recovery is impossible it is vital to have a secure backup solution in place.

Your Data is Irreplaceable

There are many reliable data backup solutions on the market for Desktop and Laptop PC users, as well as more complex data maintenance systems for enterprise level customers using server racks or computer-farms.

I personally use and recommend an external hard drive of at least 1 Terabyte configured to automatically back up your entire system. It is important to make sure your Laptop Hard Drive is large enough to store all of your files without spilling over onto the external - as the essence of backup is to keep two complete and separate copies of everything in case one of the drives fails.

USB or Firewire External Hard Drive

For most users this one hardware and software solution will be everything you need to secure your data and prepare to migrate to a new system in the event of an upgrade or a crash. However, there are a number of other ways to back up your data in case you need to have it on-the-go or access it over the internet. In another post I will review flash-based storage, cloud-based storage and RAID backup solutions for businesses.

A+ Mobile PC Doctors is now offering full service, on-site computer repair and networking services throughout southern Texas in Rio Grande Valley, TX. Call us directly at: 956-577-7386

We have been in business since 2002, carry full insurance through The Hartford, and have an A+ rating from the BBB (Better Business Bureau).

Some of the Information Technology (IT), onsite computer repair, networking and communication services we offer, but not limited to are

Virus removal
Rio Grande Valley Computer repair
Computer networking
Server set-up and Management
IT outsourcing
IT staffing
Multi-site management
Project roll-out (large and small scale)
Data recovery
Spyware removal
Laptop repair
LCD repair
DC jack repair
Hardware diagnostics and repair
PC Optimization
Software and operating system upgrades
Best in class Security Software
Low-voltage data cabling
Structured cabling
Telecommunications services and solutions
Smartboard procurement and installation (for schools and businesses)
Home and commercial grade wireless networking
Security camera and system installation
General computer support and maintenance
POS services
Training & more!

We have been in  business since 2002, and have advanced technicians that will work with you patiently, explain in “non-tech” terms what is going with your home or business computer in Rio Grande Valley, and/or your networks and any other tech support needs you might have.

Our goal is to serve you! Whether at your school, place of business, restaurant, small business, home, RV, mobile home and more!

Winter Texans welcome!

Arroyo City Computer Repair
Brownsville Computer Repair
Dayton Computer Repair
Edinburg Computer Repair
Harlingen Computer Repair
Houston Computer Repair
Indian Lake Computer Repair
La Feria Computer Repair
Los Fresnos Computer Repair
McAllen Computer Repair
Mercedes Computer Repair
Mission Computer Repair
Pharr Computer Repair
Port Isabel Computer Repair
Raymondville Computer Repair
Rio Grande Valley Computer Repair
Rio Hondo Computer Repair
South Padre Island Computer Repair
Spring Computer Repair
The Woodlands Computer Repair
Weslaco Computer Repair

In addition we offer full internet and website design and development services such as:

Website design
Website hosting
Website development
Web engineering
SEO (Search engine optimization)
SEM (Search engine marketing)
Internet marketing
Logo and brand development
& More! Just ask

It’s common knowledge that data backup is incredibly important when it comes to computers. After all, no laptop is completely safe with the use of even the latest computer security software. By not backing up your data on a regular basis, you’re running the risk of losing years of treasured digital photos or your entire music library.

Gizmodo.com recently brought up an interesting point. If we’re backing up the data on our computers, shouldn’t we back up the data on our cell phones? After all, our phones are with us all day and most of us use them as a smaller version of our laptops. At least once a month I receive Facebook invites to a “So-and-so Lost All Their Numbers” Facebook group. To give an example, T-Mobile’s ten-day Sidekick hiatus was a PR nightmare that all began with a giant data backup failure.

Due to gagdet failure or even just water damage, people are constantly losing their cell phone’s contacts, pictures, videos, ringtones, and files. Why NOT back up your cell phone data? If you have an iPhone, Palm Pre/Pixi, Blackberry, Nokia, or Samsung cell phone, read the details on how to back up data.

It might be easy to SAY that data backup on a computer is incredibly important, but it’s often hard to get into the habit of actually DOING it. That’s why A+ Mobile PC Doctors will be ready and willing to take care of any data backup and data recovery your laptop or desktop computer might need. We are the most efficient and most frequently recommended Boston computer repair company. To perform a virus removal, our technicians back up your data, isolate the virus, perform the virus removal, and restore your data to your laptop or desktop computer.

Our company consists of only the most experienced technicians. Compared to other Boston computer repair companies, our experience allows us to perform computer repair services much quicker than our competitors. This benefits our customers with the shorter wait time and incredibly reasonable service charge.

Call us at 1-866-417-3945 to speak directly with one of our technicians about any of your computer repair needs. We perform onsite computer repair in Boston and beyond. Or, you can drop your laptop off at our office at 323 Newbury Street in Boston, MA.

Remember the file sharing application Kazaa? I remember when I first discovered it. I regularly went on music-downloading binges, thinking that I was getting free music with no strings attached. Or so I thought. Soon after bulking up my hard drive with downloads, loading a simple website like Google.com grew to become a thirty-second process, and I found a new ability to take care of household chores while waiting for my favorite applications to open up.

Someone finally broke the news to me. Apparently, there is no free lunch when it comes to downloading music. A nasty little virus was tagging along behind each new mp3 I downloaded. A friend offered to reformat the hard drive on my computer.

“Will I lose all my music?” I asked.

“Yep – but you really have no choice,” was the response. I cried myself to sleep that night.

Turns out, I may have been able to save my many cherished pop punk mp3s if I had sought professional IT help. Viruses, malware, corrupted file systems, a system crash; these are a few things that can make your computer act funky and require reformatting the hard drive. I recently interviewed Michael Thomas, owner of A+ Mobile PC Doctors, and asked him what he does when a computer needs its hard drive reformatted.

1. Consider if there are files that need to be recovered or existing software license keys that are needed once reformat/reinstallation is complete (e.g. Security/Anti-Virus software, etc.). If so, take Data Backup steps and recover license keys if possible – once data is backed up:

2. Run Reformat/Reinstallation process

3. Load NIC Driver

4. Install Security Software: pre-existing or  AVG (AVG FREE – if doesn’t have a paid version)

5. Connect Internet connection, launch browser and validate security software

6. Update security software but DO NOT run system scan

7. Load all SYSTEM drivers (not peripherals such as printers, cameras, etc.)

8. Perform Windows Updates using Custom Selection (DO NOT Install IEv8, and do not remind about this installation again)

9. Install Firefox, Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), Adobe Flash (free)

10. Install CD burning software if customer has it

11. Install MS OFFICE if customer has CD. If installing MS Office 2003, then install MS Office Compatibility Pack

12. Configure desktop (properties) to show My Documents, My Computer & My Network Place. Also ad d the Quick Launch to the Windows Nav Bar, and if installing MS Office, add shortcuts for Word, Excel, PPT & Outlook

13. Check power settings, screen saver and wallpaper

14. Install any specialty software at customer’s request (e.g. QuickBooks, etc.)

15. Reinstall data from data backup once data is cleansed of malware

Only a professional computer repair company like A+ Mobile PC Doctors will have the knowledge and expertise to back up your data, isolate the problem, and reinstall the data in good condition. And a bit of advice for music junkies – stay away from file-sharing applications like Kazaa. They’re always a bad idea.