Losing critical computer data can be devastating to your business. Data loss occurs in many ways and usually occurs at unexpected times. The reasons for data loss are often accidental, such as the accidental deletion of important files by an employee. Sometimes, however, other factors cause data loss: an improperly-separated disk, viruses, or CD playback errors. Consider the following: You are working on your computer and need to access the documents stored on your external hard drive. You log in, get ready to find your data, and nothing happens. Your hard drive is not working. Calm down! Before you panic, you can try different things before calling professionals.
Even if you delete files from a computer, they remain on the hard disk (the data remains on your hard disk until overwritten by new information) and can be recovered using data recovery software.
Data loss can be due to some factors, two of which are most common. The first (and easiest to solve) refers to the software. Accidentally deleted an important folder and dumped the trash, or disappeared and formatted the wrong drive accidentally. The second and probably most common cause of data loss is a disk failure. The first line of defense against data loss is to back up the data regularly in a separate unit. And while our best selection has a high success rate in recovering lost files, there is no guarantee that a data recovery application can recover everything. It is therefore important to invest in backup software or disk image. The data recovery software should be the last resort to recover lost data.
Given the complexity of modern records, it is not surprising that at some point something goes wrong. When the reader experiences some error, it is often difficult to retrieve the information, usually requiring professional data recovery services. However, there are some mistakes you can try to solve yourself.
Restore your data with the software
When it comes to the loss of software data, it is first important not to work with the reader in question. Every second that the hard drive is connected to a running system is a second that loses its chance of recovery. Your operating system constantly reads and writes to your hard drive if you are doing something or not. Now that your system sees deleted data as “free space,” it’ll be happy to replace that area and its recovery opportunities.
- Stop the device connected to the device from which you deleted the data. Now that your hard drive is “safe”, you can create a hard drive clone and try to recover the clone. There are several ways to clone the hard drive, some easier and faster than others.
- Scan the clone with various recovery programs. Here are many options, free packages and payments are available. Recuva is a good free option while Zero Assumption Recovery works well if you want to spend a few bucks.
Top 4 Hard Drive Data Recovery Software
- Recuva:
Recuva Best Free Data Recovery Tools
The fact that Recuva tops the list of the best data recovery software is unlikely to surprise most of you. This data recovery tool can recover files from hard disks, DVDs or CDs, memory cards and external drives.
Some of the features that put Recuva at the top of the list of best recovery software are:
Restore the top file
Advanced deep exploration mode
Safe crash function that uses techniques to eliminate industrial and military standards, and
Ability to recover files from damaged or reformatted files
Simple user interface
Supported Platforms: Recuva for PC data recovery software can be used on Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Vista, XP and earlier versions of Windows.
- TestDisk:
TestDisk Best Free Data Recovery Tools
A list of the best data recovery software can be described as incomplete without mentioning the TestDisk recovery software. It’s an open-source software designed to recover lost partitions and repair non-bootable disks. With features and a file recovery system that easily surpasses any other data recovery software, TestDisk has a lot to offer beginners and experts alike. Here are some of the features of TestDisk:
Allows users to restore/rebuild the boot sector
Repair or restore the deleted partition table and reliably restore files from the FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2 file systems.
Available on all major platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, etc., and indeed it is very popular because it can be found on several Linux Live CDs.
As a command-line tool, the Disk Disk Recovery Utility may not be suitable for some users for data recovery.
Supported Platforms: TestDisk can run on Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Vista, XP and earlier versions of Windows, Linux, BSD, macOS and DOS.
- Restore stellar data recovery data
If you regret your decision to delete the last files, the Stellar data recovery tool is here to help effectively. According to its name, Stellar Data Recovery does a remarkable job of recovering your data from your PC running Windows and Mac.
The risk-free program recovers data from various types of storage devices such as memory cards, smartphones, USB drives, hard drives, and more.
Using the Stellar Data Recovery program is easy. Just download it, start the scan and you can recover from previous data accidents.
- Restore 360:
Undelete360-The best free data recovery tools
With the introduction of a typical office application, Undelete 360 is based on a fast but effective algorithm that allows the user to recover files. Here are some of the features of Undelete 360:
It works on a variety of devices such as digital cameras, memory cards, smartphones, computer hard drives, USB etc.
It includes a data erase tool, a hexadecimal viewer with the ability to preview files before recovery.
Is a good job at recovering recently deleted files compared to other free data recovery programs
It is also able to recover files from a variety of types like DOC, HTML, AVI, MP3, JPEG, JPG, PNG, GIF etc.
However, the scan speed has to be significantly improved, and also in the data recovery, this tool is behind the competition.
Supported Platforms: Undelete 360 runs on Windows 8, 8.1, 7, Vista, XP and earlier versions of Windows.
Restore your data with hardware
After covering the “deleted data” section of the data recovery, everything is fine and fine, but what happens if your computer is not even recognized? Or can your computer see the drive, but it only hangs when you try to access it? What happens if the device is completely dead and does not even turn? We’ll briefly discuss the main components of a hard drive, see what components can fail, and what symptoms each failure can have.
PCB: This is the (often green) PCB attached to the bottom of the drive. It houses the main controller (the equivalent of your computer’s computer) as well as many other electronic controllers. This is the interface that converts your 0 and 1 disk into usable data that your computer can understand.
Plates: Your disc contains one or more thin, circular plates. These run in consumer units between 5,900 rpm and 7,200 rpm and are the means to store your data. They are made of glass or an alloy and can store up to 4 TB of data with a magnetic layer.
Head Mounting: The data on the disks of your hard disks is read through a series of read and write heads. During their operation, these heads have no real contact with the surface of the dishes. In fact, they “steal” nanometers from the surface of the disk, reading and writing data. Usually, a disc has 2 heads per disc, so a large capacity disc and 3 6-head trays are combined, one for each side of each tray. If these heads fail physically or if the device falls or falls, it can cause a “head-shock”, in which the heads no longer fly over the plateaus, but come into contact with the surface and destroy their data to a few thousand revolutions per minute.
Firmware: Your device operates its own mini-operating system to manage all the data and operations needed to access it. Most of this firmware is stored in the harness. A small part is stored in the board, which is necessary to start the unit. The firmware can go wrong, which leads to the unavailability of your data. Unfortunately, the hard drive firmware is not comparable to that of your phone or tablet: you can not update or update it. Each unit has its own unique modules and parameters and is extremely complex in nature.
Now that we understand the basic components of a hard drive, you can see general errors and symptoms that may occur, identify which component might be the cause of the problem, and see if we can solve some of these problems in DIY style.
If your device is not spinning at all
This is the only case in which you have a relatively good chance of reanimating your CD when you are ready to spend time and effort on it. If the hard disk does not do anything at power-up (no noise at all), a PCB problem is 99%. With older devices, you can sometimes find a matching board from another matching unit, change it, and that’s it. However, in the new units, technology and architecture have changed, and each unit contains an exclusive microcode for the unit to which it is connected. Simply replacing the board with an equivalent amount of work has almost no chance of working and can be very dangerous for your data.
Here are two main causes of a fault, whether it is a TVS diode (fuse) that has caused a short circuit due to a surge or that an essential part of the PCB has failed. Hard disk boards often have two TVS diodes that serve as fuses to protect your drive from power surges. There are probably two: one for 5v and one for 12v. If you accidentally plugged the wrong AC adapter into your external drive or if you were overloaded, a TVS diode might have been sacrificed. If the shorted TVS diode is the only victim and the rest of the PCB components are in good condition, simply remove the shorted diode to bring the unit back to life.
You can test this with a multimeter: if the diode reads zero ohms or close to it, it has shortened it. If a short circuit occurs, these diodes often have a visible burning odor and may show visible fire damage. Note that if you remove a TVS diode, the device is no longer protected. Therefore, make sure that the power supply connected to the drive is correct and healthy.
If the TVS diodes do not feel burning and show the correct numbers when measuring, the problem is on the same board. A replacement board is required, but not just a direct replacement. Most boards have an 8-pin ROM chip that contains unique firmware information to start the device. This must be moved from the old PCB to the new PCB for the replacement to work. Some hard drives, especially those from Western Digital, do not have this 8-pin chip: The firmware is stored in the main controller, and it is almost impossible to move it.
If you want to replace the board, you must repair it and move the ROM chip. There are many online providers who sell you a corresponding PCB. Some even suggest moving the ROM chip for you, which will solder and damage the chip. If the circuit board was the only damaged component and the internal parts of the device are correct, the device should work again after replacing and replacing the ROM. Another element that relates to the printed circuit board to be verified are the main contacts. Sometimes they corrode over time, but they are easily cleaned with an eraser.
When your device turns and generates rattling noises
This is a fatal error and indicates a faulty head or heads. It could also mean that your unit has suffered damage to the badge in the event of a head injury. Anyway, it’s a job for professionals. You need to open the drive in a clean room environment in a lab and use a replacement headset to recover your data. When your device clicks, it’s best to turn it off and leave it there until you can send it to a professional recovery company. If you enable it in this state, the hard disk can be further damaged because it cannot be recovered.
If your hard drives spin and your computer recognizes them, hang them up when you try to access them
This usually means that the magnetic medium is degraded. Basically, there are many bad sectors that the hard drive tries to read, is unable and hangs. This is a common problem that occurs and can be resolved over time, but only with a professional data recovery team, especially an image generator. If you observe the SMART values of the unit, you will find that a large number of sectors have been reassigned to confirm your suspicions. If the data is important, send it to the professionals.
If you want even have an opportunity (and worsen the problem or lose your data completely can), then you can try a software image generator that works in poor areas. When the software commands finally go through the BIOS, the efficiency is limited. The best option if you want to go to this route is a free Linux application called dd_rescue. You can turn incorrect areas and images upside down.
If your device beeps when turned on
The beeps you hear are the engine that tries to turn the disc and does not. This is usually caused by one or two things, the two major mechanical errors. The most common is what is known as static friction. The heads of your device are parked in the middle or on a ramp at the edge of the device when not in use. Remember that the heads are not in contact with the data area of the dishes, they are just flying over it. Sometimes the heads may not be able to park properly, and the compartments will stop rotating, with the heads still over the data area. Due to the extremely smooth surfaces of the plates and heads they literally stick together, hence the name stiction. The disc needs to be opened in the lab, the heads must be removed carefully and replaced most likely, which is certainly not a DIY job.
The other reason could be the seizing of the motor spindle. This is the axis around which the plates rotate. It can be used when the disc is hit or dropped. This is not a very common mistake except for Seagate units because they have a particularly fragile pen. There are two ways to solve this problem, which requires pro-intervention. Either the shaft can be replaced or the plates are moved to a new HDD enclosure with heads, PCBs, workpieces.
If your device appears normal but is not recognized or recognized as having incorrect capacity
This usually indicates a problem with some of the firmware. Either you are not reading properly what could actually be a serious problem, or there is corruption that needs to be resolved. A few years ago, there was a known bug with Seagate 7200.11 units with the firmware version SD15, known as BSY. Google Search provides a wealth of information about the large number of errors caused by this firmware bug. There was a DIY solution to this particular problem, but with today’s drives, there is nothing the end user can do but send their drive for professional help.
Therefore, there are cases where you can try to recover your own data. If you have accidentally deleted your data, you may be lucky. When the device is completely empty and does not even light up, you can go on the way to the DIY board if you want to retouch. Apart from that, if your device makes unusual noises or actions in a particular way, you have to deliver a hard-earned cash to a data recovery professional. Remember, any attempt to recover data is risky. If the data is important, contact the professionals directly.
