Data backups are not a kind of “set-it-and-forget-it” task, as you constantly need to manage your strategy. You can prevent many issues from occurring out of nowhere by keeping a strict backup routine, and data loss is one of them. Whether you are an individual or a business, you need to back up your data regularly. With so many innovative tools available in the market, backing up data becomes easier than before. However, several challenges may come your way. In this article, we will discuss the challenges that users encounter during the backup event. Troubleshooting these problems can be simple, while several errors may demand technical expertise to resolve them.
Damaged Backup
After you run a backup instance, you no longer worry about data loss as you know you have a recent copy of your entire data. You know that you can restore files in the event of data loss. But what if you are not able to access the files when you are trying to restore them?
Seeing the damaged backup error could be frightening. Many reasons cause your backup files to turn inaccessible, such as:
- Unfunctional Backup Media: Hard drive corruption is common, and it’s annoying if you have backed up data on an external device. When the hard drive corrupts, you should stop trying to use it as it can overwrite data and learn how to fix an unreadable disk mac has.
- Ransomware Attacks: One of the major reasons why you are not able to access your backup files is ransomware attacks. Your backup device might be dealing with viruses, malware, or ransomware attacks, so run an antivirus app.
In both of the above cases, you won’t be able to access data without recovering the files.
Since there are no manual procedures available that you can implement to recover files, you need to install and run an automated backup tool for restoring files.
Sluggish Backup Process
More often, you find yourself in a situation where the backup freeze or the process is slower than usual. When your backup process is underway, there’s nothing much you can do on your computer, as it can interrupt the process or damage the existing backup files.
When the backup is too slow to deal with, there are several reasons behind that. To fix the problem, first, you need to identify and detect the reason that is at fault.
- Slow Internet Connection: When running backups, you can’t just do it at any random time. Figure out the day and time when you have maximum network throughput. Backing up data at midnight or early during the weekdays is more feasible than on weekends.
- Large Size of Backup: If the volume of files you need to back up is huge, you could face delays. If you have a lot of files to back up, make a strategy and split the backup task into sections. Now prioritize the files or backup your data category-wise. Also, ensure the backup media has sufficient storage space available on it.
- Wrong Backup Type: The type of backup you select is based on your specific needs and preferences. However, for a single file backup, go with file-level backups while opting to select complete backups if you want to get all the files and apps on external storage media.
Inaccessible Backup Files
After backing up data to external storage media, it is advised to encrypt the files or devices to prevent data leaks or unauthorized access. But. sometimes, these files become inaccessible, and you are not able to access them after trying harder.
- Forgotten Login Credentials: After you encrypt your file, it’s important to store the password and other credentials safely in a secure place. The advantages of encryption turn out to be its downsides when you forget the decryption password.
- Compromised Credentials: If your backup storage media or any of the files stored within denies access even after providing the right password, chances are the login details are compromised. Someone might have accessed the storage media.
Quick Workaround to Gain Access to Backup Files
There are a couple of ways you can restore your backup files. However, the solution you adopt depends upon the intensity of the damage. If the files have turned completely inaccessible, an automated backup recovery tool can be the only fix. In other cases, if the slow internet is responsible for backup errors, try to reset your internet devices, including your modem and router. Also, backup data outside the peak hours to prevent any bandwidth-related issues. Moreover, if you have forgotten the password, there’s not much that can be done. You must have already tried many password combinations to gain access back. You can use automated password recovery tools or use a password manager to prevent such situations. I hope these tips will help you back up your data successfully with more consideration in the future.
