How is data recovery done?

In order to recover data from a failed media device, a number of tools and techniques can be used. The best course of action is determined by several factors, but the cause of data loss and the type of storage media are most likely to govern what processes are used in order to recover the data.

Data recovery software

Generally speaking, data recovery software is required when the storage media has suffered from logical damage. In other words, when the problem lies not with the media itself, but with something that has been done to it or the way it is reading the data stored on it.

Typical examples of such problems include:

·         Deleted data;

·         Corrupt data;

·         Incorrectly formatted data.

In such instances, data recovery software is used to ‘piece’ files back together by analysing metadata to identify which sectors of the media contain the data needed to reconstruct a file and putting it back together in order to restore it to working order.

Hardware replacement

If a piece of storage media has suffered from physical damage that has resulted in data becoming inaccessible, then it is almost certain that physical repairs of some kind will be required.

If the media in question is a hard disk drive, this will involve removing the drive’s internal components from its housing. The platters onto which data is written and stored are, however, easily damaged. If even a microscopic particle comes into contact with one of a drive’s platters, it can damage the magnetic material on which data is stored. As a result, such repairs must be conducted within a sterile environment free from such harmful contaminants. All such repairs that are undertaken by Fields Data Recovery are therefore conducted in our state-of-the-art cleanroom.

Once the device has been opened and the extent of the damage has been determined, we are then able to assess the best course of action going forward. Generally, the goal will be to temporarily restore the media to working order. Once this has been done, it will be possible to ‘clone’ or ‘image’ the drive and continue the process of recovering the data held on it. Time is of the essence at this stage and the data must be moved to a new drive or a disk image compiled as soon as possible. The longer a failing drive runs, the greater the likelihood of it failing permanently becomes. Retrieving the data from the device as quickly as possible is therefore our paramount concern at this stage of the recovery process.

Following the data having been successfully retrieved, we can begin the process of rebuilding it. This can, if necessary, involve reconstructing partition tables or boot records in order to begin the process of returning existing files to a readable state.

How Fields Data Recovery can help

We’ve been recovering data for more than twenty years and from all types of storage media. If you’re data is recoverable, we can get it back for you.

You can even get a rough idea of how much it’ll cost for you to get your data recovered with our price guide. Alternatively, you can find out exactly how much it’ll cost by taking advantage of our free data recovery diagnostic.