Daily Data Recovery Tip #4

[DH Data Recovery]

One of the common types of data recovery we are all familiar with is recovering deleted files or folders. The first thing most users do is the quickly search online for data recovery software (preferably free #We'reJewish) and then they start running recovery programs while working off the same drive that needs to be recovered.
This is one of the worst things you can do! The moment you delete a file on a system - immediately turn the system off. Only then can you remove the drive and run recovery software off a dif machine. Its critical that you don't write any new data to any drive, USB, camera card etc in order to give you the best possible chance of a full recovery. Even just using the machine without installing new programs you're still writing new data to the drive with everything you do.

[smurf]

First off, thanks for all the information and help you bring to the forums.
You mention free recovery software, is there any particular program you recommend?
also there is no need to start a new thread for every tip, better to keep all the information in one place

[DH Data Recovery]

Really depends what type of recovery. photos? Bad hard drive? data?

[smurf]

Really depends what type of recovery. photos? Bad hard drive? data?

The most common recovery issue i run into is accidentally deleted files, mostly pics.

[DH Data Recovery]

I will write up a short summary tom of the basic programs - the pros and cons of each one. Hopefully I will still make a living once I'm done 

[elizmm]

Hopefully I will still make a living once I'm done 

See my sig line

[DH Data Recovery]

if I didn't believe that I wouldn't be here.

[Avid Reader]

Interesting tips. Thanks.

[kayef]

also there is no need to start a new thread for every tip, better to keep all the information in one place

Each tip generates its own discussion which would be confusing in one thread.
An idea though would be to add a title for the tip for searching purposes.

[elikay]

he did mention recuva, I have found that to be pretty good in recovering photos.

[DH Data Recovery]

Thanks for the support guys.

So do you want the whole explanation of delete, format, what happens to the data and how that helps recovering it or just basics

[AsherO]

also there is no need to start a new thread for every tip, better to keep all the information in one place

+1, I was thinking the same thing.

[DH Data Recovery]

ok so here's my latest tip. A technician just brought me a clients drive that was freezing when he connected it. The technician tried to fix himself by doing:
A) he formatted the drive (thereby losing some of the file structure!)
B) tried to do a deleted file recovery (you are still working on a dying drive and in the meantime creating additional structural damage to the drive by running deep scans ON A BAD DRIVE!!!)
C) he then took the recovered data (he recovered 1000 pictures - customer had 500gb of data) and copied it back to the damaged drive! (dude! Not only are overwriting any unrecovered data that you already made bad by formatting - you're making it even harder to recover any data! And YOU'RE STILL WRITING DATA TO A BAD DRIVE)

The reason I'm writing this up aside from getting out some frustration is to tell you guys data is irreplaceable sometimes don't take chances with your data and especially not with you're clients data. Don't be hasty and make risky decisions when it comes to recovery, research or ask an expert before you do something reckless and stupid

[Chaikel]

ok so here's my latest tip. A technician just brought me a clients drive that was freezing when he connected it. The technician tried to fix himself by doing:
A) he formatted the drive (thereby losing some of the file structure!)
B) tried to do a deleted file recovery (you are still working on a dying drive and in the meantime creating additional structural damage to the drive by running deep scans ON A BAD DRIVE!!!)
C) he then took the recovered data (he recovered 1000 pictures - customer had 500gb of data) and copied it back to the damaged drive! (dude! Not only are overwriting any unrecovered data that you already made bad by formatting - you're making it even harder to recover any data! And YOU'RE STILL WRITING DATA TO A BAD DRIVE)

The reason I'm writing this up aside from getting out some frustration is to tell you guys data is irreplaceable sometimes don't take chances with your data and especially not with you're clients data. Don't be hasty and make risky decisions when it comes to recovery, research or ask an expert before you do something reckless and stupid

I think the best tip is to BACKUP. They say most people usually backup the day AFTER the disaster. People don't realize that due to the nature of hard drives, it's not IF it will fail, it's WHEN. Every drive will eventually fail, if you're not backing up files you can't lose, you're an idiot

[elikay]

Like they say: you don't have to backup all your files, only the ones you want to keep.

[DH Data Recovery]

very true, backup is key - however I'm dealing with data recovery and these are tips I want people to know about if and when their drive fails