Protecting Your Data During Winter Weather

Winter is in full swing in New Jersey which means temperatures well below freezing and snow and ice causing problems such as fallen trees and dangerous roadways.  What you might not realize, however, is that the winter weather can also cause significant damage to your computer, particularly your hard drive. Once your hard drive fails, you may find that you have lost everything from family photos to important work files.

These tips will help you keep your hard drive and your files safe during the cold winter months. 

1.  Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Much like people, most hard drives function best when they are in comfortable temperatures. 70 degrees is ideal, but anything above 50 degrees or under 90 degrees is okay. Otherwise, if your computer is left in extremely cold or hot environments, it could malfunction. Avoid leaving your laptop in your car for long periods of time, particularly overnight. If you run a heater in your home, make sure your computer is not set up close to a vent where it might be exposed to hot air continuously.  

2. Mind Your Power Supply

Power failures are common during snow and ice storms, and electrical problems also happen to be a major cause of hard drive damage.  One reason for this is that when the power goes out, your computer does not shut down properly. If you use a laptop, keep the battery charged as much as possible, especially during winter storms. That way, a power outage will not cause it to shut down unexpectedly. If using a desktop, consider purchasing an uninterruptible power supply. It is also important to keep your computer plugged into a surge protector at all times.

3. Protect Your Laptop

If you do use a laptop, chances are you carry it to work, school, or just to the local coffee shop on occasion. You do not have to stop doing this just because it is cold or snowing outside, but you should keep it safe until you reach your destination. There are dozens of laptop bags and cases on the market that offer protection from weather, ranging from waterproof ones that keep moisture away from your computer to insulated ones that help protect it from the cold.

4. Take Immediate Action

If you know a winter storm is coming, back up all of your important files as soon as you can if you have not done so already. If you do find that the weather has affected your hard drive, turn your computer off immediately, and avoid trying to install or use file recovery software. If it is safe to drive, take your computer to a company that has experience with successful data recovery in New Jersey, such as Dave’s Computers.