5 Ways to Access Your Files From Anywhere

5 Ways to Access Your Files From Anywhere

Having remote access to your computer or files from anywhere means you never have to worry again about forgetting an important file. You can travel lightly and also do business from just about anywhere you have an Internet connection. Here are several ways to access your files from the road ... and even remotely control or manage your computer from afar.

1. Use Remote Access or Remote Desktop Apps

One of the simplest ways to remotely access your computer is to use one of the many free or subscription-based programs that set up the connection for you. These programs let you log into your home computer from a Web browser on the remote computer (e.g., a workstation at the office or cybercafe) -- or, in some cases, even from an app on a mobile device like a smartphone or the iPad -- and work on your home computer as if you were sitting in front of it. The most popular remote access programs include:

LogMeIn: offers both a free version that works with Windows PCs and Macs for remote desktop control as well as a Pro version that also enables file transfers, remote printing, and more.

GoToMyPC: is a subscription-based service from Citrix starting at $19.95 per month for one computer (Mac or PC). GoToMyPC offers similar advanced features, like drag-and-drop file transfer, that the paid LogMeIn Pro version includes. There's a free trial, so you can compare GoToMyPC with the free version of LogMeIn to see which works better for you.

UltraVNC: is a free, very configurable program that uses VNC (Virtual Network Computing) technology for remote desktop sharing. It offers many advanced features like special graphics drivers, encryption plugins, and Windows authentication, but can be more complex to configure.

2. Share Files with a NAS (Network Attached Storage) Device 

If you don't need to remotely control or manage your home computer and just want to be able to access shared files over the Internet, you can use a NAS device (a.k.a. NAS box) to do so. These storage devices are mini file servers that you connect to your home network, usually via Ethernet cable to your home router. They run about $200, but it may be a very useful investment; NAS devices are great for file sharing and backups for multiple computers, and they typically offer remote file access via FTP or even your Web browser, depending on the device. Popular NAS boxes that let you access your files remotely include: Buffalo Linkstation and Apple's Time Capsule.

(More: About's Guide to Wireless/Networking has a selection of entry-level NAS products for home users as well as an Introduction to NAS.)

3. Add an External Hard Drive to Your Home Router

Another remote file sharing option would be to add an external hard drive to your existing (or a new) home router -- if your router has the capability to enable file sharing, that is. The Netgear WNDR3700 Router, for example, is a wireless dual-band (offers both 802.11b/g and 802.11n) router with a "ReadyShare" feature for sharing a USB storage device over the network and via FTP. The Linksys Dual-Band WRT600N is a similar router with network storage capabilities. Although using an external hard drive connected to your router will be slower than a dedicated NAS, this option may be less expensive if you already have an external drive to use and/or the router.

4. Use Online Backup and Syncing Services

For remotely accessing files from anywhere without having to set up any hardware, turn to cloud computing services, specifically online backup and file syncing Web apps. Online backup services provide automatic offsite (essential!) 

storage of your files and typically also allow you to download individual files from a Web browser or mobile app. Carbonite, Mozy, CrashPlan, and BackBlaze are a few online backup services to look at. As PC World points out, there are also additional options for low-cost backup, including using your Webmail or Web hosting service to store 

files online -- and these can also give you remote access to your files.

Dedicated file syncing services and applications are specifically designed to always keep your most important documents with you or accessible wherever you go. Dropbox and SugarSync automatically mirror a folder or several folders on your computer to their online servers. It's like having a file server in the cloud; you can share files with others and, in some cases, even edit files in your browser and sync with mobile devices.

5. Set Up Your Own Home Server

Finally, if you don't want to use a third-party solution and would rather set up your own VPN and server, both Apple Mac OS Server and Windows Home Server claim to make home or small business networking and remote access easy. 

(And of course there are many different Linux Server flavors; most of the NAS devices run on Linux.) This option is the most expensive and time-consuming to set up, but offers you the most control.

Read More

How to Recover Important Data from Dead Computer

Uh-oh, your computer isn't booting anymore. Maybe it’s a problem with Windows, or maybe the computer’s hardware is fried. If you have important files trapped inside your malfunctioning computer, this guide will help you recover them.

There’s no guarantee your data is recoverable. If your computer isn't working because the hard drive died, there may be no recovering the files — not without some sort of expensive professional data recovery service, at least.

Boot From a Linux Live CD (or Windows Installation Disc)

If your computer’s hardware has actually died on you and that’s the reason it’s not booting, this method won't work. However, the computer may not actually be dead — its Windows installation may just be damaged. If this is the case, you can recover your files by booting from a Linux live CD or even a Windows installer disc.

Just insert the Linux live CD or Windows installer disc into the computer and start it up. If it boots from the disc and takes you to a Linux desktop or a Windows installation environment, you know that the computer’s hardware isn't completely broken. If you're just interested in recovering the files, you can connect a USB stick or external hard drive and copy the files to the removable media device. Your files will then be saved from your dying computer.

This is simple to do with a Linux live CD, as you'll be given a full Linux desktop that you can use for copying files. If you have a Windows installation disc, you can use a trick to pull up a file management window and copy files off the computer’s hard drive.

This method may even work if your computer’s hard drive is dying. If you're lucky, the computer may not be able to boot Windows but you may be able to recover some important files off of the drive from the Linux live CD or Windows installation environment.

Pull the Hard Drive and Put it In Another Computer

If your computer won't boot a Linux live CD or Windows installer disc, its hardware components may have died on you. There’s some good news if this is the case — while the computer’s motherboard, CPU, memory, video card, power supply, or any number of other components could be damaged, the computer’s hard drive may still be working properly. If this is the case, you can open up the computer, pull the hard drive, connect it to another computer and get the files off of your hard drive using the other computer.

First, a warning: This can void your warranty, particularly if you're doing this on a laptop that isn't designed to be opened. But if you have a desktop that you can easily open and work on, or you have an old laptop that’s out of warranty and didn't have much life left in it, you may want to go ahead with this process anyway.

The basic process is simple, but you'll ideally need to be comfortable working with the insides of a computer. First, ensure the main power switch at the back of the computer’s case is shut off — or better yet, just unplug the computer from the power outlet. Next, open the computer’s case and locate the hard drive. Disconnect its cables, unscrew it, and pull it out of the case. For more in-depth information, consult our guide to installing a new hard drive — you're basically going through the process in reverse.

You'll then need to connect the hard drive to another computer. You can do this by inserting the hard drive into the other computer or using an external drive bay. If you have laptop hard drive and need to connect it to a desktop PC, you can get drive bays designed for laptop hard drives that will allow you to safely connect the laptop’s hard drive to another desktop. Power on the other PC, booting its standard operating system from its main hard drive, and copy the files from your old computer’s hard drive.

This process is fairly simple on desktops with cases you can open, but it’s much harder on laptops — especially closed laptops that aren't designed to be opened at all. If you’re not comfortable doing this with your computer or you have a closed laptop that you’re not comfortable opening, you may want to contact a computer repair shop or a service desk at a big box store to help you with this process. They can pull the hard drive for you and hopefully recover the files. Assuming your files are valuable and you’re willing to pay, this is always an option.

Read More