Transparen Corporation Bulk Data Recovery Program
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Reminder: Backups are Better than Data Recovery
There is an old saying, that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and that is certainly true in the case of data backups and data recovery. In many cases companies will charge what seems like an unreasonable amount to recover files after certain problems. This could be because data recovery is a detailed, painstakingly slow task, and incorrectly performed data recovery can lead to data loss.
Data Recovery Not Usually Guaranteed
Many companies will promise not to charge you if they cannot get the files you were looking for, but it is very rare to hear a guarantee that the files actually will be there, undamaged and ready to use again.
Important Data is Also Likely to be Corrupted
The most recently edited files are likely to have been corrupted, and often your most frequently consulted files are among those recently edited. Important exceptions include:
- Family Photos. Due to the advent of digital photography, many people no longer keep hard copies of family photographs. In fact, due to the relatively low cost of digital media, most photos now reside on the hard disk, which, if you are reading this page, may have crashed. Family members would be devastated to hear that the data could not be recovered.
- Archived project folders. Often we may work on a document, or a project, and then put it away for a while. Such folders, having not been edited recently, are less likely to have been corrupted.
On the other hand, hard drive sectors may go bad due to age causing files to disappear, regardless of whether or not they have been modified recently. Not having looked at a folder in a long time might simply mean that the files have been damaged or missing for a long time without being missed - until now.
To avoid losing important data, we recommend regular backups.
Types of Damage
Hard drive failures may occur gradually over time or suddenly. Sudden hard drive failure might occur:
- After a power outage
- When a computer is turned off, then on
- As a result of a physical shock
- As a result of a head crash
- Due to power spikes, such as may occur if construction is being done nearby
- Due to S.M.A.R.T. technology in newer hard drives which detects that hard drive is in a failure state and the data needs to be backed up immediately.
- Due to a raid array failure.
Gradual hard drive failures are those which you might notice before they occur if you are on the lookout for these key warning signs:
- Data corruption. For example, some programs may complain that DLLs or data files are missing, or may stop working altogether. Other programs might simply slow down as they automatically repair themselves.
- Screeching. This sound may be the result of friction as the hard drive spins. It is not a normal sound, and the friction may also be causing excessive heat, which can throw other hard drive parts out of alignment to cause data loss. Eventually it can cause newer hard drives to shut themselves down in order to provide a chance for you to realize something is wrong and get the data backed up before it is lost forever.
- Knocking or clicking sounds. These sounds almost always indicate a problem. In some cases, defective hard drives may exhibit the sounds only when they are hot, and they get hotter the longer they run. Such drives should be replaced ASAP, and regular (daily) backups are definitely advised for all data that is on hard drives that make these sounds.
Data Recovery Using Other Companies is Expensive
But we usually perform some preliminary steps with our clients to determine whether data can be recovered inexpensively. While protecting your bottom line, we also take all reasonable steps to protect your data and get it back to you quickly and safely.
There are two kinds of expensive:
- Some companies charge high fees
- Some companies destroy data
We charge reasonable fees, and provide a competent service.
Data Recovery Takes a Long Time
The reasonable first steps that we perform will take a few days.
Exception: RAID array reconstruction and database recovery (e.g. MS SQL Server or Exchange Server reconstruction) - we are among the few firms who can perform this service in hours by taking advantage of extensive research and development.
What NOT to do in case of Hard Drive Failure
If you suspect that your hard drive has failed or is about to fail, here are some things that you definitely should AVOID doing with the hard drive:
- AVOID using the hard drive as if it is not about to fail. If you suspect that it may soon fail, it probably will. If the hard drive is still working, the only thing you should do with it is perform a full backup onto another hard drive.
- DO NOT leave the computer running, except for the purpose of making backups. If you cannot make a backup, then shutdown the computer.
- DO NOT subject the hard drive to excessive heat or moisture. Heat can erase data, and moisture can interfere with the function of the drive.
- DO NOT try to repair the drive yourself, UNLESS you have a class 100 clean room (or above), and either know what you are doing, or do not care about the data in the drive. Opening a hard drive in an ordinary environment will expose your data to dust particles that will destroy data.
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