ARE THERE INSTANCES WHERE DATA CANNOT BE RECOVERED?

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Yes. There are instances where the damage to the hard drive is so severe that data recovery is not possible. This usually occurs when the read/write heads actually “crash” and gouge the magnetic storage media to the point where the data is destroyed.

However, in a number of cases, data recovery was possible at the time the damage first occurred, but the data became unrecoverable through the use of commercial-recovery software. This software is designed to recover data from working drives. If your drive has experienced a mechanical or electrical failure, the use of recovery software can cause permanent loss of your data.

What Can I Do to Protect My Data and Minimize My Chances of Losing Data?

The adage in the industry is not “if my drive fails,” but, rather, “when my drive fails.” Although your hard drive has many electronic components, it also has moving parts. Over time, these mechanical components can fail as the result of use.

Avoid Heat and Vibration

All drive components, both electronic and mechanical, are sensitive to heat and vibration. Keep your computer in a dry, controlled environment that is clean and dust-free. Set up your computer in an area with little traffic to ensure that it does not get bumped. Heat and/or vibration are two of the leading causes of hard drive failure. Also, beware of static.

Back-Up Your Data

The surest way to avoid data loss, even if your hard drive fails, is to back-up your data. If you don’t have a tape back-up device or network drive at your fingertips, back-up your most important files to a floppy disk at least once a week.

To Avoid Premature Drive Failure, Run Scandisk

Scandisk examines your hard disk for logical inconsistencies and damaged surfaces. Run it every two or three weeks just to be safe. It is important to save any changes to a floppy until you are sure that the changes you are about to make will not adversely affect your hard drive.

Run Defrag Frequently

Files will most likely not be stored in adjacent clusters. Defrag rearranges the data on your hard disk so that each file is stored in a set of contiguous clusters. This is essential for data recovery because success is more likely when the damaged file’s clusters are adjacent to each other.

Antivirus Software

Use antivirus software and update it at least four times a year. Also, use an uninterrupted power supply (UPS).

In the event of a surge of electricity, black out, brown out, or lightning strike, a UPS can protect your system from electrical damage. A UPS is also a back-up power source that keeps your computer running for a short period of time, giving you the opportunity to properly save your work and shut down, avoiding a potential data loss.

Be Cautious When Using Recovery Utilities

Use diagnostic and repair utilities with caution. Verify that your utility software is compatible with your operating software. Never use file-recovery software if you suspect an electrical or mechanical drive failure. Always make an undo disk when you allow a utility to make changes to your hard drive.

Floppy Disks

Never buy bargain-basement disks. Recommended are 3.5" pre-formatted high-density disks. Store your disks in a cool, dry, dust-free environment—not, for example, in a shirt-pocket, book bag, or briefcase, unless they are inside a diskette container of some kind.

Back-up your disks on a regular basis. This means copying files from one floppy disk to another—don’t just rename a file on the same disk!

Save information as you type, say every 10 minutes. (If you are working on your own machine, set the “automatic save” feature of your word processor.) Do not type for 3 hours straight and expect to be able to save information to your disk. It is possible you have typed too much information for the floppy disk to store.

Diligent maintenance such as antivirus scanning, sensible back-up procedures, off-site storage of mission-critical data, together with knowledge of your limitations, should prevent you from becoming one of the many casualties of data loss. If you suffer a data loss, contact a data-recovery expert immediately. The most important thing is to not attempt any repairs yourself. Trust your data to Data Recovery Group engineers who have the experience, expertise, and tools to recover your data without damaging your system.

How Do I Ship My Hard Drive?

It is extremely important that your hard drive is packaged carefully—to avoid any additional damage during shipment. Only your drive is required for data recovery.

Packaging the Hard Drive

Wrap the hard drive in an antistatic material. If an antistatic bag is not available, a freezer bag will suffice. It is recommended that you ship the drive in its original manufacturer’s packaging. If this is not possible, pack the hard drive in a sturdy corrugated cardboard box twice the size of the drive, with heavy foam padding, bubble wrap, or other antivibration materials. Do not use Styrofoam peanuts as they attract static electricity. Be sure the padding material is at least two inches thick around the drive.

Water-Damaged Hard Drives

If your drive has suffered water damage, please do not dry it. Enclose the drive along with a damp sponge in a sealed plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.

Controller Boards

When recovering from older models, you may need to send the controller along with the drive. Please remove the controller carefully, enclose in antistatic material, and ship it along with the drive.

Other

Please package all other types of media, following the guidelines in the preceding for a typical hard drive.

Locations

Ship the drive directly to the recovery facility nearest you: It is recommended that you ship via UPS or Federal Express domestically and DHL internationally, using next-day service. If you elect to use another carrier, it is suggested that you use an overnight service. Also, if you have any special shipping considerations, questions, or concerns, please contact your overnight carrier.

How Do I Get My Data Back?

If your drive is repairable, the repair will be completed and your data returned to you on your original drive. When your data is recovered and your drive is not repairable, there are many different ways to return your data, including a new drive, magnetic tapes, Zip cartridges, or CD-ROM.

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