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In simple terms, data corruption occurs when the data within a file or on a storage device is altered from its original state, rendering it unreadable or unusable. You’ve likely experienced this before: a photo that’s suddenly gray or distorted, a document that refuses to open, or an entire drive that your computer no longer recognizes.

The causes for corruption range from physical hardware problems to software errors, but in every case, data corruption is data loss — and to restore files to a functional state, you’ll need to resolve the underlying issue (ideally, with help from a professional data recovery provider. 

Below, we’ll cover the five most common causes we see, how you can try to prevent them, and what each means for a potential data recovery case. 

Datarecovery.com provides risk-free evaluations, and our no data, no charge guarantee ensures that you only pay if we restore the files you need. To speak with a data recovery specialist, call 1-800-237-4200 or submit a ticket online.

1. Physical Hardware Failure (Bad Sectors)

Whether you’re using a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), your data exists in specific physical locations. On an HDD, these are sectors on a magnetic platter; on an SSD, we’re talking about memory cells.

Over time, these physical spots can wear out and degrade. When a spot becomes unstable, it’s marked as a bad sector. Any data written to a bad sector can become permanently unreadable.

Normally, this isn’t a big deal — but if a device is beginning to fail due to read/write head issues, flash memory degradation, or for another physical reason, the number of bad sectors can suddenly jump. 

Hard drives, for example, may mark large numbers of sectors as “bad” when they begin to fail, but there might not be anything wrong with the platters; the read/write heads are simply misaligned, and every time they attempt to read a bit that isn’t where it’s supposed to be, they mark the offending space as “bad.” 

• How to Avoid It: You can’t prevent hardware from aging, but you can prepare for it. The single most important defense is a regular backup. Additionally, you can use built-in system tools (like S.M.A.R.T. monitoring) to check your drive’s health. If a drive starts reporting health warnings, you should plan to replace it immediately.
• Impact on Recovery: Recovery from a drive with a few bad sectors is often very successful. In our labs, we use specialized hardware imagers that can read the data around the bad spots and reconstruct the files. 

Note that failing HDDs and SSDs cannot be treated with data recovery software. Running software can greatly complicate data recovery by compelling the drive to mark more areas as “bad.” If you suspect a physical failure, turn off your drive as soon as possible and contact a professional data recovery provider.

Related: Before Using Data Recovery Software, Read This

2. Sudden Power Loss and Surges

Your computer is constantly reading and writing data. Sudden power loss can interrupt a write operation mid-stream. The drive may have finished part of its job, leaving a file half-written and logically corrupt.

And while power loss is a problem, a power surge can be a bigger issue. Surges occur from lightning or grid problems, and they can send too much voltage into your device. If you’re particularly unlucky, that can fry the delicate electronics on the drive’s controller board.

• How to Avoid It: At a minimum, use a high-quality surge protector to defend against surges. For critical data, use an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A UPS is a battery backup that gives you several minutes during a power outage to shut down your computer safely.
• Impact on Recovery: Corruption from a simple power-off is usually logical, and the files can often be repaired or rebuilt. A power surge, on the other hand, causes physical damage.Recovery in these cases requires a physical repair in a cleanroom, often involving sourcing a matching donor board to replace the electronics; learn why simple board swaps are not possible on modern hard drives.

3. Software Errors and Improper Shutdowns

Sometimes the hardware is perfectly fine, but the software fails. Your operating system (like Windows or macOS) might crash, or an application might freeze while saving a critical file.

When you’re forced to hold down the power button (a “hard reboot”), you’re creating the same risk as a power outage. The system is denied the chance to properly close files and unmount the drive, which can lead to data inconsistencies and corruption.

Modern operating systems are designed to prevent data loss due to software errors, but it’s a fundamentally difficult problem to solve.

• How to Avoid It: Always shut down your computer using the proper “Shut Down” menu command. Keep your operating system and key applications updated, as these updates often patch bugs that could cause crashes.
• Impact on Recovery: This is what we call logical data corruption. Our engineers use specialized software tools to analyze the raw 1s and 0s on the drive, bypassing the corrupt file map to carve and rebuild the individual files (like documents, photos, and videos).

4. Ransomware

Ransomware doesn’t corrupt your data by damaging it; it corrupts it by encrypting it. Your files are still there, but they are scrambled and inaccessible without the attacker’s private key, which they hold for ransom.

Is this technically “data corruption?” For the purposes of this article, we’re including it — we’ll argue about semantics later. The point is that ransomware creates logical data loss, and if you’re victimized by ransomware, you need to take immediate action to limit your losses. 

• How to Avoid It: Be suspicious of all email attachments, don’t click on strange links, and (critically) maintain an offline backup. An offline backup is one that is disconnected from your computer and network (so ransomware cannot infect it, though many variants have long dormancy periods designed to increase the impact of the malware when it’s activated).
• Impact on Recovery: Recovery from modern ransomware is extremely difficult. If the encryption is strong, it’s mathematically impossible to break without the key. However, some ransomware strains have flaws or have had their keys released. 

5. Bit Rot

Your data is stored as a physical charge or orientation on a medium. Over many years, that physical state can naturally degrade, causing a 1 to flip to a 0 or vice-versa. This is called bit rot, and while it’s rarely an issue for consumer storage devices, it’s an important concern at the enterprise level. 

• How to Avoid It: You can’t stop physics, but you can manage it. The best defense is to actively”refresh your archives. Every few years, copy your important archived data to a new, modern storage device. Some advanced file systems like ZFS have built-in scrubbing to fight this, but for most users, simply copying to a new drive is the practical solution.
• Impact on Recovery: The corruption on the specific file affected by bit rot is usually permanent; that original bit is gone for good. However, it’s rare for bit rot to destroy an entire drive at once. A recovery effort would focus on saving all the other data on the drive that has not yet degraded.

What to Do When Data Corruption Strikes

No matter the cause of the corruption, data recovery requires a comprehensive understanding of the core issue at hand. At Datarecovery.com, we’ve built our expertise by treating each data loss scenario as a unique event. Our engineers work in certified cleanrooms and use purpose-built systems to safely diagnose the issue and restore data as quickly as possible. 

We offer a risk-free evaluation to determine the exact cause of the corruption and the likelihood of recovery. You’ll know the options before you make a commitment, and our no data, no charge guarantee gives you peace of mind as your case progresses.

Submit a case online for a free evaluation or call one of our specialists at 1-800-237-4200.

The post Data Corruption: 5 Potential Causes (And Solutions) appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

Datarecovery.com offers free media evaluations for all hard drive brands and models. With certified cleanrooms and a comprehensive no data, no charge guarantee, we provide a risk-free process for hard drive data recovery. Learn more by contacting us at 1-800-237-4200 or by starting a case online.

With the promotional stuff out of the way, let’s get to the technical info. Here’s everything you need to know about hard drive head crashes.

What happens during a hard drive head crash?

Hard drives store data as a series of magnetic charges. Open up a hard drive’s chassis, and you’ll find a series of platters coated with a thin layer of magnetic material (note: Don’t actually open your hard drive, as this can cause data loss; just take our word for it).

The actuator heads float right above the platters to read existing magnetic charges. When the computer sends a write command, the heads can change the magnetic properties of each charge within a sector — a small subdivision of each concentric track on the platters.

If the actuator heads detect a charge, it sends a signal of “1″ to the computer. If it is demagnetized, it sends a signal of “0.” The computer assembles these binary digits to show you your family pictures, Word documents, or whatever other file you’re trying to access.

In perfect circumstances, the actuator heads float on a tiny cushion of air just above the surface of the platters. The platters spin at fast speeds (usually around 7,200 or 5,400 rotations per minute) to create this cushion.

However, every mechanical component will eventually break down — and that’s when a head crash occurs. Some common causes of head crashes include:

• The actuator heads become physically misaligned due to an electronic issue.
• The heads are damaged by physical force (for instance, if the hard drive falls off your desk).
• The spindle that moves the platter stops turning with enough force. Without sufficient airflow, the actuator heads may come into contact with the platters.

If the actuator heads come into direct contact with the platters, they might physically remove the magnetic material that stores your data. This makes a certain amount of data completely unrecoverable; while trained data recovery engineers may be able to restore the data around the damaged part of the platters, they can only recover data that still exists on the hard drive.

Related: What Does Hard Drive Platter Damage Look Like?

The symptoms of a hard drive head crash can vary.

The most common symptom of a head crash is a clicking, screeching, or whirring sound — basically, if your hard drive makes any unusual noise, it’s a sign that something is physically damaged. Since hard drives don’t have that many moving parts, the read/write heads are probably affected.

However, modern hard drives have safeguards to prevent permanent data loss. Many drives will attempt to move the actuator heads to a safe space that contains no user data (the landing zone) when something isn’t working as expected.

As a result, some hard drives may not produce unusual noises after a head crash. Some might seem completely unresponsive — in other words, you might not hear the hard drive operating when your computer is turned on.

Related: How Can I Tell If My Hard Drive is Broken?

Is data recoverable after a hard drive head crash?

Usually, yes. At Datarecovery.com, we maintain high success rates for hard drives with damaged actuator heads; in fact, head crashes account for the majority of the physically damaged hard drives that we receive.

To recover data following a head crash, our engineers replace damaged components (which may include the actuator heads, spindle, and electronics board) with parts from a functional “donor drive.”

This isn’t always a straightforward process. Modern hard drives have delicate electronics with firmware that is highly specific to the original media. In order to get a working copy of the user’s data, we may need to rewrite the firmware, and we usually need to use proprietary tools to restore data that was corrupted during the initial failure. Additionally, all repairs must be completed in a certified cleanroom to prevent airborne contaminants from damaging the platters.

Unless the platter damage is severe, the chances of a successful recovery following a head crash are extremely high. While some cases cannot be recovered, we offer a no data, no charge guarantee: If we’re not able to recover the user’s requested files, we don’t charge for our services.

Related: When Is Data Recovery Impossible?

Steps to Take When Your Hard Drive Fails

Consumers can limit platter damage by taking immediate action when a hard drive failure occurs. If you suspect that your hard drive is failing — or if you hear clicking sounds or notice other symptoms that indicate damage — follow these steps:

1. Immediately turn off your computer. Don’t worry about going through a standard shutdown process; disconnect the power as quickly as possible. The longer a drive operates in a failed state, the higher the chances of permanent data loss.
2. Make a list of failure symptoms. Did the hard drive make unusual noises? Did it operate slowly before failing? Did your computer’s operating system boot successfully? Listing specific symptoms will help your data recovery engineer provide an accurate evaluation.
3. Make a list of important files. If possible, list the important files (or file types) that you will need to recover. This won’t affect the cost of your recovery — but if you work with a data recovery company that provides a guarantee, you’ll limit your risk by providing the information upfront.
4. Choose a reputable data recovery company. Look for a provider that operates real laboratories — not shipping centers — and ask about their qualifications. To recover data from damaged hard drives, your provider will need certified cleanrooms, firmware repair equipment, and experienced engineering teams.

As the world leader in data recovery and computer forensics services, Datarecovery.com gives you peace of mind when recovering from a hard drive failure. To get a quote or to discuss your case with a specialist, give us a call at 1-800-237-4200 or fill out our online form.

The post What Is A Hard Drive Head Crash? appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

What is a bad sector?

Your hard drive stores data on spinning discs called platters, which are coated with a thin layer of magnetic material. Each platter is divided into circular tracks, which are further divided into individual sectors. A sector is the smallest unit of physical storage space on the hard drive — older hard drives store 512 bytes in each sector, while newer drives may use the Advanced Format (AF) to store 4 kilobytes of data.

As the platters spin, a set of actuator heads float over them on a cushion of air. The actuator heads read and write the magnetic charges on the sectors, then send that information to your computer.

Over time, however, sectors can become unreliable. A sector becomes a “bad sector” when the computer identifies it as permanently damaged. The sector is unusable, and any data within the sector is lost. If a hard drive has a large number of bad sectors, some files may become corrupt or unusable.

What causes bad sectors on a hard drive?

Modern hard drives store a lot of data, and even if you buy a brand-new hard drive, it will probably have a few unusable sectors. A 1-terabyte hard drive, for example, may have as many as 2,147,483,648 sectors, and not all of those sectors will store magnetic charges perfectly.

However, as a hard drive ages, more sectors will become unreadable. At a certain point, bad sectors can become a serious data integrity issue. Some potential causes of bad sectors include:

Software Errors and Operating System Failures

If software quits unexpectedly (for example, your computer loses power), the hard drive may not finish writing data to a sector. When the hard drive starts up, it may not be able to correct the error.

Related: Can An Improper Computer Shutdown Damage Your Hard Drive?

Failing Actuator Heads

Actuator heads (also called read/write heads) may fall out of alignment. In severe cases, head failure results in a “head crash” — the heads come into physical contact with the platters. This can cause permanent data loss, since the heads physically remove the magnetic material from the discs.

Here’s an image of a hard drive that sustained severe platter damage after a head failure:

Needless to say, this is a serious data loss scenario. If your hard drive makes unusual noises or shows any other symptoms of physical failure, turn it off immediately and contact a qualified data recovery company.

Firmware Issues

The firmware of a hard drive provides operation instructions. Without firmware, your hard drive couldn’t interface with your computer — or correct the predictable errors that occur during operation.

Firmware issues can occur for a variety of reasons including power surges and unexpected power loss. After sustaining damage, the hard drive might inaccurately identify certain sectors as “bad.” Because hard drive electronics contain drive-specific information, treating firmware damage requires specialized tools.

Bad sectors might also occur due to overheating, malware infection, or contamination from airborne particles. If your hard drive shows a large or increasing number of bad sectors, the safest course of action is to disconnect its power source and contact a professional data recovery firm.

Related: Understanding Hard Drive Failure

Can I use software to fix bad sectors on my hard drive?

If your hard drive has a small number of bad sectors, error checking utilities may improve performance — but they won’t restore the missing data.

Software utilities work by identifying bad sectors and correcting them by preventing the computer from using them for data storage. In most cases, this won’t have a noticeable effect on your hard drive’s capacity. Again, sectors are extremely small, and modern hard drives have “spare” sectors built in.

Examples of error checking utilities include Check Disk (also called chkdsk) in Microsoft Windows and Mac OS Disk Utility. Before running these utilities, back up your data. Make sure your backups are usable and complete.  If bad sectors are occurring due to a mechanical hard drive issue, running a disk utility may make the problem worse.

Related: Can Data Recovery Software Fix a Corrupted Hard Drive?

Is data recovery possible when a drive has bad sectors?

In most cases, yes — data recovery success rates for bad sector issues are relatively high. However, engineers will need to evaluate your hard drive to determine what caused the issue.

If you cannot access files due to corruption or if you believe your hard drive has a large number of bad sectors, take the following steps:

• Make a list of any other failure symptoms. For instance, if your hard drive made noises or if your computer operated slowly before data loss occurred, that information could be diagnostically useful.
• Keep the hard drive turned off. Don’t run data recovery software on the drive — if your device has a mechanical issue, running software could cause permanent data loss.
• Contact a data recovery company that offers free media evaluations. Datarecovery.com provides free estimates for all hard drive cases, and our no data, no charge guarantee ensures that you’ll only pay if we recover your files.

With full-service laboratories at every location, Datarecovery.com is equipped to treat every data loss scenario. Regardless of your hard drive’s brand, size, or symptoms, we’re ready to help you restore your files — and our transparent process gives you peace of mind as your case progresses.

Get started by filling out our online form or by calling our team at 1-800-237-4200.

The post What Are “Bad Sectors” On a Hard Drive? appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

Imagine taking your car to a mechanic that charges a flat rate for every service. Whether you’re getting a routine tune-up or a new transmission, you’ll pay a few hundred dollars.

Most consumers wouldn’t trust the mechanic — especially with a labor-intensive vehicle repair. In order to make a profit, the mechanic would need to cut corners, purchase low-quality parts, or refuse to provide service to some clients.

Unfortunately, flat-rate hard drive data recovery has many of the same problems. At Datarecovery.com, our customers often ask why we evaluate every hard drive before providing a quote. The quick answer: Media evaluations enable our engineers to analyze issues and estimate the chances of a successful recovery.

Even so, many services offer flat-rate hard drive recoveries with no media evaluations. Are they scams, or do they provide a real service?

Here’s how flat-rate data recovery services (usually) work.

Most flat-rate data recovery services charge a set fee for recovery attempts. Rates typically range from $100-800, and some companies on the higher end of that scale maintain reasonable success rates for certain types of hard drive failures. Some companies charge regardless of the case result, but others offer guarantees: If the recovery attempt is unsuccessful, the customer doesn’t need to pay.

Flat-rate hard drive data recovery gives some consumers peace of mind, since they understand the exact cost (or possible costs) of the service before shipping off their media. However, this approach has several significant problems.

Some hard drive issues can be fixed in minutes.

The first major issue: Flat-rate services can’t guarantee a good price for every type of issue. For instance, hard drive actuator head failures (also called “head crashes”) can be severe — but some head failures can be addressed easily with basic tools. While all repairs should take place in a certified cleanroom, these types of issues don’t require much time.

At Datarecovery.com, we charge our minimum rate for these types of data recovery cases. That rate is lower than the average cost of flat-rate data recovery. However, companies that offer flat rates won’t inform their customers that their cases are “easy,” nor will they reduce the cost if they receive a hard drive that operates normally when it arrives at the lab.

But by sending your drive to a flat-rate service, you agree to pay the rate — period. You may end up overpaying for a relatively simple data recovery.

Related: How Much Does Data Recovery of a Hard Drive Cost?

Hard drive data recovery frequently requires mechanical repairs.

To treat some types of failures, engineers must replace components like actuator heads or spindles in a certified cleanroom. This temporarily restores the device to a working state.

Many hard drive components are specific to the model number or firmware revision number of the device. Performing a successful repair requires a donor drive, which must exactly match the specifications of the damaged drive. We maintain an extensive library of parts for that reason, and we constantly replenish our inventory.

If a hard drive isn’t common, donor drives can be expensive. In a recent case, we purchased a $600 drive to use for parts — it’s hard to imagine a company making that investment when the customer will only pay $400 for data recovery services. For some cases, multiple donor drives are required to achieve the best recovery. Will the flat-rate service with a price that is already set put in the necessary resources or call it quits early?

Likewise, most flat-rate services can’t afford to spend tens of thousands of dollars on laboratory outfitting. Firmware repair tools, for example, are commonly used in professional data recovery labs. The tools require extensive training and proprietary programming, and while they’re useful in a variety of failure scenarios, they‘re an enormous investment. For data recovery companies with limited resources, the purchase doesn’t make sense.

As a result, many flat-rate services refuse difficult cases or declare them “unrecoverable” after a half-hearted attempt. This can lead consumers to believe that they’re out of options. But a well-equipped data recovery laboratory whose goals align with customers’ goals might be able to return a functional copy of the missing files.

Related: Hard Drive Data Recovery FAQ

Some services use methods that could cause data loss.

Without a physical media evaluation, engineers can’t determine the cause of the failure. Companies that offer flat-rate services may use data recovery software on every hard drive they receive — regardless of the failure scenario. Data recovery software can address many simple issues, but it can also cause severe media damage.

When a hard drive is physically damaged, the actuator heads can come into contact with the magnetic platters that store your data. As the hard drive spins, the heads can physically remove the magnetic material, permanently removing the data from the drive.

Running software on a failed hard drive is a bad idea, but for some flat-rate data recovery companies, it’s standard practice.

Related: When Is Data Recovery Impossible?

Professional data recovery services take a different approach.

While we’re opposed to flat-rate data recovery, we want to acknowledge that some companies are able to maintain reasonable recovery rates. Many operate in good faith and take responsible steps to recover each case.

However, the business model simply doesn’t support the best practices of the industry: As a general rule, flat-rate providers charge more for relatively simple cases and post low success rates for severely damaged hard drives.

Datarecovery.com uses a different approach. Our engineers take every possible step to return the customer’s data in a working condition, regardless of the failure scenario, the type of requested files, or other factors.

To provide our customers with peace of mind, we use a streamlined process to evaluate media and reduce costs:

• A professional data recovery engineer evaluates the drive in a certified cleanroom. We write a detailed report identifying the cause of the failure, then provide a quote for the recovery.
• You decide whether to approve the case. If you decline, we ship back your hard drive — you pay for shipping costs, but we don’t charge for the evaluation.
• If you approve the quote, we perform the recovery. You’ll only pay if we’re able to recover your data in a usable state. In the rare cases where data is unrecoverable, we pay for return shipping.

At each stage of the process, we have the same goal as our customers — to recover their lost data. We’ve built our reputation by investing heavily in research and development. We have strong incentives to provide transparent information about each case we receive: Many of our clients are resellers, computer repair shops, or IT departments, so we operate under the assumption that our customers understand how our engineers work. If a case requires simple data recovery methods, we keep pricing as low as possible.

We believe that our approach protects consumers while allowing for the highest possible success rates. To learn more, read about our hard drive data recovery services or click here to set up a case online.

The post The Problem With Flat-Rate Hard Drive Data Recovery appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

Software can be effective in specific situations (for instance, when a user accidentally deletes files). However, it’s important to have detailed knowledge about the precise conditions of data loss before operating the drive. You’ll also need to know the capabilities of your data recovery software.

That’s especially important when files aren’t accessible due to data corruption. Below, we’ll explain the basics. However, if you’re looking for a quick, clear answer: It’s usually a bad idea to run data recovery software on a corrupted hard drive.

What is a “corrupted hard drive,” and what causes file corruption?

File corruption occurs when data becomes inaccessible because fragments of the file are missing. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the data is gone forever, but the underlying problem will need to be addressed.

Data corruption can occur for a variety of reasons including:

• An application encounters an error while writing a file and can’t finish the process. Modern software is designed to prevent corruption from occurring when write processes are interrupted, but unfortunately, these mechanisms aren’t perfect.
• Your computer shuts down unexpectedly. Computers read and write data nearly constantly, and an improper shutdown can cause file damage and mechanical hard drive issues. If file corruption affects operating system files, your computer may not be able to boot properly.
• Power surges (or voltage spikes) interrupt your hard drive’s operation. Hard drives have sensitive electronic components, which is why proper surge protection is extremely important.
• Malicious software (or malware) intentionally corrupts data. Most malware infections can be resolved, and data recovery is usually possible — but the malware infection should be treated before running data recovery software.
• Your hard drive’s components are beginning to fail. Every hard drive has mechanical parts, and mechanical devices eventually break down. If the actuator assembly or spindle begins to fail, data transmission will be interrupted, which will cause file corruption. Corruption may also be caused by a breakdown in the performance of the magnetic material that stores data on the platter(s).

Ultimately, data corruption is a symptom — a frustrating, serious symptom. To recover your files, you’ll need to understand the underlying problem.

Data recovery software can’t treat all of the causes of file corruption.

Some types of data corruption can be resolved with data recovery software, but only in extremely specific circumstances. If you’re trying to recover data that isn’t particularly important — for instance, you’ve lost a few hours of work, but you could recreate that work with some extra effort — software tools might be an effective solution.

However, when data is essential, file corruption should be evaluated by a professional data recovery engineer. By running software, you take several risks:

• If your hard drive is physically failing, running software will make the symptoms worse. Data recovery software is extremely intensive, and if your hard drive is in the first stages of failure, it may become completely inaccessible as the software operates.
• Data recovery software may make file corruption more severe. Software only works when your computer system is mechanically healthy. If that’s not the case, the software may “scramble” the data when attempting repairs.
• Installing the software could overwrite your data. When files are corrupted, their data still exists somewhere — but that can change when you write new data to your hard drive. Most data recovery software includes warnings advising users to install the software on a separate PC, but unfortunately, users often ignore these warnings.
• Some data recovery software may skip bad sectors. Those bad sectors may contain important segments of your corrupted files.

Before using data recovery software, research your options carefully. Make sure you understand the risks. If you’re not willing to lose the data, we strongly recommend working with experienced experts.

If you’re dealing with a corrupted hard drive, Datarecovery.com can help.

We offer a no data, no charge policy for all hard drive failure scenarios, which provides peace of mind as your case progresses. Each of our full-service laboratories is outfitted with industry-leading technology to ensure high success rates, low recovery costs, and fast turnaround times.

Contact us today at 1-800-237-4200 or fill out our online case form to schedule a free evaluation.

The post Can Data Recovery Software Fix a Corrupted Hard Drive? appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

A sudden surge of electricity can overload this sensitive electronic component, causing data loss. Solid-state drives and other flash media are also susceptible to electronic damage, so all computers — regardless of their storage media — should remain connected to a surge-protected power supply whenever they’re in use.

In the United States, the standard voltage for a home power supply is 120 volts (V). That doesn’t mean that every outlet outputs exactly 120V at all times; normal voltage varies up to 169V. Modern electronics are more or less designed to handle slight changes in voltage, but at 170V, problems can occur.

Surge protectors work by diverting extra electricity away from electronics.

Surge protectors detect extreme spikes in voltage, then send excessive electricity away from devices plugged into the power strip. The extra electricity passes harmlessly into the grounding wire of the outlet.

It’s important to note that surge protectors aren’t simply power strips — power strips do not contain a metal oxide varistor, or MOV. This is the component that detects and regulates voltage. While power strips often look identical to surge protectors, you’ll need to verify that you’re plugging your computer into an actual surge protector.

Unfortunately, surge protectors aren’t perfect.

Surge protectors bear the brunt of the damage from power surges, so they can become less reliable over time. All surge protectors have a joule rating, which indicates the size of the electrical spike that the device can handle. If a power surge exceeds this rating, the surge protector won’t be able to handle it. Most inexpensive surge protectors have a joule rating between 1,000 to 2,000 joules, which provides limited protection from minor surges. Computers with sensitive data should be hooked up to surge protectors with a joule rating of between 2,000 and 3,000 joules.

When purchasing a surge protector, you’ll also want to check its clamping voltage. The lower the clamping voltage, the better: Voltages outside of this rating will be decreased to prevent damage.

The takeaway: Surge protectors are a savvy investment, and you’ll need to find a high-quality device to keep your electronics protected. Look for a surge protector with an LED light that indicates whether the device is operating as intended; if the surge protector’s components sustain damage, the light will give a visual indication. Some surge protectors can also trigger an audible alarm when the device isn’t protecting your equipment — a useful feature if you don’t look at your outlets very often.

How often do dangerous power surges occur?

Quite often. If lightning strikes overhead power lines, that electricity has to go somewhere, so it travels through the power grid (and into your outlets). Surges can also occur when utility companies switch power from one electric grid to another, or when large appliances in your home switch on.

The frequency of dangerous power surges varies depending on where you live, the number of devices connected to your electrical grid, and dozens of other factors. However, there’s no way to prevent power surges entirely.

If your hard drive is damaged in a power surge, disconnect its power supply.

Don’t try to operate the hard drive, particularly if it makes unusual noises (such as clicking sounds), and don’t try to run data recovery software on the device. When a hard drive fails, its actuator heads can come into contact with the magnetic platters that store your data. This can cause irreversible data loss.

Professional data recovery engineers can usually restore files from an electronically damaged hard drive by replacing the electronic components, repairing the firmware, and transferring the data to another device. Unfortunately, this isn’t a process that computer owners can perform at home — hard drive printed circuit boards (PCBs) are not interchangeable, and replacing the PCB with an incompatible PCB can cause significant damage.

If you’ve lost data due to a power surge, contact the experts at Datarecovery.com. Our no data, no charge policy gives you peace of mind, and with industry-leading success rates and several fully equipped laboratories, we’re ready to help. Contact us at 1-800-237-4200 or click here to set up a free evaluation.

The post How Does A Surge Protector Prevent Hard Drive Failures? appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

Probably not. Modern computers are extremely resilient, and most improper shutdowns don’t cause serious data loss. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Unplugging an external drive or shutting down an internal hard drive improperly can certainly lead to file damage and mechanical issues. In the future, you’ll want to wait a few extra seconds to power down, but in the meantime, we’ll explain why improper computer shutdowns are such a risky endeavor.

Why You Should Always Shut Down Your Computer Properly

An improper shutdown process can damage all storage media — not just your hard drive — but hard drives are particularly prone to damage for several reasons. First, they’re constantly operating while you’re using your computer. Constant operation means constant reading and writing, and disrupting a write operation can cause file corruption.

Secondly, hard drives have mechanical components.When you suddenly disconnect your computer’s power, those components don’t have a chance to slow down naturally. To use a metaphor, it’s similar to stepping on your vehicle’s gas pedal until you’re traveling at 100 miles an hour, then slamming on the brakes.

Improperly shutting down your computer can lead to several serious data loss scenarios:

• Hard Drive Crashes – The drive’s actuator heads read and write magnetic charges from the platters, which spin at high speeds (typically, 7,200 or 5,400 rotations per minute for consumer drives). The heads float on a cushion of air created by the spinning platters, and suddenly disconnecting the power stops the platters from spinning.That can cause the heads to literally crash into the platters (that’s where the term “hard drive crash” comes from), removing the magnetic material that stores your data. That might not occur every time you suddenly unplug your drive, but if it happens once, you’ll need to replace the device (and you’ll need professional data recovery services to restore your files).

• File Corruption – Even if you’re not actively working with a file, your hard drive is reading and writing data. An improper PC shutdown interrupts this process, which can cause corruption. The corruption could occur anywhere — if it affects the operating system, your drive might not be able to boot. If it affects a specific file, that file might become unusable.Professional data recovery engineers can often resolve data corruption, but the safest course of action is to let the drive finish what it’s doing.

• Electronic Damage – Your hard drive’s electronics aren’t designed to suddenly lose power, either. While electronic damage is less common than the other issues we’ve described, it’s still a significant threat.

So, what if you’re not storing data on a hard drive? Solid-state drives and other flash-based devices don’t have mechanical components, but they’re still susceptible to damage. These devices store data electronically, and file corruption can be a major issue. In other words, even if you’re storing files on a thumb drive, you’ll need to use your operating system’s “disconnect device” procedure to keep your data intact.

What To Do When Your PC Stops Responding During Shutdown

Here’s the good news: Modern file systems like NTFS have built-in features that reduce the chances of data corruption, and hard drive manufacturers have engineered their devices to make them robust against user error. In most cases, an improper shutdown won’t cause serious issues, but it’s a dangerous practice given the risks.

If your computer locks up and you’re unable to shut it down normally, you might be forced to shut it down suddenly. First, give your computer plenty of time to make sure it’s actually unresponsive. Try using commands to interrupt the function that’s causing the issue (Ctrl + Alt + Del on Windows computers, Command + Option + Escape on Mac OS, and if you’re using Linux, we’re guessing that you already know the command).

If those tactics don’t work, use the power button to shut down the computer. Don’t unplug the computer, and don’t unplug any external storage devices until the computer is off. If you’re able to restart your computer successfully, back up important files; frequent lock-ups can indicate an impending hard drive failure or other serious issue.

Finally, if your storage media sustains damage during an improper shutdown, contact a professional data recovery company as soon as possible. Do-it-yourself data recovery can put your data at risk.

To speak with one of our hard drive data recovery specialists, call 1-800-237-4200 or click here for a free quote.

The post Can An Improper Computer Shutdown Damage Your Hard Drive? appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

High-elevation areas have higher rates of hard drive failure, and most drives are designed to operate at altitudes of less than 10,000 feet. To understand why, you’ll need to understand some basic facts about hard drive design (and if you’re wondering whether you can safely use your hard drive on an airplane, you’ll find the answer towards the end of this article).

Understanding How Hard Drives Regulate Pressure

Hard drives contain a set of actuator heads, which read and write data via magnetic charges. Your data is stored on a series of discs called platters. The platters are coated in a thin magnetic material.

The actuator heads never touch the surface of the platters during normal operation. Instead, they float on a thin cushion of air. When we say “thin,” we mean it; modern head drive actuator heads have a flying height of as little as 3 nanometers. That’s only slightly larger than the width of a grain of sand.

To keep the heads from crashing into the platters, the airflow needs to be consistent. Most hard drives draw air from outside the enclosure, using a set of filters to maintain the right amount of pressure. If the pressure is too low, the thin cushion of air used by the heads will be insufficient, and the actuator heads will crash, causing immediate data loss.

Safe Altitudes for Consumer Hard Drives

Thanks to some truly spectacular engineering, consumer hard drives are capable of operating at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet above sea level. However, they become unreliable at higher elevations (and extremely low elevations, but we’re guessing that you’re not reading this article at the bottom of the ocean). Operating your hard drive above its altitude rating will void your warranty, and more importantly, it puts your data at risk.

Other digital devices are more resistant to changes in altitude. Some commercial hard drives are vacuum sealed with helium, which allows for faster drive operation and better long-term reliability. Helium-sealed hard drives can safely operate at extremely high elevations, and some manufacturers use that as a selling point.

Currently, helium-sealed hard drives are too expensive for most consumers, but there’s another option. Solid-state drives (SSD) don’t have read/write heads or spindles, so they’re not subject to the same altitude limitations as hard drives. Theoretically, you could access data on a solid-state drive at any altitude, though manufacturer warranties may not cover unusual operating conditions.

It’s important to note that extreme pressure changes can affect other computer components (for instance, the computer’s cooling fans). If you’re planning on browsing the web from the top of Mt. Everest, you’ll need a device that’s specifically designed for high-altitude computing.

Can I Safely Use My Laptop on a Plane?

Yes, you can use your computer on a plane without significantly increasing your risk of hard drive failure. Commercial aircraft typically travel as high as 38,000 feet, but airplane cabins are pressurized to mimic the conditions at sea level. That greatly reduces any risk to hard drives or other digital devices.

The safest course of action is to turn your computer off before getting on the plane. Your laptop’s hard drive won’t instantly fail due to slight variations in cabin pressure, but full pressurization can take a few minutes — if you’ve had your ears “pop” during takeoff, you’ve noticed this effect. That’s a great reason to listen to the flight attendant: Keep your laptop (or iPad, or other device) turned off until you’re in the air.

And remember, traveling can damage devices in a variety of other ways, so make sure you back up all important data before packing your laptop for the trip. This is especially important if you’re stowing your laptop in a checked bag. Keep at least two copies of any important files and make sure to leave at least one copy of the data at home or in the cloud.

If you’ve suffered data loss due to a hard drive failure — or for any other reason — Datarecovery.com can help. For a free quote, fill out our case submission form or call us today at 1-800-237-4200.

The post High Altitudes Can Cause Hard Drive Failures appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

2018 California wildfires. Credit: TheGhostofElizabethShue/Imgur.

“We took this step to ensure safety as a last resort, and we are committed to reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire events,” Sumeet Singh, vice president of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, said Wednesday, per CNN.

The intentional power outages are an unconventional but arguably reasonable response to diablo winds, which are linked with the most destructive wildfires in California history. As those winds subside on Friday, Pacific Gas & Electric intends to begin restoring power after checking its systems for damage — but for some businesses, that’s not much consolation.

How Power Outages Can Cause Server Failures

Over the last two days, Datarecovery.com has received an influx in new server recovery cases, which have failure scenarios directly linked to the intentional outages. 

Modern computer servers typically use redundant arrays (RAIDs) to protect crucial data, but they’re also designed to operate continuously. When power resumes after an outage, the servers attempt to start; when frequent brownouts or blackouts cause repetitive startups, the servers can encounter data loss.

“We’re seeing two primary issues,” said Ben Carmitchel, CEO of Datarecovery.com. “First, data corruption, which can occur when read/write operations are interrupted. We’d expect to see those following any power outage. Second, we’re seeing physical hard drive failures and controller damage, likely caused by the power inconsistencies.”

Each year, Datarecovery.com sees more data loss cases during times of inclement weather. 

“We’re used to receiving more personal hard drives and servers during the Spring, when thunderstorms cause these types of outages nationwide,” Carmitchel said. “This is the first time I can remember where we’ve seen a noticeable increase in data loss due to an intentional power outage. Then again, intentional power outages are rare, especially on the scale of the Northern California outages.”

Preparing Servers for Power Outages

A hard drive badly burnt in a house fire.

To prevent server damage and data loss, businesses should have secondary and tertiary power supplies for all crucial systems. An appropriate data backup strategy is also important.

“The entire point of disaster recovery is to plan for situations like this,” Carmitchel said. “Make a backup plan and make sure it’s appropriate to your business — if a single day of lost data will cost you $10,000, you can certainly afford to spend $5,000 to set up daily backups. Check that your backup strategy is working, and be prepared to execute it if your area is frequently threatened by natural disasters.”

Server issues can affect any business at any time, and while intentional outages are frustrating, Carmitchel says that these types of data issues are minor compared to the costs of a wildfire.

“We also receive fire-damaged cases when wildfires occur,” he noted. “Those are often recoverable, but given the choice between the two failure scenarios, we’d much rather work on servers with relatively minor issues.” 

If your data has been affected by a power outage, call 1-800-237-4200 to discuss data recovery options.

The post California Power Outages Causing Sudden Rise In Server Failures appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

A hard drive badly burnt in a house fire.

In the vast majority of situations, data recovery is an option. Our technicians have recovered data from computers that have been in fires, floods, and hurricanes, and we’ve even restored files that were intentionally deleted by malicious actors — modern data recovery technology is incredible, and if you have a serious data loss scenario, a free media evaluation is certainly worth your time.

With that said, some severe situations can make data recovery impossible. Unrecoverable cases tend to fall under one of these categories:

Severe hard drive media damage – Hard drives hold data on platters, which consist of a glass, aluminum, or ceramic substrate disk and a thin layer of magnetic material. The magnetic material stores the actual data, and when it’s physically removed from the disk, the drive is unrecoverable.

Modern hard drives have numerous safeguards to prevent this, but if a drive operates in a failed state with its read/write heads in contact with its platters, extreme physical damage can occur. The drive pictured here ran for several hours in a failed state, but damage can also occur in a matter of seconds, depending on the extent of the failure.

Fires can also damage magnetic materials, and degaussing (removing the magnetic field that allows the hard drive to do its job) can also destroy data permanently. If your hard drive sustains fire damage, avoid handling it; contact a data recovery company right away for assistance. 

That’s why our top piece of advice for clients is to turn off hard drives at the first sign of a physical issue. If you hear noises or if you’re seeing a large amount of corruption, you’ve probably sustained a hardware failure. To improve your data recovery prognosis, shut down the hard drive immediately. If necessary, unplug your computer from the wall — don’t worry about safe shutdown procedures. The longer a failed drive operates, the greater the chances of severe media damage. 

Overwritten data – Deleting a file from a hard drive doesn’t immediately erase it; the drive typically marks the space occupied by the file as available, then overwrites that data at the next available opportunity.

Why? Well, if the hard drive immediately overwrote the data, the process would be far more intensive than necessary — the computer has no reason to immediately destroy the file, so it doesn’t spend the extra electricity and processing power. In most cases, data recovery engineers can recover deleted files, either in a partial or complete form. 

The longer a computer runs, however, the higher the chances of a permanent overwrite. Computers constantly read and write data, so if you accidentally delete files, turn the device off right away. If you’re purposely trying to get rid of data in a secure manner, download a secure deletion program (we also offer secure deletion services, which can be cost effective for larger operations). Once files have been overwritten once, they’re only theoretically recoverable. When they’ve been overwritten more than once, they’re gone forever.

Deleted data on a solid-state drive – Solid-state drives work differently than HDDs, and when they delete data, they typically destroy it immediately. We’ll refrain from getting into the technical aspects of the process (we’ll have another blog about solid-state drives, garbage collection, and other cool stuff in the near future), but suffice to say, deleted files tend to be unrecoverable on SSDs.

Even if you believe that your case falls into one of these categories, your data might be recoverable. Other factors can affect recoverability in certain scenarios (for instance, data deleted from an SSD might exist elsewhere on the drive or in a cache, and physically damaged hard drives declared unrecoverable by one data recovery company might be recoverable with better equipment).

To get a quote or to discuss your case with a specialist, give us a call at 1-800-237-4200 or fill out our online form.

The post When Is Data Recovery Impossible?  appeared first on Datarecovery.com.