| Data loss can be a big problem for any business, but | | | | backup of them. It was probably one of the most |
| sometimes it's an even bigger issue for home users. | | | | heartbreaking moments we've experienced here. This |
| Think about all the family pictures you keep stored on | | | | was not someone's Quickbooks file, or a years worth |
| your computer, the e-mails between family and friends, | | | | of spreadsheet data, this was someone's life. This |
| the home videos, etc. In today's world, most home | | | | was one of the few things this man had to remember |
| computers contain data that you simply cannot put a | | | | his daughter. You simply cannot put a price on |
| price on. | | | | something like that. |
| Just for a moment, while you're sitting there reading | | | | After much work, we were able to get a good image |
| this, think about what's on your computer. Maybe you | | | | of the drive and we eventually got to the point where |
| have digital pictures celebrating the birth of your baby | | | | we could attempt to copy the data over to our |
| girl, or maybe it's a graduation video. I'm asking you....no, | | | | storage server. Everyone here had their fingers |
| I'm begging you....if you have anything like that on your | | | | crossed, hoping beyond hope that we had been able |
| system and it's not backed up, back it up today! | | | | to make it work. You can imagine our excitement as |
| As the President of a large data recovery firm here in | | | | we did an image search of the recovered data and |
| the U.S., you would think I'd rather talk about how WE | | | | found thousands of pictures this man's daughter. It was |
| can help you if you lose your data. While we certainly | | | | an unbelievable moment, and his reaction was beyond |
| can recover data in 80% of the cases we receive, | | | | words. |
| there's something more important here. A case we | | | | While this particular case had a happy ending, 2 out of |
| got in recently really hit home with how important it is | | | | every 10 cases won't be so happy. It's just a fact |
| to back up personal data. | | | | within the industry that around 20% of the hard drives |
| A gentleman sent his crashed drive into us for | | | | received will not be recoverable, either due to |
| recovery, and over the phone, the symptoms he was | | | | excessive platter damage or severe corruption. Why |
| describing didn't sound good. The drive had been | | | | even take the chance? |
| making some unusual noises, wouldn't spin up properly, | | | | Please, go out and buy yourself one of the many |
| and was not seen by the system. This is usually | | | | cheap and affordable external backup devices |
| indicative of a major mechanical issue with the drive. | | | | available at just about any store. If you can afford it, |
| The man said he would pay anything.....anything at | | | | buy two of them and keep them in two separate |
| all.....no matter how big the cost, to recover the data on | | | | locations. This may seem extreme, but trust me, if you |
| that hard drive. Obviously very emotional, he then | | | | ever hear that "click of death" coming from your |
| informed our tech that the drive had pictures of his | | | | computer, you'll be happy to know your most precious |
| daughter who had been killed recently, and he had no | | | | data is safe and sound. |