The only secure way is to correctly organize your data backup. This obvious rule is observed by far not always even by the system administrators, which sooner or later leads to deplorable consequences. Always make regular backups of your important data and always use INDEPENDENT physical devices for that purpose - hard disks, CD-R or DVD-RW disks, other computers on the local network ...

REMEMBER: MODERN HARD DISKS ARE NOT A GOOD PLACE TO STORE YOUR CRITICAL INFORMATION

   When in doubt of any malfunctions of your hard disk, the first thing to do is to immediately copy all important data to another media, and only after that to attempt to analyze the situation and possibly seek help.

   Preventive and safety measures related to the storage of computer data can be loosely grouped in two categories - hardware related and organization oriented.

Hardware related measures

   Use a high quality power supply with sufficient output power, operating normally with no voltage surges or drifts and an acceptable output flutter level.

   Never connect additional devices to the power supply cable of your hard disk. It is strictly not recommended to connect cooling fans in parallel to that cable!!!

   Check the quality of connections to your hard disk, and when in doubt better replace the connector(s).

   Use only high quality data cables (IDE, SATA, SCSI), always with gold-plated contacts. Oxidation of contacts and consequent signal disruption is a quite common cause of failures!!!

   Many modern hard disks tend to build up heat, independently of their rotation speed. Therefore, it is recommended to fit blower fans to all newer models.

   Disable all 'green' power management features. Continuous operation is safer for the disk than periodic starts and stops. Also, try not to turn off your computer too often.

   If you choose to mount the disk in a mobile rack, use only high quality models with gold-plated contacts and at least one cooling fan.

   If you intend to store frequently modified critical information (even if using a RAID array), the best policy is to buy new devices that are pre-tested by a specialist and to replace these devices on a regular basis independently of their factory warranty period.

Organization oriented measures

   When installing the operating system, first install the motherboard manufacturer’s hard disk drivers (IDE, SATA or SCSI). Only after that install any other device drivers. Use the latest available secure version of BIOS.

   If you use an older version of Windows and the internal cache of your hard disk is larger that 512 kB, always install a patch to correct the system error which manifests in turning the power off (ATX models) before the data stored in the disk internal memory (cache) are saved to the disk.

   User data must always be stored separately from the operating system (especially in the case of Windows). Plan in advance and divide your disk space into an optimum number of partitions.

   Take measures to reduce disk fragmentation. The best solution is to create a separate partition for the swap file of Windows, as well as another partition where, through modifying the system settings, to redirect all temporary files that are constantly and abundantly generated by Windows.

   Regularly perform defragmentation and preventive maintenance of your hard disk. Unfragmented data are recovered easier and faster, and the disk performance is also better.

Legal aspects of HDD data recovery

   No one can absolutely guarantee the integrity of data stored on your hard disk. You have NO LEGAL RIGHT to claim any damages for your lost data, for example from the company which sold you your computer or hard disk. All warranty obligations always pertain ONLY to the physical device, and this is ALWAYS clearly printed on the device itself. The responsibility for your data is entirely yours - proper usage, regular backups, good organization of storage, etc.

   Hard disk repair and data recovery are often confused with each other. Device repair and data recovery are completely different services and their costs are by no means commeasurable.

   Device repair means restoring the device functionality in accordance with the manufacturer’s technical specifications. The technology of HDD repairs usually presumes complete destruction of any stored data with no possibility of later recovery. So, nothing can be done if after your disk has been repaired you suddenly recall that there you had kept very important files and documents.

   If you need your data, then ask for the data recovery service. After a successful data recovery disk repairs will be still possible, though not necessarily expedient.

   In all cases you can ask for support from our specialized data recovery service.