Data Recovery - What can and cannot be Recovered

Data recovery has become a simplistic and commonand virus corruption.
process. There are two ways of initiating dataAccording to data recovery agency, Disklabs, usually
recovery:photographs and pictures including graphic material can
1. The first method is to do it yourself. You turn on yourbe retrieved using physical data recovery methods.
computer and discover that the photographs you tookUsually nine out of every 10 photos are recovered in
on your holiday have been lost. It's about time to thinktheir original format. However, when database files are
logically - either they have been overwritten or therelost, retrieval is impossible. The experts at Disklabs
has been surface contamination. In other cases, naturalclaim that only 1% of database files are retrievable. In
or man-made disasters like floods and fires maycase of total data loss owing to natural disasters of
destroy important data. If you are an inexperiencedfire and floods, experts recommend the installation of a
computer user, then it is always advisable not to usebackup drive away from the place of everyday use.
your limited knowledge and try to reboot yourDisklabs further argues that many universities and
computer to retrieve your data. But, on the other handmultinational corporations document vital information
if you do boast of considerable computer expertise,reducing sole dependency on digital media.
you can retrieve your data using any data recoveryOther data recovery firms advocate the installation of
tool available on your computer desktop. This involves:a data recovery tool called Scavenger version 3. The
· Install the data recovery tooladvantage of using this tool lies in its function to scan
· Disconnect your computeran entire hard drive looking for corrupt and defunct
· Install a new drive to save the retrieved datavolumes, partitions and spots. In this regard this tool is
· Have a licence to run the data recovery toolextremely good for novice users as it enables them
2. The second most common method is to call in thenot to lose new data while scanning the hard drive
data recovery specialists. This is usually the caseretrieving lost data. It is better than the computer
when you are unsure as to the cause of data loss.desktop utility of CHECKDISK. But this data recovery
Data recovery agencies can recover 90% of your losttool cannot retrieve data entangled in the mesh of
data, provided the loss is due to:magnetised layers on the hard drive. Here, it becomes
· Accidental deletion of the dataimportant to be aware of the time frame and cost of
· Overwritingretrieving such data. Usually, experts using data
· Disk corruptionrecovery tools of Easy Recovery, Data Recovery
· Reformatted, deleted volume or disk partitionand Data Advisor, state that it takes more than a
containing dataworking week to retrieve a mere .5% of the actual
· Partially damaged disk with bad spots caused bydata. A prime example of data recovery can be seen
exposure to natural elements such as heat, light, waterat company Hewlett Packard which used its own
and dusttechnicians to retrieve a database file of employee
Data can be recovered from digital media files,records. In contrast, technicians at InfoUSA failed to
memory sticks, ZIP files, hard drives, floppy diskettesretrieve vital editing material. In addition, they were
and flashcards. Usually data recovery specialists canunable to stop new data from being lost. As a result,
retrieve data by using two methods:an entire database file was lost.
1. Physical Data retrieval which means retrieving theIt is very important to note that full data recovery is
raw data from a damaged disk caused by a virusnot possible. However, more than 95% of raw data
attack, operator system error or a natural disastercan be recovered provided necessary steps to
such as fire which may lead to surface contamination.ensure recovery are undertaken in time. It simply does
2. Logical Data Retrieval which refers to the rebuildingnot do to wait for a few days before contacting a
of lost data files. This type of data recovery becomesdata recovery specialist agency. If you can't do it, call
necessary when there is disk overwriting, reformattingthem right away.