Article > What Can Be Saved After a Crash or Virus?

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At Fields Associates, we specialise in the recovery of the digital “fingerprints” left by the routine use of computers. Even erased files can be recovered and examined, ensuring that you have all the evidence available to support your investigation.

Established in 1999, we have earned an impressive reputation in the detection, analysis and presentation of computer evidence in the broadest range of criminal activities. These include fraud, extortion, data theft, child pornography and Internet abuse.

Our clients include legal firms, international banks, blue chip companies, law enforcement and military organisations.

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What Can Be Saved After a Crash or Virus?

Today, almost every individual and organisation around the world stores all their important data electronically. Despite offering a variety of advantages such as lesser storage space, easy migration of data and much more, storing data on computers has its own disadvantages. No matter how careful you are, there is always a possibility of losing your files as a result of a computer crash or a virus infection.  

So, if you have failed to back up your important data and you have lost it, what do you think are the chances of data recovery? Experts say that in more than 85% of cases, it is possible to recover the lost information provided you choose the right method of data recovery.

Data Recovery

There are two types of data recovery. In the first method, we perform data recovery using DIY data recovery software and in the second method we take the assistance of data recovery experts. Depending upon the cause of data loss, the data recovery process also varies. The following information would help understand the method of data recovery for data loss owing to a computer crash and infection with virus.

Data Loss Owing to Computer Crash and Method of Recovery

A clinking noise from the hard drive or some of the blue screen errors are an indication of a failing hard drive. These days there are computers specially designed to inform you about possible hard drive failure. For example, a Dell system would display a smart error indicating that your hard drive is about to fail. In these cases, you can try to back up all your valuable data and go in for a hard drive replacement.  You also save spending on data recovery services.  

However, not all hard drives are designed in this way. So, when you end up losing your important data, data recovery experts are the ones whom you need to contact. DIY software cannot be used in cases of mechanical failure. By using recovery software in these cases you are further jeopardising the process of data recovery. Also, it is an unnecessary waste of your money since it would not serve any purpose.

Data recovery specialists will be able to recover your valuable data in most situations. Although, you might have to pay a slightly huge fee, it is worth giving it a try, if you really value your data.

Data Loss Owing to Virus and Method of Recovery

Each day we have new viruses attacking our computer through the Internet and other sources. Each of these viruses has their unique properties. Some of them would not affect your data while others could affect your data to a little or a large extent. When your data is partially affected by virus, you could try taking a back up of the rest of the data. But make sure the virus is not copied along with the back and continues to spread once your transfer it to a different computer.

There are a few viruses that can completely destroy your Operating System. In such cases, you would not be able to access your important data. In these cases, your anti-virus might not be able to resolve the problem and you might be forced to reinstall your operating system. However, if you choose to perform a OS reinstall you can end up losing your data completely.

Hence, before performing an OS reinstall you would need to back up the data. You could use the assistance of a DIY software or data recovery services in these cases. However, when choosing data recovery software, make sure it does not copy or gets installed on the media where you wish to back up your data. Otherwise, you would lose your data forever.

With a credible data recovery software or service you would be able to recover almost all the information stored on your computer.

Data Recovery – Making the Final Call

Making a choice between a data recovery software and recovery services might be difficult. Data recovery software might be more inviting since they are cheaper and in a ready-to-use format. There is always a chance that you might be tempted to choose them over data recovery services. However, if the data is invaluable, then data recovery services might be the only other option. So, choose according to your specific problem. Think diligently and take the right decision.

If you are concerned that the your data may have been illegally tampered with by a hacker then you should consider a computer forensics (also known as digital forensics) investigation that can determine whether illicit access has taken place.


Article: What Can Be Saved After a Crash or Virus?

Created on: 2007-07-19 14:18:22