In a world where data is constantly being created, it’s more important than ever to have a reliable way to recover lost or damaged data. Data recovery software has become an essential tool for businesses and individuals who want to minimise the risk of data loss. This guide will explain what data recovery is, how data recovery software works, and the different types of data loss that can occur. It will also provide tips on how to minimise the risk of data loss and advice on how to use data recovery software if necessary.
Every year businesses lose billions of dollars through data loss costs. This includes the cost of lost productivity, revenue, and opportunities, as well as the direct cost of data recovery itself. The cost of data loss is only increasing as we become more reliant on digital devices and data.
| What is data recovery? |
|---|
| Data recovery is the process of retrieving lost or inaccessible data from a storage device. This can be caused by physical damage to the device, logical damage to the file system, accidental deletion of files, or software errors. |
How does data recovery work?
Data recovery software uses a variety of methods to recover lost data. These include analysing information about files and folders, searching for known file types, or using raw data recovery techniques to access the underlying data on the storage device.
Cutting edge payroll software
- Powerful and easy to use
- HMRC & RTI compliant
- Used by payroll pros
The CRM platform to grow your business
- Great for entrepreneurs
- Powerful data analytics
- Manage sales and data
Powerful web builder and advanced business tools
- Great for startups
- Powerful web page builder
- E-commerce available
Supercharged content planning
- Great for marketing
- Better than lists or sheets
- Manage social media
Create a new website in 10 minutes. Easy.
- Launch your website fast
- Powerful data intuitive
- No coding skills needed
Different types of data loss
Data loss can occur for a variety of reasons, including
Accidental file deletion
This is one of the most common types of data loss. It can be caused by mistakenly deleting files, emptying the Recycle Bin or Trash, or formatting a drive without backing up the data first.
There are a number of ways to recover deleted files, depending on how recently they were deleted. If the files were deleted from a hard drive, they may still be present on the disk but hidden from view. If they were deleted from a USB drive, they may still be stored in the computer’s memory until they are overwritten.
If the files have been permanently deleted, they may not be able to be recovered with software. However, some data recovery software can try to reconstruct the files based on their fragments.
File system formatting
This is another common type of data loss. Formatting a drive will erase all of the data on it, including any files that were not previously backed up. Some data recovery software can restore lost files after a format if they were stored in a different location on the drive.
Logical damage
This means damage to the file system that can also cause data loss. This can be caused by viruses, malware, or power outages. The damage can make files inaccessible or corrupt them so that they cannot be read. Data recovery software can often repair corrupted files and restore them to their original state.
Hardware failure
This is another common cause of data loss. This can include physical damage to the device such as a broken screen or water damage, or problems with the internal hardware such as a failed hard drive. Even though the device may no longer be functional the data can still be recovered.
Software errors
This can include errors with Windows or other applications that cause them to crash or freeze. Data recovery software can often restore files that have been damaged or lost as a result of a software error.
Cyberattacks
These are also becoming an increasingly common way for data to be lost or stolen. This includes ransomware attacks that lock down devices and demand payment for access to the data, as well as phishing attacks that steal personal information from users.
Minimising data loss
There are several things you can do to minimise the risk of losing data, the first two are if after you have lost data.
| Stop using the device | Disconnect it from the internet | Regular backups |
|---|---|---|
| The reason for this is because any new files written to the device could overwrite the lost data and make it unrecoverable. If you are trying to recover files from a hard drive, do not install any new software or save any new files until the recovery is complete. | This is especially important if you are trying to recover files from a computer that has been infected with ransomware. Disconnecting the device from the internet will prevent any further encryption of files and may make it easier to recover the lost data. | The best way to protect against data loss is to regularly back up your files. This can be done using an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a backup service. We will talk more about this later in the article |
How data recovery software works
Software works by scanning the storage device for any recoverable files. This can include both deleted and lost files. The software will then try to reconstruct the files based on their fragments. In some cases, the software may be able to recover only part of the file.
Different data recovery software methods
There are two main methods that data recovery software uses to recover lost files:
- Recovery by analysing information about files and folders: This method works by looking at the structure of the file system and trying to piece together how the files were stored.
- Recovery by searching for known file types: This method works by scanning the storage device for known file types.
Data recovery software
There are a number of different recovery software programs available, both free and paid. Paid programs tend to have more features and support than free programs, but they are not always necessary.
Recuva
It is a freemium data recovery software that easy to use that can recover files from Windows computers, the Recycle Bin, external hard drives, digital camera cards, or MP3 players. It can also recover files from damaged or newly formatted drives.
GetDataBack Pro
It is a paid recovery solution for Windows, Mac, and Linux file systems with decades of data recovery experience with the newest technologies. It has a simple interface to guide you to your lost data and lets you recover it with just one click.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
This is another popular freemium data recovery software for Windows and Mac computers. It is able to recover data from external hard drives, flash drives, SD cards etc.
Disk Drill Pro
Disk Drill makes data recovery in Mac OS X super easy. With just one click of a button, it will run through all of its scanning functions and display a list of files that can be potentially recovered. You can even preview these files so that you can determine which ones can be successfully recovered.
Data recovery service
If you don’t feel confident using software to recover your files you can use a professional service who will be able to recover your data for you. They will usually charge you a fee (usually around $100-$500) and they will send you a disk with your recovered data on it. Some companies do not charge you if they are unable to recover your files.
Where can I recover files from?
Data recovery software can be used to recover lost or deleted files from a variety of different storage devices, including:
- Hard drives
- Solid state drives
- USB flash drives
- Memory cards
- Optical discs
Data protection steps
There are a few steps you can take to protect your data and as we mentioned before, the best way to protect against data loss is to regularly back up your files. This can be done using an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a backup service.
- Cloud backup: This stores your files on a remote server. This has the advantage of being accessible from anywhere and can be used to restore your data if your computer is lost or stolen. It is easy to scale and you can start with a small amount of storage and then increase it as your needs grow.
- Local backup: This stores your files on an external hard drive or other storage device. This has the advantage of being faster and easier to set up than cloud backup. However it is more expensive if you want to scale as you will need to buy more storage devices if you need more.
Conclusion
Data loss is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences for businesses and individuals alike. However, there are steps you can take to protect your files and there are also data recovery software and services available to help you if you do lose your data.
FAQs on data recovery
Yes, you can usually recover accidentally deleted files using data recovery software. However, if you have already emptied the Recycle Bin or Trash, then it may not be possible to recover the file.
The best way to protect against data loss is to regularly back up your files. This can be done using an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a backup service.
There are a few different ways you can recover lost or deleted files: using data recovery software, using a data recovery service, or by restoring from a backup.
There are a few common causes of data loss: accidental file deletion, file system formatting, logical damage to the file system, hardware failure, software error, or cyberattack. Minimising data loss can be done by stopping using the device, disconnecting it from the internet, and making regular backups. Data recovery software can be used to recover lost or deleted files from a variety of different storage devices.
The best way to protect against data loss is to regularly back up your files. This can be done using an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a backup service. You can also use data encryption to protect your data. Data encryption is a process of encoding data so that only authorised users can access it.
Theses services usually charge a fee (usually around $100-$500). Data recovery software can either be free or paid. Paid data recovery software usually costs around $89.
The best way to backup your data will depend on your needs. If you are looking for a free option, Recuva and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition are both popular choices. If you want to be able to scale your backup solution, then using a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive is a good option.
Yes, if your computer crashes and you lose some files, you can usually recover them using recovery software. However, if the hard drive is physically damaged, then you will need to use a professional service.
Yes, but you will need to use a data recovery service. Data recovery services usually charge a fee (usually around $100-$500). They will send you a disk with your recovered data on it.
The best software will depend on your needs. If you are looking for a free option, Recuva and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition are both popular choices. If you are willing to pay for a data recovery software, Disk Drill Pro is a good option for Mac users.
This software can either be free or paid. Paid data recovery software usually costs around $89.