The frequency of data loss incidents has been on the rise recently, despite improvements and cost reductions in data storage media. In addition, with the increased storage capacity of hard drives today, a considerably large amount of data can be stored on just one hard drive, making the consequences of a single damaged drive that much more critical.
With that in mind, here are the leading causes of data loss and what you can do to help protect your data from them.
1. Hardware Malfunctions.
This is the most common cause of lost or corrupted data. Due to mechanical failure, system malfunctions or simple wear and tear, the hard drive stops functioning as it should and your data becomes lost or corrupted. This type of failure manifests itself in problems such as controller or electrical failure or a problem with the read/write heads on the drive.
Common symptoms of a hardware malfunction include:
- Some of your files mysteriously go missing.
- Grinding, clicking or other unusual noises coming from your hard drive.
- Your hard drive stops spinning.
- The system BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) no longer recognizes the hard drive.
The best way to protect against hardware malfunctions is to keep your computer in a relatively cool, dry environemnt, away from high traffic areas. You should do you best to prevent any physical jarring of the computer and use power surge protection. If you suspect that your hard drive is experiencing a mechanical malfunction, you should shut down your computer as soon as possible as continued use could result in further degradation of the disk and the loss of your data. If the disk is extensively damaged, you may not be able to recover your data even with the assistance of a professional.
2. Logical Errors.
Logical errors are caused by software corruption or computer viruses such as malware. This includes problems with your system configuration or corrupted files, boot sector viruses or file infecting viruses.
Signs that your hard drive may be experiencing logical errors include:
- Getting a number of memory error messages.
- Messages stating that your data is corrupted.
- Your computer "freezes" frequently.
- Files take an extremely long time to load or simply won't load at all.
- Unpredictable behaviour from your computer.
- A blank screen or the famous "Blue Screen of Death" or a stop error screen.
To protect against logical errors, the best defence is to use a good anti-virus program, and back up your files regularly. Only open email attachments from sources you know and trust, and be careful with diagnostic utilities - which can sometimes create more problems than they solve.
3. Human Error.
No one likes to admit it, but we all make mistakes, and this can be a significant contributor to incidents of data loss. Despite the best of intentions, sometimes we may delete files accidentally, make a formatting error, or even physically damage the computer as a result of an accidental drop or a conscious repair attempt - without the proper knowledge or tools.
When this happens, you'll find that data you've had no trouble accessing in the past mysteriously disappears, or you may get a "file not found" error message. If the damage was physical, you'll get symptoms similar to those of a hardware malfunction.
The best way to protect yourself against human error is to be vigilant and never attempt repairs that you are not fully confident you can complete. All but the simplest repairs (i.e. reinstalling a new battery in your laptop) should be done by a computer repair specialist. They have the knowledge, experience, tools and facilities to successfully complete any repairs you need. When in doubt defer to an experienced technician.
4. Natural Disasters.
Fortunately this doesn't happen every day, but nonetheless about 3% of all data loss events are caused by fires, floods or electrical "brownouts" or lightning strikes.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself from these eventualities is to store your backups in a different location than your machine, or use a web based backup system. This is particularly important if you live in an area that is prone to floods, earthquakes or extreme weather events.
When it comes to data loss, often the best defence is to simply be prepared and know how to handle these situations when they arise. It pays to have a backup plan in place that will protect you and your data in case of a data loss emergency.
If you do experience a data loss event, it's best to take your drive to a reputable company that specializes in data recovery. These service providers have the ability to give you the best possible chance to recover your lost data. Shop around, talk to a few different data recovery companies, and try to get the best deal in combination with excellent customer service, privacy protection, and most importantly data recovery expertise.
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