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File Recovery For The First-timer

By Ken Roberts

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 30Jul2009
Word count: 733
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Looking at all the file recovery products and services out there can make even a computer savvy person wonder what to do.

To start with, you may be wondering why the cost for file recovery products can range from about thirty-five to hundreds of dollars. And then there's the service differences. Answering all the questions you're thinking about, and helping you find the right software or service is important, but first let us make certain your data is safe.

Think Safety Before Recovery:

If you're reviewing this information on the computer you want to perform file recovery on, do the following right now. If you didn't know, your computer's operating system is always performing tasks in the background and could overwrite the lost data.

- Close down any open documents.

- Quickly write down or print this page so you have a copy to follow.

- Instead of turning off the computer, unplug it right away. FYI: You need to unplug the computer to completely stop it from running. If you turn it off, the computer may wind up overwriting your files.

What To Avoid:

Don't try to fix things by running the recovery disc from the operating system manufacturer. It's designed to get your computer up an running again but destroys data. Be forewarned, it's not a file recovery solution. Contact the manufacturer for yourself to see if it's true. They will always reply, "Yes".

Make sure not to install file recovery software onto the same system you are attempting to retrieve files; otherwise the files you are missing could be overwritten.

Attention computer technicians: don't even install a program on a separate partition. Because there might be corruption in the file system, you risk overwriting the partition and files you're trying to get back during installation. Don't take chances. Install the program on another drive or running it from a stand-alone disk if possible.

File Recovery Utilities:

The file recovery software you need to download depends on what caused the trouble...

- Did you accidentally delete a file you need back?

- Did you lose a file, or when you found it, discovered it was damaged?

- When you started your computer, did it fail to boot all the way to the desktop, giving an error explanation? Make a note of the problem.

Deleted files are easy to get back with file undelete software, which also happens to be the least expensive solution. If you run the program and still can't find the file, the file system needs to be realigned to recover the data. That means you have to download stronger and more expensive program that can do the job.

More specifically, a file recovery software that can do this will probably be around seventy-five to a little over a hundred dollars. You might even find a professional version for technicians up to several hundred.

If you still can't locate a file after running one of these high-end products, or if your system fails to boot properly in the first place, you have to call a professional file recovery service.

Professional File Recovery:

When choosing a file recovery service, find out whether they create and sell file recovery software. If so they should have good to great services. I've been at this a long time and the pros make and sell software in addition to providing lab services.

You should also know that full-scale recovery firms only handle file recovery and data forensic cases. You'll know if they really are a professional service or a general computer technician, by simply asking something like, Can you install a reliable backup system in my office?

The Best Suggestion I Can Give You:

As they say in the industry, the question is not, if you'll need file recovery, but will you be ready when it happens. Taking a preventive stance is best. Protect your files in the future and avoid the recovery process again with the following tips:

- Back up files every day to a data drive attached to your computer or network, not on your main hard drive where you work with your data all the time.

- Check monthly to make sure your back-up works because a problem occurs at least once or twice a year.

- Use the Defrag function regularly on any computer being used often. This really helps with file recovery if you ever face it again.

Need file recovery help? Take a look at our on-site information and file recovery products, and if you need our service or support, we're here to help you.

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