We have discovered a great way to back up important data (and even unimportant data, if you like). A company known as MiniTool has software called ShadowMaker, which takes the shadow copy of the computer and saves it to a location of your choice (which can be another hard drive, a flash drive, an online location such as OneDrive or DropBox, etc.). The use of the shadow copy means that the backup can occur while the computer is in use. This makes it very convenient to keep a backup.
MiniTool ShadowMaker Pro Ultimate
The Pro Ultimate version of the software is a lifetime purchase, which provides one license that can be used on 3 PCs. Keep your personal information safe for the rest of your life with this option for a one-time cost of only $79 (on sale)!
MiniTool ShadowMaker Business Standard
The Business Standard option is for small businesses; it offers one license for a PC or server. This is a lifetime license, with one year of free upgrades and faster backup and restore speed. It also provides technical support priority. For businesses that have only one computer with data to protect, this is an excellent option for only $129.
*NOTE: We are an affiliate for the above software. This means that if you click through and purchase the software using our link, we are compensated for our recommendation. This does not affect your cost; it just helps us. Thank you!
Crystal Disk Info
This tool allows you to see the status of your hard drives, including how close the drive is to failing.
https://crystalmark.info/en/download/
Everything by VoidTools
Find anything on your hard drive with this handy search tool.