There are certain cases when one can be sure of data loss; then again, there are cases where data might have survived even after giving the owner a big fright.

Data that can be Recovered

It is always better to begin on a hopeful note, so let us start with those cases where data may still be obtained.

1. Virus Attack: This is the most common way in which data is lost. Whenever we see a virus in our system, it rings a warning bell. It may, therefore, come as a surprise that despite all the awareness about viruses, about 75% of the total users of computers in the UK do not update their software on a regular basis. 17% of the users do not even have an antivirus installed! This includes not only PCs, but also office computers, and is the result of an internet security group’s survey in 2006. It is possible to recover all those lost and corrupt files even after a virus attack, but are you taking the basic precaution of checking up on your firewall?

2. Fragmentation of Files: This happens when one stores data by creating folders and sub folders, and keeps editing it all, or making additions from time to time. This is more or less how we all keep our emails and internet downloads. In the process, we are creating amounts of loose file endings and messing up the ‘address’ of our files as they are stored on the disk. This too can be recovered.

3. Deleting and Formatting: Sometimes we may delete a file from the recycle bin, only to want it later. Worse still, we might format an entire drive/partition by mistake. Though the disk looks ominously vacant after this, it is not so bad. The space occupied by the files previously is being shown as available for work because the file has been moved somewhere else, but it is still there on the disk, and can be recovered.

4. In the case of a company, data may be deleted on purpose. This may not be so easy to recover, but is still possible. Hackers can also attack to steal away data, in which case, there are recovery and forensics experts who can get the data back and trace the path of the culprit right up to his computer.

Data that cannot be Recovered

There are some data that cannot be recovered if any of the following two methods is attached to the cases mentioned above.

1. Shredding: This is a highly advanced form of fragmentation. The data content is overwritten with random data, which is repeatedly deleted and new data pumped in again. After this goes on for some time, the original data would be so fragmented that it is said to be ‘shredded’. It is not possible to piece together such tiny fragments anymore.

2. Overwriting by System: There are certain systems where space is created by automatically overwriting the existing data with new data. Some digital cameras and a lot of tapes use this method of storage since the space is so limited. If the data has been wiped like this by the system, it cannot be recovered anymore.

Accidents and Disasters

Sometimes heavy duty data loss through sudden and violent means can also be remedied. There have been cases of data lost through fire, water, earthquake and all sorts of strange mistakes by the owners themselves. The data recovery rate of reputed UK companies can be as high as 90%, and if the case is utterly hopeless, the company itself has, sometimes, suggested to the owner that it should be given up.

Two examples would help – a television news house had lost a lot of important data because the disks used by it had overwritten old data with the daily new inputs. Though the case looked hopeless, about 77% of the data was recovered.

In another case, a man spilled a glass of salty water on his disk. This water was extra salty, as he had had a tooth extracted the night before and was getting ready to wash his mouth. This was a truly hopeless case, and the saline brew literally corroded the data out of the disk.


For more information on Data Recovery seehttp://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk