There is that moment that so many of us fear when we suddenly realise “why didn’t I keep a backup?”. For far too many people, it is not until we lose information or until a part of the computer breaks, that we realise how important data recovery and data backups are. Even those that do store backups or spread their information across multiple items of storage media (hard disks, zip drives, tapes, etc..) only reduce the chance of information lose and may also need data recovery services. And with the increase of digital information, this data becomes more and more critical for each and everyone of us.

So it is no surprise that data recovery is a booming business and there are several so called “expert” services available. The prices and services of these companies can vary greatly and customers can feel overwhelmed especially at the use of some of the technical terms of data recovery. Therefore it is always best to know as much about the problem with your storage media as possible so you can make informed decisions about just what type of data recovery assistance is needed.

The first thing that needs to be assessed with data lose, is what type of fault or problem originally occurred. The cause of data lose is generally split into two categories of Physical and Logical faults.

Physical faults relate directly to the mechanical condition of the storage media and can rarely be corrected without expert services. These include damaged CD surfaces, broken heads on hard disks and data tape ribbon rupture. Usually this type of data lose comes about from some form of physical impact or condition and will normally mean that 100% data recovery is impossible. Data recovery from physical faults requires specialist tools and materials as well as usually requiring a “clean room” in which to perform the repairs. Trying to fix the damage components without expert assistance is not recommended as most storage media is sensitive to dust and small particles that can enter once the mechanisms have been opened.

Logical faults are faults that have caused damage to the file system of storage media and are by far the most common form of data lose. This means the data can be left in an inconsistent state leaving the data to be read incorrectly or even not at all. Sometimes storage media can already be affected by logical faults while an individual is still using the devices. Strange and inconsistent behaviour of the media is often an indicator of a logical fault. Most operating systems come with an application for rudimental logical fault correction like chkdsk or fsck. Normally repairing the fault can be achieved through repair applications or the replacement of controlling devices within the storage media.

In the end, when that day comes, which will leave us worried if we will ever recover that important document or set of family photos, there are several options available for data recovery. Some types of faults are more devastating than others and others can only be dealt with by professionals. But never say never with data loss and the sun may shine again.