file Recovery 101

Digital storage device is a broad term for any type of electronic device that can have data saved onto it for later use. Common devices falling under this category are: USB flash drives, SD cards, XD cards, SSD drives, and hard drives. Chances are, if you own a computer, you own at least one of these devices. While we all would like to believe that these devices are 100% reliable, this is most certianly not the case. Unfortunately, when these devices break or fail, immediate panic ensues; this is largely due to the fact that most people have no idea what to do. Whether you ran over your flash drive, dropped your camera in the toilet, or you recieved one of the many terrifying error messages, stop hyperventalating and keep reading.

Step 1 - Is it Really Broken?

Physical damage and internal corruption of a device can happen in an endless number of ways, but understanding the potential problem can save you time and money. For a device that has been physically damaged or subjected to water, a simple analysis of the internal components can help determine the next step. If the outer casing is still intact, take a screwdriver or a razor and carefully remove it. Set the casing aside and inspect the now naked device for any signs of cracks, burns, or missing parts. If the device is a flash drive, there are 4 main components to look at in particular, the silver usb adapter that plugs into the computer, a green circuit board, a large black chip, and a smaller black chip. The large black chip is called the NAND chip, and this is the memory unit holding all of the data stored on the device. The smaller black chip is called the controller, and it works directly with the NAND chip in order to interpret the data stored on it. If there is any damage to these components, the help of a professional data recovery company is required; if the NAND chip is cracked or broken, say a little prayer for your drive and bury it in the backyard. If a device has been subjected to water, let it dry completely before attempting to plug it into a computer.
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File Recovery Questions & Answers

Internal corruption often appears in the form of error messages. The 2 most common messages include: "this device is not recognized," and "this device needs to be formatted." In the case of the latter message, NEVER reformat your device if it has important data on it; this will make the files impossible to recover.

Step 2 - Finding the Right Data Recovery Company:

The best place to go for data recovery service is the place with the most experience. Thankfully the internet allows us to see details about a particular website and/or company, making it easier to sort out the newbies from the veterans. It's generally safe to say a company that has been in business for over 5 years has a good understanding of their industry. Data recovery companies are like a fine wine, they only get better with age; they refine new techniques and acquire the latest technologies while the newer companies are left learning the ropes through trial and error.

While the age of a company in this industry is an important variable, doing a little research can also determine the quality and reputation of their services. Press articles and consumer testimonials can be deciding factors in choosing the right one. Referrals or commendations from federal agencies and huge corporations are good things to look for. If an organization like NASA trusts their stuff with a company, chances are it's a safe bet. A good example of this is the commendation given to the company eProvided Data Recovery for their support in recovering the mission data from the prototype Helios aircraft after it crash landed into the Pacific Ocean.

Pricing is, and forever will be, a factor in any kind of service. There are masses of data recovery companies out there that will try and lure you in with flat rate pricing. While this may seem attractive, you'll either be overpaying for a simple recovery that requires little work, or they wont recover your data if it takes too many hours of work. Data recovery works best with variable pricing; simple recoveries from a company like eProvided cost as little as $20, and they offer pricing options to fit any budget if the device requires more advanced methods of recovery.