Data Recovery From Damaged Hard Drives

Loss of data from hard drive or a hard drive malfunction may prove detrimental to the prospects of your business. But data recovery from damaged hard drives is possible if you know what to do and whose help to ask for.

The biggest question is to what extent can data be recovered successfully. Server databases of up to forty-six gigabytes have been recovered. Data have also been recovered from hard drives damaged due to fire or flood.

Data loss attributable to human error or minor system malfunction, without damage to the hard disk, is recoverable by using data recovery software available in the market. Data is often erased accidentally and cannot be found even in the Recycle Bin. This recovery software provides an 'un-erase' feature that will allow you to retrieve data from your hard drive. There are many recovery utilities available on the internet that can be downloaded for free but they provide limited features than the paid versions. The most popular are McAfee Utilities, Gateway GoBack, Ontrack System Suite and Norton SystemWorks that can cost anything between $40 and $60.

However, if the problem is more serious than a mere loss of data, then it is advisable to send the hard drive to a reputable data recovery service provider. If you are having problems with a damaged hard disk, the best thing to do will be to leave it alone and send it to the recovery service provider. People have been known to install recovery utilities on the damaged hard drive but only to worsen the damage. If you are keen on trying to recover the data on your own, then first attach the damaged hard disk to another computer and use as a secondary slave disk before trying to retrieve the data.

Before sending the damaged hard drive for data recovery service, the reputation of the service provider should be taken into account. Companies that have established their credibility in this field should be your first choice. It is also advisable that you ask for an estimate of the cost and time within which the recovery process would be done. Usually, it takes 3 to 5 days for the process to be completed. Depending on the complexity of the problem the cost may be between $300 and $2500. Some of the more established data recovery companies are Ontrack, CBL Data Recovery Technologies, Vogon International, Data Recovery Clinic and Action Front though this is not an exhaustive list.

Though there are ways to recover data, there is no harm in taking measures beforehand. Important data, especially server databases, should always be backed up and businesses should assess the risk involved to take proper preventive measures.

For more on Data Recovery visit Susan's site at hard-disk-recovery.info.

Related Information of Interest:

Mac Data Recovery Explained
HPS and HFS+ are the Apple Macintosh systems for referencing stored data and hard drives. HFS and HFS+ data recovery methods are uniquely adept for Apple and are not to be confused with NTFS and “fat file” systems, used by Microsoft.

So what are some examples of errors that might require data recovery for Mac’s?

- Unreadable disks
- General disk errors
- No Volume (or Volume that isn’t HFS)
- An uninstalled drive
- Computer cannot find the directory
- Internal file system errors
- Flawed master directory block
- Non-Macintosh disks
- Improper file names
- Segment Loader Error

If you use a Mac, whether for business or pleasure, you must protect your valuable data from hackers, viruses, human error, power surges, hard drive failures, and other unexpected problems. The most essential step to keeping your data safe is to back up files regularly – you should always be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Files, databases, emails, spreadsheets, and all other important data can be easily salvaged if this step is taken.

Mac’s and PC’s both offer limited solutions for data loss. Mac’s are especially susceptible to data loss! But with data recovery, all bets are on.

When encountering data recovery problems, don’t try and fix the problem alone. A hard drive is complicated and repair requires special tools, a clean room environment, and expert technological know-how. If you attempt to take on this task by yourself, not only may you be unable to retrieve the data, but you may also incur further damage on the drive.

But that’s okay, because data recovery assistance and service is only a call away. Skilled technicians can evaluate the lost data and instruct you on how to solve the problem. But don’t expect the job to be done in one day. This kind of repair is challenging; it can take almost a week before your data is recovered.

Stu Pearson has an interest in Business & Technology related topics. To access more information on retrieve data