When you think about data recovery, you probably imagine scenarios like a user accidentally deleting a file or a drive failing to respond. However, there are other ways in which you can lose access to your data — sometimes even permanently! Unintentional deletion, hardware failure, formatting, fire, or flood damage — there are many situations that can lead to irreparable data loss. If you’re working with sensitive company data or personal information on any of your computers or drives, it is essential that you have data recovery software in place.
Hardware Failure
The first and most obvious cause of hardware failure is old age. Hard drives and other storage devices have a finite lifespan, even if they’re not used every day. How often you use it and how many times you format it are also factors in how long your drive lasts. While most companies replace their hardware every three to five years, this period can be shorter for more heavily used devices and longer for storage drives.
One of the most common causes of hardware failure is overheating, which can happen if a device is not properly ventilated or if it’s placed in an area that’s too warm or too cold. Viruses and malware can also cause hardware failure but you can recover it by using data recovery software.
Data Loss Due to Unintentional Actions
There are several common situations in which users can accidentally cause data loss. If you accidentally delete a file, it’s not gone for good, but it’s definitely gone from the current location. This also applies to deleted folders and data from USB drives. Once deleted, the data is not recoverable and can only be recovered if it is not overwritten by another file. The best way to prevent accidental deletion is to use a reliable backup system or data recovery software.
When you are transferring or sharing files, you should always make copies of the data before doing so. You can use programs that allow you to encrypt files while they’re being transferred, which will prevent unauthorized people from viewing your data.
Formatting Drives and Reformatting Errors
The act of formatting a drive deletes all data on it. If you format a drive that stores important information, it will be permanently lost. Some users mistakenly assume that formatting a drive will speed it up or fix a problem, which is not the case. Data loss due to formatting can’t be avoided, but it can be minimized if the drive is not being used for storing critical data. When reformatting a hard drive, always make sure to select the “Quick Format” option. If you choose the “Normal Format” option, your data will be overwritten. This can come as a huge surprise to many users, so it’s important to be aware of this when reformatting drives.
Fire and Flood Damage
Fire and flood damage are rare, but they often lead to irreparable data loss because the equipment and computers that store the data are often beyond repair. Most data recovery services charge a lot of money for this type of repair. If you are using a cloud data storage service, always store your most important data there. It’s unlikely that a flood will affect this type of data center, so it’s the best place to store your sensitive data. Fire is more common than floods, but it’s also easier to prevent. Always use surge protectors with your electronics and make sure to unplug the devices when not in use.
Summary
Data recovery is an unfortunate part of computer use, but it’s also a very solvable problem. Knowing how to handle the worst-case scenarios can help you avoid losing your important files and data in the first place. If you want to give the recovery tools a try, you can consider iTop Data Recovery, which can recover any lost or deleted data like photos, videos, PDF, Excel, and Word from different devices.