If you are reading this blog, probably you are facing some issues with your hard drive or suspected an early-stage problem in the drive. If so, you are at the right place. We have got tips to prevent data loss and data recovery methods in case of complete data loss.
The hard drive lasts up to 5-10 years depending upon its manufacturing and cost. Therefore, there is always a risk of data loss to everyone. It could be anything, your professional (research reports, client details, confidential documents, etc.) or personal data (photos, videos, audios, etc.). So, it is essential to keep its backup in several devices to prevent permanent data loss, such as done in cloud-based services.
If your computer/laptop is getting slow or your files shows the ‘?’ icon or you are getting the pop-up message that there is some hard drive risk persisting in the device. You must create a backup copy of the data and get the hard drive checked as soon as possible.
Beyond this, there are some tips to prevent data loss that will be useful to you.
- If you are using a computer and suddenly it starts creating unknown noises, so possibly there is some issue with the hard drive. Save the data you are working on and stop using the computer immediately. Switch it off.
- Always use antivirus software to avoid malware or virus attacks on the device that may affect your hard drive and cause data loss.
- If you have external hard drives, keep them in a cool area as the hard drives get damaged by the exposure to heat and high humidity.
Before we discuss data recovery, it is important to understand what kind of damages the hard drive could have.
Types Of Damage
It is essential to know the type of damage to anticipate the data recovery chances.
1) Logical Damage
Logical failures could be easiest or most difficult depending on the cause and depth of damage. It has nothing to do with physical damage. It could occur due to malware attacks, software bugs, unintentional formatting, accidental deletion, system corruption, etc.
2) Firmware Damage
Firmware damages are more or less similar to logical damage only. If the hard drive is not supporting your device and you are facing issues accessing data. It could be firmware damage. You can use troubleshooting to avoid this error.
3) Mechanical Damage
Mechanical damages are related to physical damage. Hard drives are made of numerous components. If any component gets damaged due to electric shock, control errors, heat, humidity, and water. It will start malfunctioning which may lead to data loss.
Data Recovery Options For PC And Mac
If you have lost your data and looking for data recovery options. You can get the solution right here.
Option 1: Create A Backup In Another Device
In Case Of PC:
Step1: Remove the hard drive from the computer (if detachable). If it is an internal hard drive that you are unable to remove from the device. Get it removed by someone else. You shouldn’t do anything until you install a data recovery app.
Step 2: Plug in the hard drive to another device to check whether the issue is with the hard drive or the device. If the hard drive works well in another device. Create a backup of your data, and then go for a computer repair. Indeed, it’s tough but not more than losing data.
In Case Of Mac:
Step1: Connect non-operable Mac to operable Mac with USB-C Thunderbolt 2 or firewire cables.
Step2: Turn on the broken mac. Press and hold “T” while it turns on. If already turned on, Go to the Apple menu (upper-left corner) > System Preferences > Startup Disk > Target Disk Mode
Step3: Create a backup of the entire data or at least the most important files.
Step4: Restart the non-working mac (press and hold CMD + R) until it restarts. Go to macOS Utilities > Disk Utility > Pick topmost drive (on the left) > Select First Aid or Repair.
If this works, you will be able to access your mac, and the drive will work fine too.
Option 2: Data Recovery Through Apps
Same For PC And Mac
Step1: Remove the drive from the computer. Plug it into another device that has the data recovery app installed already.
Step2: Open the recovery app and let the app scan your hard drive data.
Step3: If the required data is visible in the scan (that means it can be recovered). Pay the asked amount to the recovery service provider.
Remember! Many apps show data in the scan, but after payment, they fail to recover the data. Make sure you use trustworthy apps only to avoid such scenarios.
Step4: Do not worry if it takes time. After payment, it may take hours to days for data recovery based on the size and the total amount of data to be recovered.
Conclusion
Now that you know data recovery tips. You are now capable of recovering it on your own. Still, if you feel you are not that tech-savvy, you want someone else to do it for you. Go to the data recovery shop and ask them to do it for you. In some cases, these tips to recover data may not work. So you must opt for data recovery services. It may cost you a lot ($150 – $1500) yet the data and the hard drive will be saved.