When media is erased, supplemented, or made permanent, the data that was contained in the media is also removed. If the data is significant, it may be necessary to purchase a license for a commercial data recovery software program in order to view and/or print a copy. Unfortunately, some programs are usually expensive and are generally not accessible over the internet, so most users will need to resort to other methods to view their data.
Fortunately, there are ways to recover your data even if the hard drive on your computer has failed. In this article, you will learn how to recover your data from drive failures of all types.
What is a drive failure?
A drive failure is a failure of the mechanical or electronic components that affect the data storage and transfer process.
Types of Drive Failure
The following are some of the types of drive failure commonly encountered in computer systems:
Mechanical
This type of failure is often accompanied by a loud noise from the computer, possibly accompanied by vibrations from the case. This type of failure can be caused by a number of issues, including a loose drive assembly and a broken driveshaft.
Electronic
This type of failure is often accompanied by a low-pitched beep from the computer, and may be accompanied by a reduction or stop of the computer’s operation. This can be caused by a variety of issues, including an electrical short between the computer and the drive, an electrical problem in the drive head or motor, or a failed hard drive.
Physical
This type of failure can occur when a hard drive is accidentally wiped or when it is intentionally damaged. Physical damage can include bumps and drops, falls, and even cracking the plating on the drive.
How to Recover Data from Drive Failure
The following steps can help you to recover your data from drive failure:
- Make sure all hardware is connected correctly.
- If a backup exists, make a copy of the backup.
- If you are unable to access the data, try to open the drive on another computer.
- If the problem persists, try to use data recovery software.
- If the problem still persists, consult a computer forensic expert.
Human Error and the Failure to Open a Drive
Human error often plays a role in drive failure, but it is not the only one. While human error is often cited as the reason for a drive failure, it is important to note that the failure often occurs because of an electrical or mechanical failure, or a combination of the two.
The following are some of the other factors that can cause a drive to fail:
- Operating temperature
- Operating altitude
- Other environmental factors
Conclusion
A drive failure is a failure of one part of the hardware or software that stores data on your computer’s hard drive. The type of failure can determine how you deal with the failure: you can try to open the drive in another computer or you can try to recover your data with a recovery program like iTop Data Recovery.
We hope that this article helped to provide information about how to recover your data from drive failure.