101 Guide to Rescuing and Recovering Data

These tips that will avoid future disasters and data lost.

Number 1

If you have ever started your PC and found that it shows a black screen and a message saying 'missing system file' and Windows doesn't boot.

Don't fear your data is still there, simply Windows itself is corrupt.

Don't

Restart and press F10 for a 'system recovery' in many cases this reformats the hard drive and installs a fresh copy of windows. Put a Windows CD in and try to repair if you're not familiar with the process.

Do's

Take the hard drive out and put it into an USB caddie and pull the important data off. Do this before changing anything on the system. Safety first.

USB caddies are very useful things to have for any PC User, diagnosing drives or transferring data in times of system failures.

Number 2

You switch on the computer and it asks for 'chkdsk'

Don't

Whatever you do, if the data on the disk is important DO NOT run chkdsk it can delete large chunks of data and there's no way to recover it.

Do's

Same as number pull of the data on a separate system. If 'chkdsk' has occurred it more than likely your drive is on its way out. And should seriously consider purchasing a new drive.

Number 3

Deleted data / reinstalled system- You deleted data and emptied the 'recycling bin' or 'trash'.

Don't
Go on to the Internet and download any tool and install the new software.

Do's

Shutdown the computer and connect the drive that has the deleted data into an USB Caddie (they are useful things) and connect to a separate system. Install data recovery software on this separate system and scan the drive from there. Save the recovered data NOT on the drive with the deleted data.

If you find USB connection is slow you can use adapters and software you might want to consider.

Number 4

The drive is clicking.When this happens you're really in serious trouble. If you hear clicking then stop what you are doing immediately. Try to shutdown in the normal way, if the computer has frozen then do a hard shutdown (power off).

Don't

In a panic people reboot immediately and try to run data recovery tools on the drive.

Do

This normally works 30% of the time leave the drive to cool. Some people in put the drive in freezer, which we DON'T recommend here. A cool dry place until you feel the drive to be cold.Place the drive into a USB caddie and if you're lucky the drive won't or click momentarily. When you have access pull important data off quickly and save on a safe running system. Avoid any type of scan or searches!!

To Conclude

The Tips and hints that should save those have read a lot future heartache both financially and emotionally (from lost of data).

data recovery.

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