| g your valuable data, either by damage to your | | | | where the files you need would be located on the |
| computer or accidental deletion, is an upsetting | | | | drive, making it easier to make sense of and restore |
| situation. Whether the lost files contain sensitive | | | | written-over data. Once the data has been restored |
| personal information, treasured photographs, or data | | | | from the drive, the data recovery service checks to |
| for your small business, the loss can be devastating. | | | | make sure the files they have recovered are |
| Your data doesn't have to stay lost, however. Data | | | | complete. Again, they can use old tables of contents |
| recovery services specialize in restoring files that | | | | from the hard drive to check for holes in the files. |
| most people wouldn't think would be recoverable. | | | | Once they have ensured that the data is all there, |
| Keep reading to learn how data recovery services | | | | they will back it up to CDs or another storage |
| work. | | | | medium, and send it back to you. |
| Why Data Recovery is Possible | | | | 2. Undelete software. A common type of data |
| The files stored on your computer are all written | | | | recovery software is "undelete" software, which |
| onto the hard drive, which consists of thin, round | | | | enables you to restore files that you have |
| platters coated with a shiny magnetic data storage | | | | accidentally deleted. However, remember that when |
| medium, much like the shiny coating on the thin | | | | you delete a file, the hard drive marks it as available |
| ribbons contained inside VHS and cassette tapes. Just | | | | storage. In other words, anything you do after |
| like in a VCR or a tape player, a head inside your | | | | deleting that file - whether downloading undelete |
| computer's hard drive reads and reads and writes the | | | | software, saving another file, or even just shutting |
| data onto the magnetic storage medium. | | | | your computer down as normal - can overwrite the |
| When you delete a file on your computer, it is not | | | | data, rendering it impossible to recover without a |
| actually erased from the hard drive. The hard drive | | | | data recovery service. A way around this is to |
| simply changes the marker on that space from | | | | download the undelete software to a separate drive, |
| "occupied" to "vacant." The data itself is still there | | | | such as an external drive or even a USB drive. Unless |
| until it is written over. Think of it as a home video | | | | you know what you are doing, though, you should |
| that you have decided you don't want anymore. Until | | | | probably call a professional right away - the longer |
| you actually tape over it, it's still there. | | | | you wait, and the more you tinker with your |
| Even once data is written over, it can still be found. | | | | computer, the more likely you are to create the |
| This is because the data that is written over it is | | | | need for major data recovery in order to restore |
| usually imperfect, leaving traces of the original file. | | | | your deleted file. |
| With the proper tools, these traces can be located, | | | | 3. Uncorrupt software. Another type of data |
| deciphered, and - usually - reassembled into complete | | | | recovery software is one designed to find and/or fix |
| files. However, the more times an old file is | | | | lost or corrupted files. Again, the hazard is that every |
| overwritten, the more difficult it will be to retrieve it | | | | piece of data you write to the disk could overwrite |
| - so the sooner you contact a data recovery service, | | | | the file you are trying to restore. Since the file is lost |
| the better. | | | | or corrupted, you cannot trust that the hard drive will |
| Data Recovery Options | | | | know not to overwrite it. Again, immediately |
| 1. Data recovery service. When you contact a data | | | | contacting a professional is probably the best course |
| recovery service, usually the first thing they will want | | | | of action. |
| to know is how the files you want to recover were | | | | There are many data recovery software packs |
| lost. You might have accidentally deleted the files, or | | | | available online. These may be pretty tempting, but |
| the data might have become corrupted. In a | | | | remember that depending on what you need done, |
| worst-case scenario, your hard drive might have | | | | they may or may not satisfy your needs. And even |
| sustained damage, ranging from relatively minor | | | | if software can fix your problem, using them without |
| damage such as hard drive crash, to serious physical | | | | a professional's guidance may inadvertently create |
| damage such as flooding or fire. However, the data | | | | more problems, not only ensuring that you will have |
| recovery service most likely won't be able to give | | | | to use a data recovery service, but also creating |
| you a quote until they have inspected the hard drive, | | | | more work for them (and therefore a higher price |
| so you will also need to drop off or mail your hard | | | | for you). |
| drive to them. Before the data recovery service | | | | Because of the nature of a hard drive or another |
| begins work on your hard drive, they will make an | | | | type of memory storage, data loss is not necessarily |
| exact copy of the drive. All work will be done on this | | | | permanent. An experienced data recovery service |
| copy, to avoid doing any more damage to the drive | | | | can easily help you restore your valuable photos, |
| itself. Using the copy of the original drive, the data | | | | financial information, or small business data. However, |
| recovery service then uses a variety of tools and | | | | don't forget that when your valuable data has been |
| techniques to try to recover the lost data. Every | | | | deleted, lost, or damaged, time is of the essence if |
| hard drive creates a sort of table of contents at the | | | | you are to get it back: The longer your computer |
| very beginning of the drive; by retrieving old tables | | | | runs, and the more often it writes to the hard drive, |
| of contents, the data recovery service can tell | | | | the worse the situation gets. |