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What is data
recovery ?
Data
recovery is the process of retrieving data (files, documents)
from a primary storage media (hard drive, USB drive, Flash
memory... etc.) when it cannot be accessed normally. The data is
first recovered and then copied on another media. Usually, the
files to recover are working documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
texte, Acrobat... etc.), favorites, Emails and contacts, photos
or pictures, music, databases, compressed files (ZIP, RAR),
accounting or taxes files... and so on.
What are the
symptoms and causes of data corruption ?
Typical symptoms are unusual noise (clicking, scratching,
platters fail to spin up...) or heating. Sometimes, the computer fail to
boot (showing or not an error message) or does not recognize the
disk, display a "blue screen" or is very slow.
Some
common reasons for failure are (1) manufacturing defect (2)
mishandling or accidents involving water, fire, dust, shock (3)
viruses (4) accidental file deletion or reformatting (5) file
system corruption (6) wear and stress from everyday usage.
What are the
main types of problem ?
Problems are diverse but they can be divided into two main
categories.
Logical damage:
Far more common than physical damage is logical damage to a
file system, firmware, corrupted or deleted files... and so on.
Logical damage is primarily caused by power outages that prevent
file system structures from being completely written to the
storage medium. The result is that the file system is left in an
inconsistent state.
Physical damage:
Physical damage occur as a consequence of a mechanical failure,
such as scrached platters, head crashes, used ball bearings,
defective borad and failed motors... etc. Most physical damage
cannot be repaired by end users. In any case, DO NOT OPEN THE
DISK YOURSELF. Opening a hard disk in a normal environment can
allow dust to settle on the surface, causing further damage to
the platters and complicating the recovery process.
What should I
do first ?
The
first thing to do is to power down your system as soon as
possible (using the power button and not the shutdown feature of
your system). The longer your system is running on a defective
drive, the more damage can occur. Do not re-power you system.
Secondly, we highly recommend that you do not run any file
recovery or system recovery software on your own because these
kind of software should not be used in any situation and can
even make the recovery process more diffiult. Never open the
disk yourself because doing so can cause
further damage.
Finally, consult a data recovery specialist that will help analyze
your particular situation in order for you to make an informed
decision. MicroExpert offers a professional service and a free
evaluation (under the "regular" service). Therefore, we suggest
you contact us by phone so that we can guide you through the
whole process.
How
much does it cost ?
The
price is always calculated based on the initial inspection.
Experience says that “No two recoveries are the same”. There are
many reasons, processes, consequences and circumstances of each
failure and it is not possible to provide a standard pricing
structure. This is why prices are set case by case. However,
since the "regular" estimation is free of charge, you do not
have anything to loose to contact us for a first look. "Express"
and "Rush" services as well as on-site pickup service are also
available but subject to additional charges.
How
long does it take ?
The
turn around time depends on each situation. For example, if some
parts need to be replaced, we have to take into account the time
to get an identical or compatible part. Some other process can
require that we let the disk run during several hours. For some
additional fees, we also offer an "Express" and "Rush" service
in case you need your data more quickly. Once again, we will be
able to provide more information on the time required after the
initial inspection.
What
is your success rate ?
Many
factors need to be taken into account and the success rate is
greatly influenced by the type of problem that caused data
corruption. On average, our success rate is above 80%.
Do you keep a copy of the files ?
We
keep the data for a period of 10 days following the delivery,
just in case we have to do some additional work. This gives you
10 days to make sure that everything is fine with your data or
otherwise contact us.
Do
you guarantee the confidentiality of my data ?
Yes,
all data are processed with strict confidentiality in order to
protect privacy and our policy mentions that all data are
deleted after 10 days.
How can I prevent these kind of
problem in the future ?
To
prevent data lost, make backup copies as often as possible. The
easiest way to do so is to copy your data onto an external hard
drive. You can find several software to automate this task.
Also, some specialized companies offer to make online periodic
backup. Their price depends on the quantity and frequency of the
backup.
Also,
you can power your system via a UPS unit (Uninterruptible Power
Supply), that powers your system during a power failure and
gives you enough time to shut down safely your computer.
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