| Data recovery has become a simplistic and | | | | |
| common process. There are two ways of | | | | 2. Logical Data Retrieval which refers to the |
| initiating data recovery: | | | | rebuilding of lost data files. This type of |
| | | | data recovery becomes necessary when there is |
| 1. The first method is to do it yourself. You | | | | disk overwriting, reformatting and virus |
| turn on your computer and discover that the | | | | corruption. |
| photographs you took on your holiday have | | | | |
| been lost. It's about time to think logically | | | | According to data recovery agency, Disklabs, |
| - either they have been overwritten or there | | | | usually photographs and pictures including |
| has been surface contamination. In other | | | | graphic material can be retrieved using |
| cases, natural or man-made disasters like | | | | physical data recovery methods. Usually nine |
| floods and fires may destroy important data. | | | | out of every 10 photos are recovered in their |
| If you are an inexperienced computer user, | | | | original format. However, when database files |
| then it is always advisable not to use your | | | | are lost, retrieval is impossible. The |
| limited knowledge and try to reboot your | | | | experts at Disklabs claim that only 1% of |
| computer to retrieve your data. But, on the | | | | database files are retrievable. In case of |
| other hand if you do boast of considerable | | | | total data loss owing to natural disasters of |
| computer expertise, you can retrieve your | | | | fire and floods, experts recommend the |
| data using any data recovery tool available | | | | installation of a backup drive away from the |
| on your computer desktop. This involves: | | | | place of everyday use. Disklabs further |
| | | | argues that many universities and |
| - Install the data recovery tool | | | | multinational corporations document vital |
| | | | information reducing sole dependency on |
| - Disconnect your computer | | | | digital media. |
| | | | |
| - Install a new drive to save the retrieved | | | | Other data recovery firms advocate the |
| data | | | | installation of a data recovery tool called |
| | | | Scavenger version 3. The advantage of using |
| - Have a licence to run the data recovery | | | | this tool lies in its function to scan an |
| tool | | | | entire hard drive looking for corrupt and |
| | | | defunct volumes, partitions and spots. In |
| 2. The second most common method is to call | | | | this regard this tool is extremely good for |
| in the data recovery specialists. This is | | | | novice users as it enables them not to lose |
| usually the case when you are unsure as to | | | | new data while scanning the hard drive |
| the cause of data loss. Data recovery | | | | retrieving lost data. It is better than the |
| agencies can recover 90% of your lost data, | | | | computer desktop utility of CHECKDISK. But |
| provided the loss is due to: | | | | this data recovery tool cannot retrieve data |
| | | | entangled in the mesh of magnetised layers on |
| - Accidental deletion of the data | | | | the hard drive. Here, it becomes important to |
| | | | be aware of the time frame and cost of |
| - Overwriting | | | | retrieving such data. Usually, experts using |
| | | | data recovery tools of Easy Recovery, Data |
| - Disk corruption | | | | Recovery and Data Advisor, state that it |
| | | | takes more than a working week to retrieve a |
| - Reformatted, deleted volume or disk | | | | mere .5% of the actual data. A prime example |
| partition containing data | | | | of data recovery can be seen at company |
| | | | Hewlett Packard which used its own |
| - Partially damaged disk with bad spots | | | | technicians to retrieve a database file of |
| caused by exposure to natural elements such | | | | employee records. In contrast, technicians at |
| as heat, light, water and dust | | | | InfoUSA failed to retrieve vital editing |
| | | | material. In addition, they were unable to |
| Data can be recovered from digital media | | | | stop new data from being lost. As a result, |
| files, memory sticks, ZIP files, hard drives, | | | | an entire database file was lost. |
| floppy diskettes and flashcards. Usually data | | | | |
| recovery specialists can retrieve data by | | | | It is very important to note that full data |
| using two methods: | | | | recovery is not possible. However, more than |
| | | | 95% of raw data can be recovered provided |
| 1. Physical Data Recovery which means | | | | necessary steps to ensure recovery are |
| retrieving the raw data from a damaged disk | | | | undertaken in time. It simply does not do to |
| caused by a virus attack, operator system | | | | wait for a few days before contacting a data |
| error or a natural disaster such as fire | | | | recovery specialist agency. If you can't do |
| which may lead to surface contamination. | | | | it, call them right away. |