How to prepare your hard drive for a data recovery
Has your computer stopped booting? Is it giving you a disk error? Maybe a persistent blue screen of death? Did you accidentally delete some valuable files, like photos or documents?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions you may be a candidate for data recovery. It’s very important that you make sure to take certain steps in order to ensure that your data stays intact, if at all possible:
1) Do not use the computer or hard drive any more. If you continue to use it you may be destroying your valuable data. The way data is stored is such that if your drive is damaged or you deleted your files there may only be a brief window of opportunity to recover your files.
2) It’s best not to try to remove the hard drive and connect it to a USB cable unless you are 100% certain there is no physical issue with the drive (laptop hard drives are also extremely fragile). If you do, you may be jeopardizing your data. Sometimes a failing hard drive will break down much faster if you try to grab your data. Remember, professionals use specialized programs and tools to ensure the best probability of recovery, but if you damage the drive it can lessen that chance.
3) Be careful about the warning signs. Is your computer running very hot and/or slow? Does your computer occasionally pause for long periods of time? Have you been experiencing repetitive crashes? You may be on the way to seeing your hard drive crash, so stop using the system and contact a professional.
Arlington Virginia Computer Repair offers comprehensive and exhaustive data recovery services to customers locally in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and abroad through its Data Recovery By Mail service. Contact us at 703-486-0200 or by e-mail for more information.
