We’ve all been there. You’ve worked long hard hours on a document or project- editing, refining, perfecting it until it was just right. You’re completely satisfied and ready to congratulate yourself when it happens. Maybe you accidently deleted the wrong file, had a power failure and hadn’t saved recently, or malware or a virus has infected your system. All or a part of what you labored on for so long and hard is now gone. You didn’t backup.
Though the importance of backing up your data may be common knowledge, it isn’t always common practice. Your days are hectic, productive, and there is never enough time to finish all the to-dos on your daily list. At the end of the day sometimes your data just doesn’t get backed up. What do you do, then, in the event some of your data is lost?
Data Recovery with No Backup
There are many ways you can experience data loss, the most common of which stem from our day to day lives. Files can be deleted accidently, liquids can be spilled, and a power failure can wipe out unsaved data. You can also lose data through viruses or malware, damages to your hard drive, fire, or theft.
Here’s a quick guide for retrieving data that has been deleted.
- Make sure the data wasn’t just moved to another location. Run find or search for the file in question on the computer.
- If the file was recently deleted there is a good chance it is still in the Trash or Recycle Bin. If so, right-click on the file and select ‘Restore’ in the menu.
- If the file in question does not appear in the Trash or Recycle Bin, it could still be recovered. There are many freeware and for purchase solutions available to retrieve deleted data.
When your hard drive is damaged, you are unable otherwise to recover the data, or simply do not have time, there are also companies who specialize in recovering lost data.
Choosing a Quality Data Recovery Company
An internet search for “data recovery” returns such a daunting list it can be extremely difficult to know even where to begin. Even comparing websites may not help, seeing as a decent website can be maintained fairly inexpensively. And, of course, every company claims the status of best in the industry. So, how do you find a good one? Here are some quick tips:
- Take a look at pricing. Unfortunately, data recovery is difficult and expensive. Stay away from companies who claim to be able to do any data recovery for a few hundred dollars. They most likely lack the resources to recover most damaged hard drives. They will perform basic recovery services utilizing software programs and often label cases for which they lack the proper resources as “unrecoverable”. Some instead send these cases to larger organizations and still charge you for their efforts.
- Look at how long the companies have been in business. Most of the major companies with good reputations have been in business for several years. They have a proven track record. You don’t want to trust your valuable data to a company that hasn’t been proven successful.
When it comes to your important data, working with a proven, capable data recovery company is crucial.
Data Loss Doesn’t Have to be Permanent
While data backup remains the best option for prevention of data loss, when no backup has been done there is still hope for data recovery. Enstep is a technology business partner and IT service provider for the small to medium business market in the greater Houston area. In business since 2001, Enstep is dedicated to making technology more effective and affordable while you focus on your business goals. For more information on effective Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Services or to schedule an appointment, Contact Us.
