Cicadas and Computer Life Cycles

It’s that time of year, the cicadas are coming out. They live for a few weeks above ground, molt, mate, die and rebirth. Depending on the species of cicada, they have a life cycle of around 17 years. Scientists can predict them based on the temperature and soil as to when they are going to come out.

Just like cicadas, computers also have a lifecycle.

I replaced a hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD) about 8 years ago for a (now retired) attorney.

That computer recently died. He wasn’t sure if his data was backed up. With a solid-state drive, the data can be lost and needs to be backed up because it may be difficult, impossible, or very expensive to recover. In this case I could not recover the data from the SSD.

Fortunately, 8 years ago when the SSD was installed, I correctly set up a Microsoft account to where his data was backed up through OneDrive and also on his computer. When he purchased the new computer, he logged into the new computer with his Microsoft account. All his Microsoft products and data came back.

Taking the time to set things up correctly from the start saves, heartache and grief further down the road.

A few non-Microsoft programs needed to be repurchased because his versions were too old to be recovered. It was a minor inconvenience versus a major catastrophe.

Here is a general rule of thumb concerning solid-state drives. If you have a solid- state drive, it should be replaced after around 8 – 10 years. When a solid-state drive goes bad, it can stop working with no warning. So it’s important to stay on top of this with all your computers.

A standard hard drive may need to be replaced every 3 – 4 years. If you have a standard hard drive rather than a solid-state drive, there are several warning signs that your hard drive may be going bad.

For example, your hard drive may be getting slower. You may be getting error messages or have login issues when logging into your computer. Also, the fan on your computer may be running more, your laptop may be getting hot or you may notice there is a lot of lag time when working with applications on your computer. These are all indicators that your hard drive needs to be replaced or the CPU is corrupted. If the CPU is corrupted, it’s best to replace the computer.

If your computer is running hot, the inside or vents of your computer could be dusty and just needs to be cleaned. In this case, you may be able to clean the inside of your computer plus the fan vents and be okay for a few more years.

Your hard drive/SSD is the heart of your computer. It’s where all your data is stored and the lifeblood of your business. Don’t take chances when it comes to your hard drive /SSD or backing up all your data in another location because once your hard drive/SSD stops working, there may not be a way to recover.

If you are interested in learning more about securing your computer systems send an email to jnay@jimnay.com. You can also call or text us at 615-443-4842.

All the best,
Jim Nay