You’ve just worked hard to save your important files from your usual workplace’s corrupted hard drive. But now, what? You could try to find another job or you could try to salvage the situation and start anew. If you’re reading this, you might have just lost your files and you don’t quite know where to look for them.
Whether you’re a seasoned computer user or you’ve just ventured into the world of data recovery, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, you will learn the ins and outs of data recovery, which tools you can use and the most efficient ways to go about it.
Why and How to Recover Files?
A common reason to need data recovery is when you are experiencing a hard drive failure. These failures can range from something as minor as a power surge to something more serious, like the head-scratching off the platter. In both cases, hard drives store data in binary form on a spinning platter with magnetic media. If the platter stops spinning or the head no longer has contact with the media, it will be impossible to read the data stored there.
The way you recover files depends on what type of hard drive storage you have. On magnetic hard drives (shown in Figure 1) that use an IDE or PATA interface, all of your files are stored in one large file block and can be recovered without difficulty. However, if your hard drive uses a SATA interface (shown in Figure 2), then each file is broken up into smaller blocks and each block must be correctly identified before it can be recovered. Please note that this guide is only for recovering typical “file” types like pictures and documents – recovering deleted “folders” is not usually possible with any software.
Types of Data Loss and How to Recover From Each
Data loss can happen for many reasons, and because the severity of data loss can vary from person to person, it’s important to understand the different types of data loss.
Corrupted File:
If you try to open a file on your computer and it won’t work, then that file is corrupted. The corruption could range from something as simple as a blank or black screen to something much more serious like an error message or a warning flash. You might also see an error message letting you know that the file is damaged or cannot be opened. If any of these messages pop up, then it’s time to go into Data Recovery Mode.
Hard Drive Crash:
If you have a hard drive crash, this means you’ve lost access to all the files on your hard drive. This can be causedanything from not backing up your information to a virus attack. Luckily, there are ways around this problem! To recover lost files after a hard drive crash, use software like WinRAR and Google Drive.
Determine Your Budget Before Hiring a Data Recovery Service
Before you go around hiring a data recovery service without researching the damages, it is important to know how much your budget is. When it comes to data recovery, there are two types of options: in-lab and remote data recovery. In-lab services have a higher price and may take longer to complete because they involve an onsite visit. Remote services are cheaper and faster because they usually involve emailing or uploading your hard drive over the internet. If you don’t know what type of service you need, start off with remote services because this will save you time and money in the long run.
The 3 Most Important Things You Can Do Before Hiring a Data Recovery Service
There are three major steps you should take before hiring a data recovery service.
- Try to find the software used to delete your files.
- Search for the file’s name on your hard drive and delete it if found.
- If your computer has a memory card slot, make sure you check for any of the files that were lost there as well.
Check Availability of Tools and Resources
One of the first things you should do is to check the availability of tools and resources. Data recovery tools are generally expensive, so it’s best to find out if there are any special promotions or offers. You should also make sure that your computer meets all the minimum requirements, such as RAM and disk space, before purchasing any data recovery software.
It’s possible that you have a hard-to-find file on your hard drive but you don’t have the right software to get to it. If that’s the case, there are a few other places where you can check for your files. One of these places is a backup service like Crashplan or Carbonite. There’s also online storage space like iCloud and Dropbox which can store your data remotely in case something goes wrong. And finally, there are websites like Recuva and PhotoRec which can help you recover your files from an unbootable system or from corrupted partitions.
Bottom line
This article is a resource for data recovery. It will teach you what tools you need and how to use them, as well as the most efficient ways to go about it. Whether you’re a seasoned computer user or you’ve just ventured into the world of data recovery, come learn the ins and outs of data recovery with us in this article.