ActionFront offers a number of resources to deal with and understand data recovery.
Data Loss Situation
A data loss situation is usually characterized by: the sudden inability to access any data from a previously functioning computer system or backup; the accidental erasure of data or overwriting of data control structures; data corruption or inaccessibility due to physical media damage or operating system problems.
Data loss can be caused by physical damage or `soft` (logical) problems: no access to ``C:`` drive or cannot read a floppy disk; corporate data server crash; medical images backed up on a digital tape cartridge can no longer be restored.
Physical Causes of Data Loss
Physical problems include mechanical failures due to: shock from device being bumped, dropped or moved while operating causing a head crash or platter misalignment; device exposed to extreme temperatures prior to use. such as water, fire etc; Stiction-the read-write head assembly gets ``stuck`` on the disk media due to deterioration of the lubricant or because it has failed to retract to its rest (parked) position.
Data Recovery
Data recovery is a highly technical and labor-intensive process usually performed in a controlled lab environment.
Common Recoveries: Involve hard drives and floppies that are usually from single-user personal computers.
Complex Recoveries: Involve hard drives, RAID arrays, tape and optical media or corrupted databases and file systems usually from multi-user business systems. Data storage at the high-end has become a very complex field. In the case of these complex situations data recovery can be seen as ``troubleshooting data storage``.
Whether common or complex, each data recovery case is unique and the process can be very resource intensive and exceedingly technical.
Data Loss Prevention
Data loss is extremely disruptive to both individuals and businesses and data recovery can be a costly process. Back Up Systems-whether it is a single notebook or desktop computer or corporate server, backing up data is fundamental to prevent data loss. Backing up data means making a copy of critical data onto some other media and storing the back up separately from the main file set in use; Practice Restoring from a Backup beforehand; Never Upgrade without a Verified Backup; before upgrading any system, perform a complete backup and restore procedure. Many data recovery cases involve upgrades that have gone wrong.
Document Systems-List applications and ensure that data is being backed up regularly from all of them. Organize all original software and hardware documentation and original copies of software.
Practice Preventative Physical Maintenance: Keep the equipment under favorable environment conditions regarding temperature and humidity. Install protection from power outages and power surges. Clean the dust from the inside of the system. Clean tape and optical drives periodically through the use of special cleaning disks and tapes.
Data Recovery Process
In a data loss situation, what NOT to do is very important!
Never run a program or utility that writes to or alters the problem media in any way. Do not power up a device that has obvious physical damage. Do not power up a device that has shown symptoms of physical failure such as mechanical fault. Activate the write-protect switch or tab on any problem removable media such as tape cartridges and floppies. (Many good backups are overwritten during a crisis.)
If you are having data access problems and your media has no symptoms of physical failure or damage, try and check some obvious issues before deciding if you need data recovery: Read or briefly review this guide to the end. Are the power and drive cables properly connected? Is configuration or driver information correct? Try the defective unit with a different adapter/controller interface or on a different computer. Is there an experienced technician at a local store or the company help desk that you can consult, if these steps are beyond your capabilities? (Make sure whoever is in contact with your data loss situation is fully aware that they should do nothing during their troubleshooting that will risk hurting your data.)
ActionFront`s Data Recovery Process
Initial Inquiry and Consultation Process
The ActionFront CSR (Customer Service Representative) will follow the medical oath to ``do no harm`` and seek to analyze, preserve and stabilize the current situation. Once a data loss situation has been confirmed, they will help you ship the problem media to the nearest ActionFront Lab.
The Recovery Process Begins with a Free Evaluation
After carefully inspecting the problem media and reviewing all the information available about the case, the ActionFront technicians provide a full diagnostic report to the CSR, who then provide the customer with a definitive quote. The diagnostic is performed and the quote provided at no cost to the customer.
Fixing Physical Problems
Approximately 70% of cases have some sign of physical failure. If this is severe, some (temporary) hardware fixes may be necessary before even the diagnosis can be completed. These would include: A ``board swap`` whereby a defective PCB (printed circuit board) on the drive is exchanged for a working board. A ``head transplant`` whereby a defective read/write head on the drive is exchanged for a working head. A ``platter or motor transplant`` for certain models.
Obtaining a Mirror Image (Making a Copy of the Data)
As the problem media may completely fail under repeated use, a ``mirroring`` process (i.e. making a special copy of the data from the problem media) is the first priority during the diagnostic phase. In most cases all subsequent recovery activities take place on the mirrored copy.
