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Warning Signs of a Hard Drive Failure

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Minor issues with files and folders and storage have their place on the list of potential computer problems that aren’t computer problems at all. They’re software problems that most of us have experienced. 

It’s that nagging problem of slow boot times, slow loading everything, and a running hard drive that never stops should send up red flags in your mind that tells you this time it’s serious. You’re witnessing the various stages of hard drive failure and time is not on your side. You may also consider looking into hard drive data recovery services, although they can be pricey.

A short term fix is Windows or Mac disk repair, but it’s not permanent and you shouldn’t trust it. It will give you time to put some money together and buy a new hard drive as soon as possible. Also, make sure your backups are in good shape and ready to go, assuming you perform regular backups. 

Sometimes your hard drive might signal bad things ahead but not enough to get your attention. Read over the following list of warning signs of a hard drive failure. If any of these happen, don’t wait. The time is short! There is no sure way to know how much or how little life remains for your hard drive. 

Hard Drive Behavior

  • A noisy hard drive that’s constantly running is telling you to do a manual backup immediately and prepare to buy a new drive. 
  • Suddenly, your files and folders disappear or are inaccessible. 
  • After clicking to open a file, nothing happens.
  • A very slow computer with constant hard drive operation.
  • Extremely long boot times. Sometimes, it never fully completed resulting in the infamous Windows blue screen, or with a Mac, the perpetually spinning beachball. 
  • Occasional error messages that become more frequent.
  • The dreaded blue screen at Windows boot-up is a sure sign your hard drive is about to fail for good.

Prepare Ahead of Time

Owning a computer requires some planning for the inevitable hard drive replacement. Hard drive prices and capacities vary, so put some money away for the day when it happens. A major step to avoid disaster before a drive failure is to have current backups of everything on your current drive. 

With your new drive installed, it’s a simple matter of downloading the backup and setting up apps, files, and folders to make everything familiar. Data loss won’t be a concern, and you’ll enjoy the refreshing feeling of a fast computer once again.

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4 Common Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

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Over 90 percent of businesses are using social media to market their products and services. However, opening an account, getting followers, and sending tweets are not sufficient in making social media a viable advertisement tool. Avoiding these common mishaps will propel your firm’s ability to create more opportunities from its social media accounts and increase ROI.

You don’t engage your followers

The most prominent social media marketing mistake that many people don’t realize they are making is failing to engage. If you choose TV as an advertisement media, you broadcast your ad to attract clients. When using magazines, you also publish your ad and wait for people to read it. While many of the traditional advertising media involve one-way communication, social media doesn’t.

You can engage people in many ways, such as:

  • Responding to comments on your post
  • Asking questions
  • Encouraging your followers to comment on your posts
  • Responding and liking other people’s posts

You overdo automation

Automation is vital in scaling your business, but you ought to understand when to go manual and when to automate. If you use automation to post on your social media posts, do so discriminately. Use it once a week to post evergreen content on your account as opposed to every day or every hour. The rest of the time, take the time to publish fresh content so that you can attract potential customers.

You don’t have a strategy

Less than 20 percent of businesses claim that they have a mature social media strategy. Social media users are usually overwhelmed with messages and loads of information every moment of the day. You should take some time to create a plan that makes your profile outstanding from the rest of the clutter. Have clear and measurable goals. Create a clear policy and stick to it. Map out a calendar on the frequency of posting. While at it, ensure that you have your end goals in mind.

You haven’t figured out the difference of clueless vs. clued-in content

Social media platforms want to make everything viral content, especially if it is controversial. Such an action would elevate you to instant fame. However, it could easily drown your PR efforts. It is advisable for businesses that use social media marketing to remain politically correct. Although it may seem boring, it beats being notorious or de-popularizing your brand. When you aren’t sure whether something is controversial, don’t post it. Also, avoid posting or following controversial posts, people, and organizations.

The fact that many people are inclined to using social media doesn’t imply they are doing it right. Avoid making these mistakes to make your marketing campaign a successful one. All the best!