| To most people, the loss of important files, | | | | victim will then likely think of the most feasible data |
| documents, music collection, photos, and whatever | | | | recovery options available. Will a replacement hard |
| stuff is built up over time in one's PC is a great | | | | disk do? Is it even possible to transfer the data at |
| challenge to overcome. In fact, according to an article | | | | all? If not, how much would it cost if a recovery |
| in a popular tech magazine, a person who has just | | | | expert were to do the retrieval? If you're hoping |
| experienced data loss goes through five stages of | | | | that data recovery won't cost as much these days, |
| grief. | | | | you're in for a huge disappointment. |
| If you haven't tried losing computer data and files, | | | | Depression. Losing files must feel really bad and with |
| count yourself as one of the lucky ones. But if | | | | recovery prospects looking dim, the victim |
| you've ever mourned such loss, let's see if you can | | | | understandably goes through a period of depression. |
| identify with each of these 5 stages: | | | | If data loss is worth crying over, then it is in this |
| Denial. A computer user's usual first reaction to a | | | | stage that you shed your tears or wallow in the |
| computer malfunction is to deny the gravity of the | | | | throes of despair. |
| situation and rationalize. You would always think that | | | | Acceptance. But when you're done being depressed, |
| whatever the issue is, this can be resolved with a | | | | you'll soon come to terms with the fact that it's time |
| few tweaks or a reboot. Not until later would you | | | | to pick up the pieces and do whatever you can to |
| realize that you may have seen the last of your files. | | | | reconstruct or retrieve the lost data. While this was a |
| Anger. When realization about the loss finally dawns | | | | definitely stressful period in your life, it's also one |
| (perhaps after having restarted the PC for the nth | | | | that's best put behind you. |
| time to no avail), anger sets in. The anger could be | | | | If you ask me, having to go through all those stages |
| directed at the computer company, the hard disk | | | | of data loss grief is a waste of time and tears. To |
| manufacturer, the anti-virus software, even the | | | | ensure that you won't have to experience such loss, |
| power provider. But most of the anger could be | | | | use an online backup service for all your important |
| directed at oneself for not having put preventive | | | | files, photos, music, and other data. They are secure, |
| measures in place like online backup solutions. | | | | hassle-free, and affordable solutions to achieving |
| Bargaining. When the anger subsides, the data loss | | | | peace of mind. |