What You Need To Know About Recovering Data From Your Computer Hard Drive
If you are a heavy-duty computer user and run a business from home, your desktop or laptop may seem like a lifeline to you. While computers are durable machines that can last for years, they can also fail at unexpected times, leaving you at a loss for how to access crucial files that you need to perform essential tasks. Instead of waiting for a disaster to happen, be proactive and educate yourself on the main reasons why data corruption occurs and what steps you can take to recover essential files when your computer malfunctions.
Malware
Nefarious individuals create malware programs that mimic hard-drive failure messages in order to trick you into downloading harmful programs to fix a fake issue.
Rogue software that you download by mistake as you surf the Internet or use infected thumb drives can prevent you from accessing files on your computer, destroy your operating system and basically make your machine into a useless brick.
While there are plenty of free and paid programs to help you get rid of malicious software, if you are completely locked out of your system, these programs will do you no good.
You may need to get professional help to recover your valuable files, wipe the computer and reinstall your operating system. Getting help from a professional data recovery specialist is especially important if you have several computers on a network that share files and other devices. You do not want the malware to spread and infect your other devices.
Deletions by Mistake
It is inevitable that at some point in your life you will mistakenly delete important files on your computer. Some programs will keep temporary copies of saved versions of the deleted files for a short time. But if you do not retrieve the copy in time or if the file was deleted permanently, you may think all is lost for recovering your precious data.
You can attempt to recover the files with undelete programs. However, if the file was corrupted after deletion and you do not have a current backup of your hard drive, you should send the hard drive to a data recovery service.
Some data recovery firms may be able to help you remotely by phone to recover your data after you download diagnostic and recovery tools.
Physical Defects
When you are using your computer and you notice a clicking or grinding sound coming from your hard drive, your stomach may drop. The ominous sound of a hard drive failing can fill you with dread and, if you do not regularly backup your computer, send you into a full-fledged panic.
You should stop using your computer as soon as you hear the clicking noises. In some instances, the operating system will fail as well and provide an error message.
Many data recovery firms provide in-house and mail-in services for all types of disks including solid state and external drives. Experts have the equipment to apply forensic analysis to your hard drive to find the source of the problem and extract your data.
Other types of physical media that you can recover data from include DVDs, USB flash drives, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Data Protection
It is common sense that you should have a backup plan in place for your computers. However, many people fail to take this basic precaution because they are too busy to take the time to setup backup software or even subscribe to a backup service. You should institute a multi-pronged approach to protecting your data.
First, install backup software that keeps copies of your files, programs and operating system on an external drive. You should also consider investing in an online backup service that runs in the background on your computer. This type of service will also enable you to access important files even if you are away from your home computer.
Share