It been long since I added an article on to this blog entirely by writing which is not based on how to. Anyway here it is and I hope it will be worth reading for you guys.
Data Recovery, is a big issue if your hard disk has sensitive informations. Like the saying its, prevention better than cure. Here you better prevent the data loss by making sure of a updated backup for the original data. so that even i fyou loose the original data you will have the copy.
You can do this back up in several ways:
1. Using Applications such as
- Norton ghost
- Sync Back
- Acronis True image
2. Using RAID
For normal home usage first option is better. So you just have to install an application in your system and do as the manual says. Raid needs higher knowledge about computer and requires some configuration changes in hardwares.
Data Recovery(not the worst case):
If you deleted some files and removed them recycle bin also accidentally, it would be very easy to recover if you just stop using the computer. If you use the computer for a long time after the deletion, it will be very difficult to recover the data. Now The best option is boot into a live cd of either windows, linux, or any custom recovery solution. In that case the recovery wil be very easier and less time consuming.
In windows, you can use lots of applications like recuvva, ontrack easy recovery professional, etc. In this Recuvva is free and the options are very limited. Ontrack is a very professional one but you will have to pay for that application. Like this you will get lots of applications for recovering the data. One thing you have to make sure is, use a external hard disk to save the data. Do not use the same device on which the data recovery is being performed.
Now in linux also there are lots of similar tools. But if you are into linux, it better you ask the support forum for the recommended recovery application. Include the reason, and what kind of files you are trying to recover.
Data Recovery(Worst Case Scenario):
Now if your HardDisk failed and you didn’t have any backups also, then you need to try other options to get the data.
First of all let me point out something in bold and underlined.
If you don’t know what you are doing, you could lose all the data, which would have been recoverable if you didn’t try anything but give it to a professional.
You can find lots of professionals for these by a simple google search. Data recovery is a highly competitive field and there are lots of good companies which give you optimal result. But the prizes will not be cheap. For good services you will have to give good amount of money. But most of the data recovery professionals give you a free consultation. Now by this you will come to know the gravity of the situation.
So only try these kind of things, once you are sure about what you are doing.
My favorite tool is testdisk. Google search it and you will find the package to install. But you will have to try it from linux, ubuntu recommended.
TestDisk have 100s of options and configuration set ups. It will be impractical to list them all. The best part of test disk is, this application will try to find and list the previous partitions and volumes. And if you found that to be correct you can just, try to recover it.
This Wiki Community Page from ubuntu will help if you chose to try this with ubuntu. But before trying you must read through it once or twice, and clear all your doubts before starting.
even if you lost the partition from windows, do try these kind of recovery stuffs from linux only. I recommend it because the options and file system support is more in linux than in windows.
