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Title : Data Retrieval
Source : http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : May 07
Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime.

Data Retrieval

If you are actually interested in the normal process of data restore then please see this area in our white paper section. Data restore is the normal process of using the safeguards previously put in place to restore data to a prior time. Here we will be examining the options for data retrieval. Data retrieval is a much more serious requirement than data restore. Data retrieval is used to acquire data in whole or part which is not readily accessible through the normal access methods.

When is data retrieval necessary?
Data retrieval may be necessary for any of the following reasons.
No backup, missed backup or partial backup followed by suspected data loss or any of the following.

• Hard drive failure
• Data corruption
• Physical damage to media
• Electrical storm damage
• Electrical short damage
• Weather damage
• Malicious damage
• Accidental damage
• Misplacement of some media
• Theft of some media
• Fire or flood

D.I.Y. Data retrieval. Only for the reckless.
Do not try data retrieval on your own. Any failed attempt may reduce any chance or increase the cost of retrieving any of the data. Modern hard drives are not designed for user intervention.

Opening a hard drive to retrieve data :
They should never be opened. Modern hard drives are produced in a clean room environment which can not be created or imitated without mission specific investment..

Freeze a drive to retrieve data :
Never freeze a hard drive or otherwise attempt to change its' state through heat transfer or treatment. You will find reports of success using this method. You cant be sure they are true. The success stories (if true) are more likely lucky coincidence. The failures (far more numerous) are less likely to be reported. The essence of the success stories is, “I was reckless with my data before and after a catastrophe and got lucky so you should be reckless too.....”

Connecting a hard drive to a separate system :
There are a number of wild assumptions here. The drive is functional. The original system has a fault The donor system is perfect. The donor system is of the exact same specification as the original one. This action will work. If this action does not work it will not reduce the chance of recovering the data through other means. A number of these assumptions may be correct by coincidence but it is for an experienced person to work this out and decide on the suitability of this sort of action.

Putting the drive in to a removable caddy and connecting through USB on the same system.
This assumes that the internal connectivity of the host system is at fault and the drive will be readable if connected otherwise. This may be correct but should be established rather than assumed. Again a specialist is better suited to making this decision. No offense intended but given you are in this position it is likely you have already made some poor decisions regarding data backup.

Apply, remove and reapply power to revive a hard drive :
This is based on the assumption that the hard drive motor is stuck and everything else is in good order. If we just "jump start" the drive all will be retrieved. Application of power on and off is very stressful on a hard drive and is the single biggest reducer of drive life expectancy so don't let anyone convince you that repeated application of power to an already damaged drive it a positive step.

Swapping the circuit board on a hard drive.
This is seen by many as a relatively safe option for the amateur prior to calling in the specialists. Our attitude is that any amateur attempt could make things more difficult for the experts when called later. In this particular instance there is a very high possibility of further static or “hard drive short circuit” damage as a result of amateur drive circuit board replacement. It is also important to be aware that hard drive circuit boards are often discontinued, superseded, upgraded and replaced by manufacturers and deciding a board is suitable based on serial numbers and clean fit is fraught with danger.

Installation and use of data recovery software.
The Internet is abundant with software companies and resellers claiming that their solution is the one to go with. There are so many second rate options that it is very difficult to establish which one to go with. In addition, even if you choose a quality data retrieval software pack, it may not be suited to your situation and may worsen it.

All of the above methods are fun projects when there is no critical data involved and completed with correct supervision and health and safety application.

So what do you do?
Contact a data recovery specialist. Don't make their job difficult. Do not attempt to retrieve the data yourself before contacting them. Provide them full information on what has happened and what type and volume of data you are looking for. If you have tampered with the drive in any way, inform the specialists before they take on the job. They are on your side and it is in your interest and theirs that they have full information.

Will this be expensive?
Yes is the short answer. Data recovery is a specialist service and the charge must cover the required knowledge, experience, equipment and time. The specialist should be able to give you accurate ball park figures on first attempt recovery (relatively inexpensive) and later if required, secondary and subsequent methods on an increasing scale so at least you will know what you are getting in to.
In fairness, you should only find yourself in this situation if you have been careless. Expensive recovery if successful should be seen as the best outcome. Incurring expensive and never retrieving your data is unfortunately more than possible.

In summary :
It is possible that you could find yourself in a situation requiring data retrieval. The area of data retrieval is a critical last resort issue. All attempts will have an impact on the condition of the media and therefore the data.

It is common for sufferers of data loss to act in a rash manner given the enormity of the consequences of losing data and the urgency to retrieve. In this situation, panic is your worst enemy. The result of panic is bad decisions. Bad decisions may remove any viable window of opportunity to retrieve any data. Amateur data retrieval efforts commonly fail. Call the specialists. Use the services of someone who is not peddling a particular piece of software. What you are looking for is one to one on site support and an overall solution with care, competency and confidentiality at the core of the service.

You can contact backupanytime directly as per the contact page above with specific data recovery queries.

If you found this document helpful you may like to visit www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm or our website proper at www.backupanytime.com

If you are a system administrator and would like technical details please register your interest on our contact page requesting membership of our private white paper area for I.T. Professionals.

"Data outages can not be totally avoided. They can and must be prepared for"
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