File recovery

File recovery eventually becomes part of your life if you spend enough time in front of a computer.

Most people just make the honest mistake of deleting a file or losing a file by accident. But worse scenarios do happen. Thankfully, there are many data recovery options that can get your files back. Here goes…

Data recovery is broken down into four parts:

• deleted files
• lost files
• corrupt files
• damaged files

Deleted File

Nearly every computer user has experienced the situation when they have deleted files and have wanted them back; you’ve intentionally trashed a file, and you need it. This is the most common and easiest recovery situation to resolve in most instances, and there are many undelete data recovery products to choose from, especially in the Windows data recovery field. If you just don’t want to chance it call (800)444-3225 now.

Lost File

A lost file may exist, but you cannot find it. This can include a file that has been deleted, or one that has been lost due to a power outage, software application crash, virus attack, partition problem, and the famous accidental format. Your solution could be several different options, depending on what has happened. Let me explain…

Disk recovery products are a step stronger than a basic undelete utility, but like undelete software, they cannot address data loss in situations where the file system has been altered. However, recovery software can. While most people believe them to be the same, they are not. So, the state of the file system determines which data restore program you need to use. Confusing, isn’t it?

If you do not understand what I just said, or you do not know which solution to use for your situation, try both kinds of utilities. If this sounds too cumbersome, use a data recovery tool because of the greater power. But you need to be very careful when using a recovery software tool. Why? Because many products sold on the open market have a little known side effect. They don’t back up the damaged disk to another hard drive before trying to recover the data. Why does this matter? It matters because in the process of trying to recover the data they erase the very data you are trying to reacquire which means you have only one shot at recovery. If you are not successful and you don’t have a back up on another mirror drive, all that data is gone forever never to be seen again. If you just don’t have it in you to follow these seemingly confusing instructions, call us at (800)444-3225 for a free evaluation.

Price is the best and quickest gauge to determine which software is which, if you find yourself having to reread the above-mentioned information several times. Recovery software costs less than seventy dollars – most being under forty – while a data recovery utility usually ranges between seventy-five to hundred and twenty dollar mark.

The irony of all this confusing technical terminology (and why most people have difficulty differentiating between solutions): While a data recovery tool is limited in functionality as a stand alone product, when one is included as an operation in recovery software, it recovers both situations (when the file system is OK, or where it has been altered). So when in doubt, use data recovery utility, because it covers the whole gamut.

File Corruption

A corrupt file is a situation in which you can locate the file, but it cannot or does not open properly. When it does open, the content of the file appears to be a bunch of gibberish. In this scenario, the same principles of lost files apply to corrupt files: If the file system has not been changed, any disk recovery tool will do the job. Otherwise, you need recovery software.

A damaged file can be opened, but it simply does not read perfectly. For example, part of the text or picture file may read properly, but the remaining part may be nothing more than a jumbled muddle. In this case, you need a file repair utility to reconstruct your data. In some cases it may need to be reconstructed manually with a hex editor. Make sure the software states that it can repair a file, because file repair is different than data recovery. Note that file repair utilities are usually sold separately, such as an excel repair program.

Recovery Professional Service

There are situations that are just beyond the scope of any automated tool on the market. In these circumstances, consulting with us (800-444-3225), hard drive data recovery experts, is the last avenue to recover your data. While professional file data recovery can be more expensive, it can be justified when you just have to have your data back.