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Customer Hard Drive Data Recovery Emails & Article

Lately every time I switch on my computer it is asking me to run chkdsk.  I had an older PC that did this for a while then stopped but since it started on this computer it is doing it nine times out of ten.  I have tried everything I can to cure the problem using the suggestions offered to me by various websites including the Windows help and support sites.  When I run chkdsk it reports errors but says they are bad clusters and then allows me to continue.  The problem happens when I reboot or start up for the first time in a session.  The blue screen will appear and tell me that if I don’t run chkdsk through it will continue and there may be problems.  So I do it and then starts.  The drive seems to be getting worse though because it is refusing to allow me to access a partition I created for the storing of my backups.  In those backups are files I need for a project I’m working on.  I’ve run all the windows diagnostics programs and repairs programs and even started the computer in safe mode but I still can’t get into that partition.  The disk in the computer as far as I know is an IBM disk; the computer itself is an IBM Aptiva 2161-C9E if that helps?

I was given an HP Pavillon computer by a family member who wanted rid of it and I’ve been using it for a while now with no bother.  All of a sudden it has stopped working and all I’ve got now is a persistent blue screen of death (whoever thought that name up wasn’t kidding).  It keeps giving me the message No Hard Drive Found but that can’t be right because there is obviously a hard drive in there.  I did what it said on the various websites I checked out on my dad’s computer including checking the BIOS etc but the computer still says the drive isn’t there.  I posted a message on a forum and was greeted with a whole host of replies which basically told me that the hard drive was dead and that was that.  Then someone suggested that I could have the contents of the disc recovered which would be great because I have a lot of stuff on there I wouldn’t want to lose and to my own shame I haven’t been backing up.  I know I know its my own fault but the whole copying to DVD thing was too slow so I suppose I’m getting my just desserts.  Anyway, I’ve been told about all these fantastic (their words not mine) programs that can get your data off a duff drive.  I think it sounds too good to be true and want the advice of someone who knows what they’re talking about.  Can you help me?

 

Failures Commonly Experienced by Hard Disk Drives

A hard disk drive or an HDD, is the largest and most pivotal data storage device that is found in a computer. A number of important things are stored in the HDD, including the operating system and most other files. Because of the importance of the storage capabilities of the hard disk drive, it can be a very difficult experience if your HDD fails, but it does happen with relative frequency.

There are a number of common causes for hard disk drive failures, including:

Electrical Failures
Electrical failures are common for all of the components of a computer, and can be the result of power surges or power failures. An electrical problem can lead to the failure of the HDD in a couple of different ways, including problems with the reading and writing of data between the hard disk and the actual computer.

Mechanical Failures
Mechanical failures are often the result of daily usage. From wear and tear, to the collection of dust, mechanical failures are very common. Components of the hard disk drive, such as the read-write components can become damaged and lead to a failure of the hard disk drive.

Firmware Failures
Firmware is a software program that is responsible for the communication between the entire computer system and the hard disk drive. Firmware codes are typically located on data platters, and if the platter becomes damaged or corrupted, the hard disk drive will experience a failure. This type of failure occurs even if the other mechanical and electrical components of the HDD are in perfect working order.

A Bad Platter
A bad platter is also known as a bad sector, which means that certain data blocks can’t be accessed during reading and writing. A bad platter or sector can occur for any number of reasons, ranging from the fault of the manufacturer to basic wear and tear.

Signs Your Hard Disk Drive May Be Experiencing Problems

There are a number of signs that your hard disk drive may be close to experiencing failure, including a blue crash screen, clicking or grinding noises and a lower level of performance.

If any of these symptoms are experienced, the best course of action is to turn off the computer and contact a professional data recovery service. By turning off a computer immediately upon experiencing warning signs, you’ll increase your chances that your data can be completely recovered.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when they experience the failure of the hard disk drive is to try to fix the problem themselves, or continuing to use the machine in hopes that the problem will go away. DIY solutions or ignoring a potential problem greatly reduces the chance that even the most effective data recovery service will be able to salvage data.

The hard disk drive contains some of the most valuable information and data stored on a computer, so seeking the services of a professional with a high recovery rate is the best way to avoid a potential disaster during a hard disk drive failure.