Call technical support

Click the "support" link on the computer manufacturer's Web site to contact technical support. If you do not have a recent backup of your PC, tell the technician not to perform any steps that might cause you to lose data on your hard drive.

I recommend: If your PC is no longer under warranty, check out support provider networks like OnForce and Gurus2Go, which will connect you with independent computer support experts nationwide.

Recover your data

There are businesses that specialize in retrieving data from damaged hard drives. These services are costly, so you should weigh your exposure against the cost of recovery. The cost is generally determined by the extent of the damage, ease of recovery and the amount of data recovered.

I recommend: Contact companies to find the best price for your specific situation. The most trusted names in drive recovery are DriveSavers and OnTrack. Also check out relative newcomer ESS Data Recovery.

Get back to work

If you need a computer to use while yours is in the shop, consider renting a PC.

I recommend: The International Technology Rental Association (IT-RA) will refer you to an IT-RA member company servicing your area.

Protect your data

The best way to protect your business from future computer failures is to backup your data often. There are many inexpensive options.

I recommend: Windows XP sports a built-in backup utility that will schedule regular backups to a variety of media. Also from Microsoft, the Windows Live OneCare subscription service can help you manage your backups and system security. Norton Save & Restore is a third-party application from Symantec that can automatically restore your system and data after a crash. If you have a broadband Internet connection, consider an online backup service like Xdrive. Mac users should check out the Apple Backup feature of the .mac subscription service, or a third-party application like Synk.