FAQ
What you need to know about data loss
What is the main cause of data loss?
There are many causes of data loss.
Data could be lost due to intention or unintentional file deletion, drive re-format and drive partitioning.
Corrupted system files may also indirectly affect you data by making it inaccessible. System conflict as a result of application or new hardware device installation is commonly the main culprit of system corruption.
Malicious-ware, like viruses, can spread like wild fire causing partial or complete damage to your valuable data.
Manufacturing defects, power surge, impact, heat, fire, water etc will cause mechanical or electronic damage to data media. As a result, normal access to such damaged media is no longer possible.
Whatever the causes, if one does not have proper backup procedure, data loss is inevitable. Data recovery services appear to be the last resort. However, one must understand that such rescue attempt will never guarantee that all lost data will be recoverable if the extent of damage is extremely adverse.
Typically, in such data loss situation, common errors reported by the system could be:
- BIOS cannot not detect the hard disk drive
- "Operating system not found" error
- "No disk drive found" error
- Strange clicking or grinding noises from hard disk drive
- Abnormal spinning action of the disk drive
- Missing folders or files without reason
- System prompting you to reformat the drive
- CRC IO error
- System becomes sluggish or hang
- Garbage characters appear
What is the main cause of data loss?
How to differentiate between physical or logical failure of data media?
I know backup is the best prevention. Are there any other things I should know?