Volume 19, Number 4
June 2002
Data Recovery Tips
No matter how hard you try to protect your data, your system
may still be victimized by data loss from various causes. If your
work disappears, knowing what steps to take immediately can help
keep your data loss from becoming a data disaster.
Don't panic. Never assume lost data is unrecoverable. Consult a
qualified data recovery expert as quickly as possible.
Never use data recovery software if you suspect an electrical or
mechanical failure. Using data recovery software on a faulty hard
drive may destroy what was otherwise recoverable data.
Use "undelete" tools to save your data from human error. Most
disk utility packages allow you to retrieve an erased file.
However, this tool must be used immediately after the deletion,
or the computer will write new data over the deleted file.
Deleted Windows files are stored in the recycle bin and can be
restored so long as you haven't emptied the recycle bin. Check
the Windows documentation or help file for more
information.
Do not try to clean or operate equipment damaged by a natural
disaster. If you fall victim to a natural disaster like a flash
flood or a twisting tornado, the only option is to call a data
recovery expert immediately. Your chances for successful recovery
are greatly reduced by do-it-yourself operations.
If your data is victimized by computer crime, seek professional
advice. Intentional data deletion, duplication, and theft
increasingly threaten valuable computer information. Data
recovery specialists can uncover a trail for criminal computer
activity or provide expert electronic evidence to help make your
case. Check whether the specialist has experience in computer
forensics and electronic discovery.
Create and maintain reliable backups. Make sure to back up your
system regularly, and verify that the backups work and are
complete and error-free.
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