| Lost data? Your next steps are critical to complete a | | | | data loss. |
| hard drive recovery! | | | | If you've lost critical data, our recovery service is your |
| To avoid permanent data loss, follow these important | | | | best and safest option for you. Never assume data is |
| guidelines: | | | | unrecoverable. We have successfully recovered data |
| If your drive is making clicking, grinding or whirring | | | | from hundreds of thousands of drives with extreme |
| sounds. Shut down your computer immediately. These | | | | physical and logical damage. Preventing data loss |
| sounds could be the read/write heads hitting or | | | | Everyone should adopt strategies to ensure critical |
| scraping the platters. Severe or complete data loss | | | | information is protected from corruption and loss. |
| could result. | | | | Best practices: Never upgrade any system without a |
| Unplug the power to the computer then remove the | | | | verified backup. |
| hard drive. Handle the drive carefully. Hard drives are | | | | Use up-to-date hardware and software utilities for |
| extremely sensitive to static electricity and physical | | | | data security, such as firewalls and virus protection. |
| jarring or jolts. | | | | Make sure you scan all incoming data for viruses, |
| If your data is critical, make sure you choose a | | | | including packaged software. Use ventilation, fans and |
| reputable recovery firm that can properly recover | | | | or air conditioning to keep servers at the proper |
| data from physically damaged drives. Even the | | | | operating temperature. |
| simplest recovery attempts on a physically damaged | | | | Connect systems to an uninterruptible power supply |
| drive could render your data unrecoverable. | | | | (UPS) to protect against power surges. |
| The first recovery attempt is always the best | | | | Power down and take extreme caution when moving |
| recovery attempt. Our engineers use the safest | | | | computers. Avoid static discharge when touching or |
| methods available to insure your data is not lost from | | | | handling the media, especially in excessively dry |
| repeated recovery attempts. | | | | environments. |
| When disaster strikes: | | | | Backup strategies: |
| If possible, back up the data immediately Do not use | | | | Invest in redundant backup systems: |
| utility software if the drive makes scraping, tapping, | | | | Establish a structured backup procedure to make |
| clicking or humming sounds | | | | copies of all critical data files, using software |
| Do not power up a device that has obvious physical | | | | compatible with the operating system and applications. |
| damage or is making unusual sounds. Shut down Turn | | | | Periodically test the backups to verify that data, |
| off the drive and its data. Do not attempt recovery | | | | especially databases and other critical files, are being |
| yourself on severely traumatized drives (i.e., turning the | | | | backed up properly. Keep at least one copy of critical |
| computer off and on, using over-the-counter diagnostic | | | | data offsite. |
| tools). This may cause further damage or permanent | | | | |