Data Recovery Topics
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Five Basics of Data Recovery
 Aren't
you glad that computers always work perfectly, never
make errors, and never wear out... NOT! We have become
increasingly dependent on computers for virtually everything in
life. And when (not if) one of those computers fails, the unfortunate
event can throw our world into utter chaos. When computer storage
systems fail (like hard drives, RAID arrays, tape systems, etc.)
the data kept in those systems become inaccessible. Data recovery
is the process of retrieving salvage data from one of those failed
data storage systems such that that inaccessible data can be recovered.
Data recovery may also be needed when users "accidentally" or
"unintentionally" delete data that they later discover that they
need. It's important to keep in mind that there is no guarantee
that you can retrieve any of your data.
1. Using a Data Recovery Service
 If
you can afford it, the easiest way to get your data back is to
work with a data recovery
service. Keep in mind that the sooner you need the data (the
more urgent the situation), the more you can expect to pay from
the same recovery service. Just like using overnight carriers,
the faster you need to get the package to the recipient, the more
you will pay. The same goes with data recovery... expect to pay
more for faster service. It is a great feeling of relief when
a data recovery service brings back our lost file or information
"from the dead." Many data recovery agencies can be found online.
A simple search will reveal hundreds, maybe thousands, of services
ready to help you in your panic. Depending on the severity of
the problem, the services may be able to conduct their business
with you over email or the phone.
2. Data Recovery Software
 Data
recovery software can be a godsend. You've probably had "one of
those special moments" where you've accidentally deleted an important
files or when a virus wreaked havoc on our entire computer. Panic
is the appropriate emotion at times like these. Data
recovery software is like an insurance policy; it eases our
mind and allows us to get some semblance of what we had before
the incident that left us worrying. There are several types of
programs that protect you in different ways. Some can help you
recover your lost files. Data recovery software can "undelete"
previously deleted material; it can sometimes recover lost data
after power failures, virus attacks, software failures and other
problems. We all know how unpredictable technology can be, so
being prepared has become a virtual "must" in the world of information
technology.
3. Hard Drive Data Recovery
 Some
companies specialize in hard
drive data recovery. One of the most important things in this
information age is having reliable software and hardware to complete
the tasks that are needed, so one of the gravest fears of many
computer users is losing that information and having that reliable
software let us down. The primary data storage system in most
computers is hard drive storage. And when your hard drive crashes...
it always bad news. Sometimes hard drives will start to make funny
sounds, giving you a clue that they will crash in the near future.
If you hear those sounds, prepare yourself as soon as possible
for your hard disk to crash. If you need to recover data from
a crashed hard disk, you have little alternatives but to use a
data recover service that performs that service. Unless you are
an experienced technician who can disassemble and repair hard
disks, you ought to leave that to a professional.
4. Tape Data Recovery
 Tape
data recover can be needed for a variety of reasons. Tape
data recovery is the recovery of any data that has been lost
on a tape which can be for different causes. A tape cartridge
can be damaged by any number of things from smoke to water to
dropping the cartridge. Tapes can also be damaged by exposure
to extreme temperatures, internal mechanism failure, and errors
that are located in the middle of the tape’s file among other
things. Tape data has been recovered from tapes with water damage,
missing oxide, folds in the tape material, sliced edges, blade
damage, no oxide, bad oxide, and friction damage. There are generally
two types of tape data recovery. These are known as physical recovery
and logical recovery.
5. RAID Data Recovery
 RAID
data recovery is, of course, the act of recovering data from a
RAID system. RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives) was
designed to use a system of multiple drives in such a way that
if one of the drives fails, the failure is non-catastrophic (can
be recovered seamlessly). RAID is one of the most reliable systems
of data storage because RAID insures against the failure of a
single hard disk. There are different RAID configurations which
provide redundancy and some that do not provide redundancy. Some
common redundant configurations are RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10.
In order to have a catastrophic failure of a RAID system, you
would need to have a simultaneous failure of multiple hard drives.
If that happens, then you would need some sort of RAID
data recovery performed. Since RAID technology depends on
hard drive technology, many data recovery service companies that
specialize in hard disk recovery can also help with recovery of
RAID data systems.
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