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.