11 tips to increase your chances of recovering lost data
We store a large amount of important data on our computer’s hard drives. And data loss can cause great financial loss, especially if the data consists of business reports. Fortunately, it’s easy to get your lost data back, but you only get one shot. In this article, we have shared some tips to help you improve your chances of recovery and avoid accidental damage. Keep reading to know more.
1. Physical damage
If you hear strange noises on the disc, turn off the power immediately. You should take the same action if you encounter slow system performance, confusing file names, or missing files. Failure to disconnect the power will physically damage the spindle, platters, or read / write heads.
2. Logical damage
Disconnect the power supply if you have accidentally deleted important files or formatted a drive. Performing a proper shutdown process will help overwrite some data and prevent further damage.
3. Hardware / software installation
If you cannot access your data after installing new hardware or software, all you need to do is undo the new installation. Some examples of new hardware include USB-powered accessories, sound cards, and PCI cards, to name a few.
4. Electronic failures
Take out the drive and install it on another computer. If it doesn’t show up in BIOS or makes noise, take it to a professional for repair.
5. Damage to firmware
If the drive does not load the operating system, turn off the PC immediately. You should do the same if the drive displays incorrect information, such as wrong file names, unreadable files, wrong model number, or wrong size.
6. Remove the unit
If you want to remove the drive from your PC, unplug your computer before disconnecting the cables. In addition, it is important that it is grounded so that the components do not suffer any static damage.
7. DIY data recovery
If your hard drive has not been physically damaged, you can install it on another PC to verify the integrity of the file system. But if you find out that the operating system is damaged or the host PC has hardware problems, you can get your data back without any problem.
8. RAID
Turn off the server and get help from a professional if the data is really important to you.
9. SQL Server
Copy your data to another drive before attempting any repairs. Additionally, you can open a support ticket to get help from Microsoft or take the drive to a data recovery service. Be sure to provide the professional with the priority list tables and database structure.
10. MS Exchange
Before attempting any repairs, be sure to copy your important files, including .LOG, .STM, and .EDB.
11. Call a professional
If none of these tricks work for you, we suggest you contact a professional. They will help you to recover your data in a professional way.
In summary, we suggest that you follow these tips if you want to improve your chances of recovering your lost data. I hope this helps.