Hard drive failure: how to recover lost data?
Do you own a hard drive? Then you know it’s a fragile and sensitive piece of equipment. A strong impact, a short circuit, a power surge, and you can lose all your important data. When this happens, you need to react quickly and call in professionals. At Chronodisk, we identify the origin of your storage device’s failure, so we can apply the best methods to restore the files you thought were lost!
How to recognise a hard drive malfunction?
As you know, a hard drive, whether external or internal, is not infallible, and a failure can occur at any time. So that you’re not caught off guard by a breakdown, you should stay alert to the various signs of malfunction. Indeed, even though a drive can stop working suddenly, warning symptoms sometimes appear gradually, signalling the damage the device is suffering.
Strange noises
One of the warning signs of a hard drive failure is unusual, strange noises. Following an impact, for example, your device may start making grinding or crackling sounds, sometimes at a very high rate. If this happens, don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible.
The faster you react, the better our chances of successfully completing the data recovery process.
Disk errors
If you notice that certain files are disappearing from your external hard drive, or it’s displaying errors, this can be a sign of a failure. It might be a program that suddenly stops responding, or documents you can no longer find even though they had previously been saved, etc.
The drive is inaccessible
You can also recognise a malfunction when your storage device is running but you can’t access your files. In these cases, the equipment doesn’t make any unusual noise, and the fault is generally internal and invisible.
A burning smell
Your hard drive may also give off a strange or unusual smell. If you notice a burning smell coming from your device, it may indicate a failure. In this case, you must act quickly and call in professionals, so as not to lose all your important files.
What are the different types of hard drive failure?
Since external and internal hard drives are not infallible, they can suffer from various types of failure. When this happens, the data recovery method depends on the nature of the damage and its severity:
Logical failure
Logical failure is generally the least severe type of fault that can affect a hard drive. The device continues to operate, but you’re unable to access your files. It’s generally caused by human error (incorrect formatting, accidental deletion, incorrect repartitioning, etc.).
Extracting data when this type of problem occurs does not require a cleanroom procedure. A data recovery software tool is enough to resolve the malfunction.
Electronic failure
As for electronic failure in a hard drive, the main causes are electrical shocks (power surges, lightning, etc.). As a result, the device stops working. In this case, it becomes urgent to repair the circuit board before proceeding with file recovery. This repair takes place in a cleanroom, to ensure the procedure is carried out under the right conditions.
At Chronodisk, we have a well-equipped laboratory to carry out all the extraction work needed for your important and confidential data.
Mechanical failure
Mechanical failure in a hard drive is the most serious, or most severe. It generally occurs when your device:
- Has suffered a violent impact
- Has been dropped
- Is worn out
- Has suffered the effects of a fire or flood, etc.
In the event of a mechanical problem, all the device’s functions are damaged. It must go through a cleanroom procedure for disassembly and replacement of the read heads.
How does data recovery work in the event of a failure?
In the event of a mechanical, electronic or logical hard drive failure, we recommend you stop using your device immediately. You can then contact us at 01 40 60 00 00, or come directly to our laboratory.
First of all, we carry out a free evaluation of the device, to determine the cause of the problem. We then draw up a free quote, which we present to you, and once you’ve approved it, we carry out the data recovery work.
Payment is only due once you’ve confirmed that all the files we’ve extracted are the ones you wanted to recover. Don’t hesitate to entrust us with your devices, so you can benefit from our efficient service.