Data Recovery - What Can and Cannot be Recovered

1. The first method is to do it yourself. You turn on your computer and discover that the photographs you took on your holiday have been lost. It’s about time to think logically – either they have been overwritten or there has been surface contamination. In other cases, natural or man-made disasters like floods and fires may destroy important data. If you are an inexperienced computer user, then it is always advisable not to use your limited knowledge and try to reboot your computer to retrieve your data. But, on the other hand if you do boast of considerable computer expertise, you can retrieve your data using any data recovery tool available on your computer desktop. This involves:

• Install the data recovery tool


• Disconnect your computer


• Install a new drive to save the retrieved data


• Have a licence to run the data recovery tool

2. The second most common method is to call in the data recovery specialists. This is usually the case when you are unsure as to the cause of data loss. Data recovery agencies can recover 90% of your lost data, provided the loss is due to:

• Accidental deletion of the data


• Overwriting


• Disk corruption


• Reformatted, deleted volume or disk partition containing data


• Partially damaged disk with bad spots caused by exposure to natural elements such as heat, light, water and dust

Data can be recovered from digital media files, memory sticks, ZIP files, hard drives, floppy diskettes and flashcards. Usually data recovery specialists can retrieve data by using two methods:

1. Physical Data Recovery which means retrieving the raw data from a damaged disk caused by a virus attack, operator system error or a natural disaster such as fire which may lead to surface contamination.

2. Logical Data Retrieval which refers to the rebuilding of lost data files. This type of data recovery becomes necessary when there is disk overwriting, reformatting and virus corruption.

According to data recovery agency, Disklabs, usually photographs and pictures including graphic material can be retrieved using physical data recovery methods. Usually nine out of every 10 photos are recovered in their original format. However, when database files are lost, retrieval is impossible. The experts at Disklabs claim that only 1% of database files are retrievable. In case of total data loss owing to natural disasters of fire and floods, experts recommend the installation of a backup drive away from the place of everyday use. Disklabs further argues that many universities and multinational corporations document vital information reducing sole dependency on digital media.

Other data recovery firms advocate the installation of a data recovery tool called Scavenger version 3. The advantage of using this tool lies in its function to scan an entire hard drive looking for corrupt and defunct volumes, partitions and spots. In this regard this tool is extremely good for novice users as it enables them not to lose new data while scanning the hard drive retrieving lost data. It is better than the computer desktop utility of CHECKDISK. But this data recovery tool cannot retrieve data entangled in the mesh of magnetised layers on the hard drive. Here, it becomes important to be aware of the time frame and cost of retrieving such data. Usually, experts using data recovery tools of Easy Recovery, Data Recovery and Data Advisor, state that it takes more than a working week to retrieve a mere .5% of the actual data. A prime example of data recovery can be seen at company Hewlett Packard which used its own technicians to retrieve a database file of employee records. In contrast, technicians at InfoUSA failed to retrieve vital editing material. In addition, they were unable to stop new data from being lost. As a result, an entire database file was lost.

It is very important to note that full data recovery is not possible. However, more than 95% of raw data can be recovered provided necessary steps to ensure recovery are undertaken in time. It simply does not do to wait for a few days before contacting a data recovery specialist agency. If you can’t do it, call them right away.

About the Author:

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. For more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/data-recovery-what-can-and-cannot-be-recovered-159259.html

The Art of Data Recovery

You studied fine art, design, advertising, or perhaps you majored in business. Your computer is your productivity tool just as your grandparents regarded a pen and a pad of paper. But when something goes amiss with your “productivity tool”, your immediate concern is “Did I lose what I was working on? Can it be recovered?”

Have you ever found yourself in one of these predicaments?

* You were working on the client's ad campaign in your home studio revising creative on your personal Mac when suddenly the power went off. You waited a few moments in the dark. You started feeling stressed, so you lit up a smoke. Then the lights came back on but your computer did not. You lit up another smoke.

* You visited a site the boys at the pub were talking about the night before and downloaded some audio files. Now you can't access your spreadsheets containing this quarter's bookings and projected sales for the next fiscal year. To add insult to injury, you were scheduled to present the forecast to senior management in New York on Monday and had not backed up your system. You don’t even have a hardcopy of your number crunching.

* You and your companion laptop had occupied the spare office so you could work in solitude to put the finishing touches on your presentation to be delivered to the new client. Your co-worker then entered the room, slammed the door and bumped the table. You said goodbye to your coffee as well as your speaking notes and presentation. Or did you?

When the unthinkable happens and your data goes missing, it’s human nature to panic.

Unless you majored in computer science, you are probably not aware of the inner complexity of a hard disk drive that stores data. You simply regard your files—those customer records, spreadsheets, invoices, presentations, online storyboards, photographs, and more—-as your bread and butter, but to a data recovery expert they are “0’s” and “1’s” organized on your computer’s hard disk drive. If your hard drive is defective, the operating system on your computer infected or damaged by a virus, or files are deleted accidentally, access to the data is prevented.

If you take recovery measures into your own hands, care and caution should be exercised or your missing data could result in actual lost data. You could do more harm than good to your computer and data, if you attempt to perform a recovery on your own. It is your choice, but the consequences could result in unforeseen circumstances.

Yes, technology has come along way. However, there are several best practices that you can follow to significantly reduce the probability of losing your data:

* Regularly backup your data and test your backup

* Keep your computer in a dry, controlled environment free from dust and smoke

* Use anti-virus software and update it frequently to scan and screen all incoming data

* Turn off your computer if it or the hard drive makes an unusual noise.

* If you work for a small organization or work from a home office, play it safe. Use power surge protectors in the event your environment experiences a power outage.

* If your organization is large, ensure your backup and redundant storage systems are maintained offsite in a controlled environment

* Do not delay in taking appropriate action, if you cannot access your data. Ask and you shall receive help.

Data recovery is not an area in which computer science majors currently specialize and data loss is one of the computer industry’s most misunderstood concepts. That’s why it’s critical computer users avoid panic and attempts at misguided recovery efforts which can transform missing data into permanent lost data.

If you find yourself in such a predicament, get help.

If you require the assistance of a data recovery expert, don’t settle for second best. Sure, data recovery is about retrieving those “0’s” and “1’s”, but most importantly data recovery is about the quality of customer service you receive. From the time you place your panic-stricken telephone call seeking help until you have successfully downloaded your “missing” data, the communication between you and the data recovery firm is the catalyst for a successful data recovery. Deal with a data recovery organization where all employees—from the friendly receptionist who takes your initial call to the lab technician who is responsible for the recovery of your data--are empathetic to your needs. For here lies the true art of data recovery.

About the Author:

Bill Margeson, President and CEO of CBL Data Recovery Technologies.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Markham, Ontario, CBL Data Recovery Technologies Inc. is a leading international provider of data recovery services. CBL offers services worldwide through its network of data recovery laboratories, offices and authorized partners in Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/the-art-of-data-recovery-176941.html

Are you Still not Backing Up your Data? - Microsoft

You should know this by now: Computers can and do fail. And nasty viruses can take down your system by creeping through your anti virus software and firewall.
The problem is that you usually get no warning before it's too late.
This has happened to many. In extreme cases, it has put companies out of business. And the worst part is this: It's completely avoidable. By backing up your data, you can retrieve all or most of what you lose.
Yes, there is a hassle involved. But you owe it to yourself — and your business — to take stock of your backup plan (or lack thereof) by reviewing these tips.

Most Important: Back up Your Customer Databases and Payroll Records

What's the heart and soul of your company? People have different opinions, but certainly your customer or client database has to rank high.

Inside one or two data files are all the nitty-gritty details including what they buy, when they buy, how they pay and so forth. Contact lists also are databases, and you might have yours combined with your customer list.
So, where would you be if you lost your database? How would you feel if you attempted to open your database and it wasn't there? Not good, I'll bet. So you should be backing up.
Also mission-critical for backups are your employee payroll records. You don't want to lose the information that you have to report to the tax department. Your employees don't want problems with them either. And they certainly don't want to be paid late.

Protect Your Registry Settings

You should be backing up all of your data. But if you don't, a third item you should have high on your priority list for regular backups is your Windows Registry. This is the huge database that tells your computer how to run. Without it, you have an expensive paperweight.
Most backup programs allow you to back up the Registry automatically. If not, you can easily do it manually. Here's how:
• Click Start > Run.

• In the box, enter "regedit" (without the quotes). Click OK.
• In the Registry, click File > Export (or Registry > Export Registry File in Windows 98). Navigate to your backup medium. It will probably be drive E:.
• Name the file and click Save.
You don't need to back up Windows or your applications, such as Microsoft Word. If the worst happens, you can always re-install them. But information you create must be protected.

Store Your Backups Off-Site

To really be safe, the backup medium (tape, CD or DVD, etc.) should be removed from your site. If you are backing up to tape, for instance, and you leave the tape cartridge in the machine, you'll be protected if the hard drive fails. But if the equipment is stolen, or the office burns to the ground, the backup will be lost.

The safest procedure is to use a different tape or disk each day. Keep all but the current day's backups off-site — at your home, perhaps.

Forget About Doing Backups with Floppies

The earliest backup medium was the floppy. These are no longer practical. They hold hardly any data, so a large collection would be needed for a backup. You would have to sit at the computer for hours, swapping the floppies in and out. Don't even think about it.
Tape has been the medium of choice for a number of years. Tapes are relatively slow, but the process can be automated. You can schedule the backup for when you're sleeping.
Tape drives and the tapes to go with them are relatively expensive, too. And the small business software can be difficult. Tape is a great backup medium, once you understand it. It has its drawbacks in terms of the time and work involved. But once you get a system running, it can go smoothly.
Here are some other options:
• Back up to a burner — a CD or DVD drive. Neither holds nearly as much data as a tape. If you decide to go this route, be sure your software allows automated backups. A CD or DVD will work well if your data is not voluminous. CDs will hold up to 700 MB; most DVDs will hold 4.7 GB.

• Use a Zip or Jaz drive. These are made by Iomega. Zips hold 250 MB of data; Jaz holds 2 GB.
• Use an external hard drive. These hold a vast amount of data. They attach to the computer via high-speed connections such as USB 2.0 or FireWire. Hard drives are fast, so the backup wouldn't take much time. But an external hard drive is relatively bulky, so you would get tired of taking it home.

Another Option to Consider: Backing up on an Internal Hard Drive

You could use a second internal hard drive, although that would mean leaving the backup in the office. Windows automatically accommodates multiple hard drives. You could simply copy your data from the master hard drive to the second one, known as a slave.
If having two hard drives appeals to you, consider a RAID system. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. These systems can be complicated but a two-disk system is simple; you set it up as a mirror.
When you save something, it automatically saves to both drives. The second drive looks just like the first. So if one fails, you have a perfect copy. And RAID will automatically switch you over to the working drive.
Some motherboards have RAID capability built in. If yours doesn't, a RAID card can be added to the computer.
However, a RAID system would leave your backup inside the computer. That leaves you vulnerable to fire or theft.
Need More Security? Consider an Online Backup Service

If you're especially concerned about safety, you might want to consider an Internet backup. There are many firms on the web that will store your data for you, for a monthly fee. You can run the backup automatically.
Don't consider this route unless you have a high-speed internet connection. Backups by dial-up modem could tie up your phone lines for hours at a time.
Also, Microsoft SharePoint offers the ability to store copies of your most-vital business documents in a secure area that you can access through the Internet. SharePoint is available as part of Windows Server 2003.

About the Author:

Kim Komando writes about workplace technology and security issues. She's the host of the nation's largest talk-radio show about computers and the Internet, and writes a syndicated column for more than 100 Gannett newspapers and for USA Today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/data-recovery-articles/are-you-still-not-backing-up-your-data-microsoft-171015.html

BACK-UP AND RECOVERY STRATEGY

One of the most important aspects of Business Continuity Planning for the majority of organizations is in choosing an appropriate strategy for the back-up and recovery of the IT based systems.

In this phase, the key business processes are matched against the IT system and an appropriate speed of recovery strategy is chosen. This may require some in-depth research to determine the relevant costs of each strategy. For large systems, it may also be necessary to prepare a detailed Request for Proposal for vendors to establish the viability and cost of the preferred strategic approach.

Consideration should also be given to the impact of potential severe damage to both premises and communication systems which could, of course, also have a significant impact on the organization's IT services and systems.

There are a number of strategic options to be investigated when considering IT systems back up and recovery processes. The two most important factors to be considered are the criticality of the IT systems to the business processes (the speed of recovery needed), and the amount of money available for IT back up and recovery strategies. The options, in order of cost, are as follows:

a) No Strategy At All
This is the cheapest strategy. This also carries the highest risk and will involve no off-site back up of system or data. This option often ends up with the organization going out of business.

b) Relocate and Restore Option
This strategy involves the identification of a suitable location, hardware and peripherals and re-installing the systems and backed up software and data after an emergency has occurred. This strategy is usually considered to be inadequate for the needs of today’s business.

c) A Cold Site
This strategy involves the setting up of an emergency site once the crisis has occurred and has a standby arrangement with a vendor to deliver the minimum configuration urgently. This option usually enables the organization to be operational within two to three days.

d) A Hot Site
This strategy involves the establishment of a commercial arrangement with a vendor who will guarantee to maintain a compatible site to enable you to switch your IT operations to his site within an agreed time period, usually less than six to twelve hours.

e) A Switchable Hot Site
This strategy involves the establishment of a commercial arrangement with a vendor who will guarantee to maintain an identical site with communications to enable you to switch your IT operations to his site within an agreed time period, usually less than one to two hours.

f) A Fully Mirrored Recovery Site
This strategy entails the maintenance of a fully mirrored duplicate site which would enable instantaneous switching between the live site and the back up site. This is normally the most expensive option.

From : 17799-news.the-hamster.com