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Data Recovery Resource

Data Recovery Tips

There are many companies that specialise in data recovery, from all types of media, under a wide variety of circumstances. This is possible because data recovery can be a very complex operation, and sometimes, there may be only one chance to rescue that critical file. That is why we will start off this page on 'tips' with the most important one: if you are in any doubt, let a specialist recover your valuable data.

The second tip may not at first seem to be about data recovery, but it is, because 'restoring' is very often recovering: backup, backup, backup! (Yes, that's three times, on three sets of media, regularly.)

Make a copy of the data, to whatever extent this is possible. If there is a hardware failure this will not be possible, but when dealing with file corruption you will often get a duplicate of the file which is as good (or bad) as the original.

Virus protection is vital, and some form of firewall is highly recommended on Internet-connected computers. Some sources estimate that a newly connected PC, especially using broadband, lasts about 20 minutes before being attacked.

If carrying out an in-place data recovery, ensure that you use data recovery tools that run from CD or floppy. Never copy or install any software onto the disk from which you are trying to recover data. That includes recovered data.

Recovering data from a hard drive can often be aided by installing the drive in another computer which recognises the file-system, preferably running the same operating system. With the drive running in another computer you will be able to copy data from intact file systems.

Analyse the cost/benefit of recovering the data yourself, if at all. Research enough to allow you to accurately estimate the time and resources that may be required. It may be more cost-effective to recreate the data, or call in a specialist.