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Data Recovery Tips
If you've lost your data, the first few steps
you take can make a big difference in whether your data can be salvaged or
not. Failing to be cautious at this critical time can render your data
unrecoverable even by the most experienced technicians.
To prevent further data loss, it's important to follow these steps:
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If your drive is clicking or grinding, even
if it is still being seen by the system BIOS, you should shut the power
down immediately. This is a good indicator that your drive has failed or
is on the verge of imminent failure. Clicking hard drives, often
referred to as the "Click of Death" are a sign that you have a serious
problem, most likely a head crash, and you are going to need a data
recovery professional to help get your data back.
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Just to reiterate, DO NOT re power a
drive that is clicking, or you feel may have suffered a physical
failure. Doing so will only reduce the chances of a successful recovery.
I know it was stated in the step above, but it is worth repeating.
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Never remove the cover, logic board, or any
case cover screws from your hard drive.
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Do not shake the drive.
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Never ever put hard drive in the freezer,
no matter what you may have heard or read on the Internet about it.
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Avoid trying to recover the data yourself
with common off the shelf data recovery utilities. Many of these
programs can actually cause further data loss, because they write to the
failed hard drive. Doing so may actually overwrite recoverable data,
resulting in permanent loss of that data.
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Do not attempt to run CHKDSK or scan disk
on a drive that seems to be failing.
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Be cautious when choosing a data recovery
company. There are many choices out there, but there are few companies
who can even properly diagnose a failed drive, much less recover the
data from it. Don't be fooled by misleading success rates or low prices.
Our report "Choosing The Best Data Recovery Provider" is a look at what
you should watch out for when shopping for a data recovery professional.
Do they have the necessary experience? Do they have their own Class-100
or better clean room? Do they charge additional fees for parts?
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Package the drive appropriately when
shipping it. Think of it as an egg, and you need to protect it during
shipping. A few good layers of bubble wrap, a well-fitting box, and a
reputable shipper like DTDC or
FedEx will get your
drive delivered safely to our lab. For more information about submitting
your drive to us for recovery, click
HERE.
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If you are comfortable working with your
computer, and familiar with the components, you can attempt to remove
your hard drive yourself.
Always unplug your computer first
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Locate your hard drive
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Disconnect the cables and holding screws
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Remove the drive and handle it carefully
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