Ontrack Data Recovery has been the undisputed leader in the industry with the most technologically advanced data recovery solutions available. We have been serving customers globally for nearly 20 years with offices, clean rooms, engineers, and employees located around the world. During that time, we have seen many data loss situations ranging from commonplace to unique.
When a data loss occurs on something as valuable as a server, it is essential to the life of your business to get back up and running as soon as possible. Ontrack Data Recovery’s experience and technology to recover data from systems ranging from legacy and post-mainframe storage devices to the latest high-end SANs help you do just that.
Here is a sampling of specific types of disasters accompanied with actual engineering notes from recent Remote Data Recovery™ jobs:
Causes of Partition/Volume/File System Corruption Disasters
Corrupted File System due to system crash
File system damaged to automatic volume repair utilities
File system corruption due partition/volume resizing utilities
Corrupt volume management settings
Case StudySevere damage to partition/volume information to Windows 2000 workstation; had used 3rd party recovery software--didn't work, reinstalled OS but was looking for 2nd partition/volume, found it and it was a 100% recovery.Evaluation Time: 46 minutes (Evaluation time represents the time it takes to evaluate the problem, make necessary file system changes to access data, and to report on all of the directories and files that can be recovered)
Causes of Specific File Error Disasters
Corrupted business system database; file system is fine
Corrupted message database; file system is fine
Corrupted user files
Case StudyWindows 2000 server, volume repair tool damaged file system; target directories unavailable. Complete access to original files critical. Remote Data Recovery safely repaired volume; restored original data, 100% recovery.Evaluation Time: 20 Minutes
Exchange 2000 server, severely corrupted Information store; corruption cause unknown. Scanned Information Store file for valid user mailboxes, results took up to 48 hours due to the corruption. Backup was one month old/not valid for users.Evaluation Time: 96 Hours (1.5 days)
Possible Causes of Hardware Related Disasters
Server hardware upgrades (Storage Controller Firmware, BIOS, RAID Firmware)
Expanding Storage Array capacity by adding larger drives to controller
Failed Array Controller
Failed drive on Storage Array
Multiple failed drives on Storage Array
Storage Array failure but drives are working
Failed boot drive
Migration to new Storage Array system
Case StudyNetware volume server, Traditional NWFS, failing hard drive made volume inaccessible; Netware would not mount volume. Errors on hard drive were not in the data area and drive was still functional. Copied all of the data to another volume; 100% recovery.Evaluation Time: 1 hour
Causes of Software Related Disasters
Business System Software Upgrades (Service Packs, Patches to Business system)
Anti-virus software deleted/truncated suspect file in error and data has been deleted, overwritten or both.
Case StudyPartial drive copy overwrite using third party tools, overwrite started and then crashed 1% into the process, found a large portion of the original data. Rebuilt file system, provided reports on recoverable data; customer will be requiring that we test some files to verify quality of recovery.Evaluation Time: 1 hour
Causes of User Error Disasters
During a data loss disaster, restored backup data to exact location, thereby overwriting it
Deleted files
Overwritten operating system with reinstall of OS or application software
Case StudyUser's machine had the OS reinstalled – Restore CD was used; user looking for Outlook PST file. Searched for PST data through the drive because original file system completely overwritten. Found three potential files that might contain the user's data, after using PST recovery tools we found one of those files to contain all of the user's email; there were missing messages, majority of the messages/attachments came back.Evaluation Time: 5 hours
Causes of Operating System Related Disasters
Server OS upgrades (Service Packs, Patches to OS)
Migration to different OS
Case StudyNetware traditional, 2TB volume, damage to file system when trying to expand size of volume, repaired on drive, volume mountable. Evaluation Time: 4 hours
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Server Recovery Tips
Data disasters will happen. Accepting that reality is the first step in preparing a comprehensive disaster plan. Time is always against an IT team when a disaster strikes, therefore the details of a disaster plan are critical for success.
Here are some suggestions from Ontrack Data Recovery engineers of what not to do when data disasters occur:
In a disaster recovery, never restore data to the server that has lost the data - always restore to a separate server or location.
In Microsoft Exchange or SQL failures, never try to repair the original Information Store or database files - work on a copy.
In a deleted data situation, turn off the machine immediately. Do not shut down Windows - this will prevent the risk of overwritten data.
Use a volume defragmenter regularly.
If a drive fails on RAID systems, never replace the failed drive with a drive that was part of a previous RAID system - always zero out the replacement drive before using.
If a drive is making unusual mechanical noises, turn it off immediately and get assistance.
Have a valid backup before making hardware or software changes.
Label the drives with their position in a RAID array.
Do not run volume repair utilities on suspected bad drives.
Do not run defragmenter utilities on suspected bad drives.
In a power loss situation with a RAID array, if the file system looks suspicious, or is unmountable, or the data is inaccessible after power is restored, do not run volume repairutilities.
Ontrack Data Recovery should be part of your disaster planning and your key personnel should be aware of our recovery capabilities. During an outage, it is common to have multiple recovery efforts going on at the same time. This makes sense because the goal is to get the company back to its data. The key to success is to get Ontrack Data Recovery involved as soon as possible.
Here are some suggestions from Ontrack Data Recovery engineers of what not to do when data disasters occur:
In a disaster recovery, never restore data to the server that has lost the data - always restore to a separate server or location.
In Microsoft Exchange or SQL failures, never try to repair the original Information Store or database files - work on a copy.
In a deleted data situation, turn off the machine immediately. Do not shut down Windows - this will prevent the risk of overwritten data.
Use a volume defragmenter regularly.
If a drive fails on RAID systems, never replace the failed drive with a drive that was part of a previous RAID system - always zero out the replacement drive before using.
If a drive is making unusual mechanical noises, turn it off immediately and get assistance.
Have a valid backup before making hardware or software changes.
Label the drives with their position in a RAID array.
Do not run volume repair utilities on suspected bad drives.
Do not run defragmenter utilities on suspected bad drives.
In a power loss situation with a RAID array, if the file system looks suspicious, or is unmountable, or the data is inaccessible after power is restored, do not run volume repairutilities.
Ontrack Data Recovery should be part of your disaster planning and your key personnel should be aware of our recovery capabilities. During an outage, it is common to have multiple recovery efforts going on at the same time. This makes sense because the goal is to get the company back to its data. The key to success is to get Ontrack Data Recovery involved as soon as possible.
Large Scale Solutions in Storage Systems
Avoiding Storage System Failure - Reduce or Eliminate the Impact of Storage System Failures
Storage systems have become their own unique and complex computer field and can mean different things to different people. So what is the definition of these systems? Storage systems are the hardware that store data.
For example, this may be a small business server supporting an office of ten users or less—the storage system would be the hard drives that are inside of that server where user information is located. In large business environments, the storage systems can be the large SAN cabinet that is full of hard drives and the space has been sliced-and-diced in different ways to provide redundancy and performance.
The Ever-Changing Storage System Technology
Today’s storage technology encompasses all sorts of storage media. These could include WORM systems, tape library systems and virtual tape library systems. Over the past few years, SAN and NAS systems have provided excellent reliability. What is the difference between the two?
SAN (Storage Area Network) units can be massive cabinets—some with 240 hard drives in them! These large 50+ Terabyte storage systems are doing more than just powering up hundreds of drives. These systems are incredibly powerful data warehouses that have versatile software utilities behind them to manage multiple arrays, various storage architecture configurations, and provide constant system monitoring.
NAS (Network Attached Storage) units are self-contained units that have their own operating system, file system, and manage their attached hard drives. These units come in all sorts of different sizes to fit most needs and operate as file servers.
For some time, large-scale storage has been out reach of the small business. Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive-based SAN systems are becoming a cost-effective way of providing large amounts of storage space. These array units are also becoming mainstream for virtual tape backup systems—literally RAID arrays that are presented as tape machines; thereby removing the tape media element completely.
Other storage technologies such as iSCSI, DAS (Direct Attached Storage), Near-Line Storage (data that is attached to removable media), and CAS (Content Attached Storage) are all methods for providing data availability. Storage Architects know that just having a ‘backup’ is not enough. In today’s high information environments, a normal nightly incremental or weekly full backup is obsolete in hours or even minutes after creation. In large data warehouse environments, backing up data that constantly changes is not even an option. The only method for those massive systems is to have storage system mirrors—literally identical servers with the exact same storage space.
How does one decide which system is best? Careful analysis of the operation environment is required. Most would say that having no failures at all is the best environment—that is true for users and administrators alike! The harsh truth is that data disasters happen every day despite the implementation of risk mitigation policies and plans.
When reviewing your own or your client’s storage needs, consider these questions:
What is the recovery turn-time? What is your client’s maximum time period allowed to be back to the data? In other words, how long can you or your client survive without the data? This will help to establish performance requirements for equipment.
Quality of data restoredIs original restored data required or will older, backed up data suffice? This relates to the backup scheme that is used. If the data on your, or your client’s storage system changes rapidly, then the original data is what is most valuable.
How much data are you or your client archiving? Restoring large amounts of data will take time to move through a network. On DAS (Direct Attached Storage) configurations, time of restoration will depend on equipment and I/O performance of the hardware.
Unique Data Protection Schemes
Storage System manufacturers are pursuing unique ways of processing large amounts of data while still being able to provide redundancy in case of disaster. Some large SAN units incorporate intricate device block-level organization, essentially creating a low-level file system from the RAID perspective. Other SAN units have an internal block-level transaction log in place so that the Control Processor of the SAN is tracking all of the block-level writes to the individual disks. Using this transaction log, the SAN unit can recover from unexpected power failures or shutdowns.
Some computer scientists specializing in the storage system field are proposing adding more intelligence to the RAID array controller card so that it is ‘file system aware.’ This technology would provide more recoverability in case disaster struck, the goal being the storage array would become more self-healing.
Other ideas along these lines are to have a heterogeneous storage pool where multiple computers can access information without being dependant on a specific system’s file system. In organizations where there are multiple hardware and system platforms, a transparent file system will provide access to data regardless of what system wrote the data.
Other computer scientists are approaching the redundancy of the storage array quite differently. The RAID concept is in use on a vast number of systems, yet computer scientists and engineers are looking for new ways to provide better data protection in case of failure. The goals that drive this type of RAID development are data protection and redundancy without sacrificing performance.
Reviewing the University of California, Berkeley report about the amount of digital information that was produced 2003 is staggering. You or your client’s site may not have terabytes or petabytes of information, yet during a data disaster, every file is critically important.
Avoiding Storage System Failures
There are many ways to reduce or eliminate the impact of storage system failures. You may not be able to prevent a disaster from happening, but you may be able to minimize the disruption of service to your clients.
There are many ways to add redundancy to primary storage systems. Some of the options can be quite costly and only large business organizations can afford the investment. These options include duplicate storage systems or identical servers, known as ‘mirror sites’. Additionally, elaborate backup processes or file-system ‘snapshots’ that always have a checkpoint to restore to, provide another level of data protection.
Experience has shown there are usually multiple or rolling failures that happen when an organization has a data disaster. Therefore, to rely on just one restoration protocol is shortsighted. A successful storage organization will have multiple layers of restoration pathways.
Ontrack Data Recovery has heard thousands of IT horror stories of initial storage failures turning into complete data calamities. In an effort to bring back a system, some choices can permanently corrupt the data. Here are several risk mitigation policies that storage administrators can adopt that will help minimize data loss when a disaster happens:
Offline storage system — Avoid forcing an array or drive back on-line. There is usually a valid reason for a controller card to disable a drive or array, forcing an array back on-line may expose the volume to file system corruption.
Rebuilding a failed drive — When rebuilding a single failed drive, it is import to allow the controller card to finish the process. If a second drive fails or go off-line during this process, stop and get professional data recovery services involved. During a rebuild, replacing a second failed drive will change the data on the other drives.
Storage system architecture — Plan the storage system’s configuration carefully. We have seen many cases with multiple configurations used on a single storage array. For example, three RAID 5 arrays (each holding six drives) are striped in a RAID 0 configuration and then spanned. Keep a simple storage configuration and document each aspect of it.
During an outage — If the problem escalates up to the OEM technical support, always ask “Is the data integrity at risk?” or, “Will this damage my data in any way?” If the technician says that there may be a risk to the data, stop and get professional data recovery services involved.
Ontrack Data Recovery - The Leader in Storage System Recoveries
Ontrack Data Recovery has been successfully recovering data from large storage systems for many years. Ontrack Data Recovery’s unique approach is what sets us apart from other data recovery companies.
A recovery of a data volume implementing a RAID configuration starts out with a Senior Engineer evaluating each hard disk involved and analyzing the data structures to determine the proper recovery path. There is no standard configuration for these systems and each OEM implements RAID configurations differently, making every job unique and challenging. The final step is verifying the file system is correctly pointing to the data, validating the file system information and data.
These types of recoveries are the pinnacle of engineering challenges. It is amazing to see one of these systems come together after hours of hard work – going from a data disaster to a complete and successful recovery. Often times, these recoveries result in the original files being recovered and archived without any hardware or software manipulation required on the part of the customer.
We applaud the storage industry for continuing to find better ways to preserve data and maintain business continuity. Some failures are beyond the soft recovery methods that the hardware can handle. This is where Ontrack Data Recovery fits into your or your client’s Data Availability plans. Ontrack Data Recovery has services available to accommodate your or your client’s time requirements for original data restoration.
Ontrack Data Recovery is the leader in storage system data recovery because of our experience, development resources, and engineering staff. Ontrack Data Recovery is the data recovery company of choice for users, partners, and IT professionals who have high requirements for data recovery.
Storage systems have become their own unique and complex computer field and can mean different things to different people. So what is the definition of these systems? Storage systems are the hardware that store data.
For example, this may be a small business server supporting an office of ten users or less—the storage system would be the hard drives that are inside of that server where user information is located. In large business environments, the storage systems can be the large SAN cabinet that is full of hard drives and the space has been sliced-and-diced in different ways to provide redundancy and performance.
The Ever-Changing Storage System Technology
Today’s storage technology encompasses all sorts of storage media. These could include WORM systems, tape library systems and virtual tape library systems. Over the past few years, SAN and NAS systems have provided excellent reliability. What is the difference between the two?
SAN (Storage Area Network) units can be massive cabinets—some with 240 hard drives in them! These large 50+ Terabyte storage systems are doing more than just powering up hundreds of drives. These systems are incredibly powerful data warehouses that have versatile software utilities behind them to manage multiple arrays, various storage architecture configurations, and provide constant system monitoring.
NAS (Network Attached Storage) units are self-contained units that have their own operating system, file system, and manage their attached hard drives. These units come in all sorts of different sizes to fit most needs and operate as file servers.
For some time, large-scale storage has been out reach of the small business. Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive-based SAN systems are becoming a cost-effective way of providing large amounts of storage space. These array units are also becoming mainstream for virtual tape backup systems—literally RAID arrays that are presented as tape machines; thereby removing the tape media element completely.
Other storage technologies such as iSCSI, DAS (Direct Attached Storage), Near-Line Storage (data that is attached to removable media), and CAS (Content Attached Storage) are all methods for providing data availability. Storage Architects know that just having a ‘backup’ is not enough. In today’s high information environments, a normal nightly incremental or weekly full backup is obsolete in hours or even minutes after creation. In large data warehouse environments, backing up data that constantly changes is not even an option. The only method for those massive systems is to have storage system mirrors—literally identical servers with the exact same storage space.
How does one decide which system is best? Careful analysis of the operation environment is required. Most would say that having no failures at all is the best environment—that is true for users and administrators alike! The harsh truth is that data disasters happen every day despite the implementation of risk mitigation policies and plans.
When reviewing your own or your client’s storage needs, consider these questions:
What is the recovery turn-time? What is your client’s maximum time period allowed to be back to the data? In other words, how long can you or your client survive without the data? This will help to establish performance requirements for equipment.
Quality of data restoredIs original restored data required or will older, backed up data suffice? This relates to the backup scheme that is used. If the data on your, or your client’s storage system changes rapidly, then the original data is what is most valuable.
How much data are you or your client archiving? Restoring large amounts of data will take time to move through a network. On DAS (Direct Attached Storage) configurations, time of restoration will depend on equipment and I/O performance of the hardware.
Unique Data Protection Schemes
Storage System manufacturers are pursuing unique ways of processing large amounts of data while still being able to provide redundancy in case of disaster. Some large SAN units incorporate intricate device block-level organization, essentially creating a low-level file system from the RAID perspective. Other SAN units have an internal block-level transaction log in place so that the Control Processor of the SAN is tracking all of the block-level writes to the individual disks. Using this transaction log, the SAN unit can recover from unexpected power failures or shutdowns.
Some computer scientists specializing in the storage system field are proposing adding more intelligence to the RAID array controller card so that it is ‘file system aware.’ This technology would provide more recoverability in case disaster struck, the goal being the storage array would become more self-healing.
Other ideas along these lines are to have a heterogeneous storage pool where multiple computers can access information without being dependant on a specific system’s file system. In organizations where there are multiple hardware and system platforms, a transparent file system will provide access to data regardless of what system wrote the data.
Other computer scientists are approaching the redundancy of the storage array quite differently. The RAID concept is in use on a vast number of systems, yet computer scientists and engineers are looking for new ways to provide better data protection in case of failure. The goals that drive this type of RAID development are data protection and redundancy without sacrificing performance.
Reviewing the University of California, Berkeley report about the amount of digital information that was produced 2003 is staggering. You or your client’s site may not have terabytes or petabytes of information, yet during a data disaster, every file is critically important.
Avoiding Storage System Failures
There are many ways to reduce or eliminate the impact of storage system failures. You may not be able to prevent a disaster from happening, but you may be able to minimize the disruption of service to your clients.
There are many ways to add redundancy to primary storage systems. Some of the options can be quite costly and only large business organizations can afford the investment. These options include duplicate storage systems or identical servers, known as ‘mirror sites’. Additionally, elaborate backup processes or file-system ‘snapshots’ that always have a checkpoint to restore to, provide another level of data protection.
Experience has shown there are usually multiple or rolling failures that happen when an organization has a data disaster. Therefore, to rely on just one restoration protocol is shortsighted. A successful storage organization will have multiple layers of restoration pathways.
Ontrack Data Recovery has heard thousands of IT horror stories of initial storage failures turning into complete data calamities. In an effort to bring back a system, some choices can permanently corrupt the data. Here are several risk mitigation policies that storage administrators can adopt that will help minimize data loss when a disaster happens:
Offline storage system — Avoid forcing an array or drive back on-line. There is usually a valid reason for a controller card to disable a drive or array, forcing an array back on-line may expose the volume to file system corruption.
Rebuilding a failed drive — When rebuilding a single failed drive, it is import to allow the controller card to finish the process. If a second drive fails or go off-line during this process, stop and get professional data recovery services involved. During a rebuild, replacing a second failed drive will change the data on the other drives.
Storage system architecture — Plan the storage system’s configuration carefully. We have seen many cases with multiple configurations used on a single storage array. For example, three RAID 5 arrays (each holding six drives) are striped in a RAID 0 configuration and then spanned. Keep a simple storage configuration and document each aspect of it.
During an outage — If the problem escalates up to the OEM technical support, always ask “Is the data integrity at risk?” or, “Will this damage my data in any way?” If the technician says that there may be a risk to the data, stop and get professional data recovery services involved.
Ontrack Data Recovery - The Leader in Storage System Recoveries
Ontrack Data Recovery has been successfully recovering data from large storage systems for many years. Ontrack Data Recovery’s unique approach is what sets us apart from other data recovery companies.
A recovery of a data volume implementing a RAID configuration starts out with a Senior Engineer evaluating each hard disk involved and analyzing the data structures to determine the proper recovery path. There is no standard configuration for these systems and each OEM implements RAID configurations differently, making every job unique and challenging. The final step is verifying the file system is correctly pointing to the data, validating the file system information and data.
These types of recoveries are the pinnacle of engineering challenges. It is amazing to see one of these systems come together after hours of hard work – going from a data disaster to a complete and successful recovery. Often times, these recoveries result in the original files being recovered and archived without any hardware or software manipulation required on the part of the customer.
We applaud the storage industry for continuing to find better ways to preserve data and maintain business continuity. Some failures are beyond the soft recovery methods that the hardware can handle. This is where Ontrack Data Recovery fits into your or your client’s Data Availability plans. Ontrack Data Recovery has services available to accommodate your or your client’s time requirements for original data restoration.
Ontrack Data Recovery is the leader in storage system data recovery because of our experience, development resources, and engineering staff. Ontrack Data Recovery is the data recovery company of choice for users, partners, and IT professionals who have high requirements for data recovery.
Protect Your Data from Extreme Weather
Every summer, Ontrack Data Recovery engineers see the same pattern: a surge in data recovery service requests that coincides with the start of the severe storm season. Ontrack Data Recovery has over 20 years in the data recovery business; and for 20 years, the summer months have always meant high demand for recovery services.
You can protect your data by following some simple precautions. With that said, even the most well-protected hard drives can crash, fail, quit, click, die… you get the picture. So we’ve also provided a few tips for how to respond when extreme weather does damage your computer equipment.
If you would like to read more about the latest data protection and recovery topics, subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter: Data Recovery News.
Protecting Your Data from Severe Weather
1. Summer heat can be a significant problem as overheating can lead to drive failures can result. Keep your computer in a cool, dry area to prevent overheating.
2. Make sure your servers have adequate air conditioning. Increases in computer processor speed have resulted in more power requirements, which in turn require better cooling - especially important during the summer months.
3. To prevent damage caused by lightning strikes, install a surge protector between the power source and the computer’s power cable to handle any power spikes or surges.
4. Invest in some form of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which uses batteries to keep computers running during power outages. UPS systems also help manage an orderly shutdown of the computer - unexpected shutdowns from power surge problems can cause data loss.
5. Check protection devices regularly: At least once a year you should inspect your power protection devices to make sure that they are functioning properly.
Responding to Data Loss Caused by Severe Weather
1. Do not attempt to operate visibly damaged computers or hard drives.
2. Do not shake, disassemble or attempt to clean any hard drive or server that has been damaged - improper handling can make recovery operations more difficult which can lead to valuable information being lost.
3. Never attempt to dry water-damaged media by opening it or exposing it to heat - such as that from a hairdryer. In fact, keeping a water-damaged drive damp can improve your chances for recovery.
4. Do not use data recovery software to attempt recovery on a physically damaged hard drive. Data recovery software is only designed for use on a drive that is fully functioning mechanically.
5. Contact Ontrack Data Recovery at 800 872 2599 for free data recovery consultation 24/7/365. Our experts will explain options and answer any questions you have about your damaged data storage devices.
Never assume that data is unrecoverable - no matter how extreme the damage. Ontrack Data Recovery engineers have retrieved data from devices damaged in Hurricane Katrina, the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster, and numerous other disasters.
You can protect your data by following some simple precautions. With that said, even the most well-protected hard drives can crash, fail, quit, click, die… you get the picture. So we’ve also provided a few tips for how to respond when extreme weather does damage your computer equipment.
If you would like to read more about the latest data protection and recovery topics, subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter: Data Recovery News.
Protecting Your Data from Severe Weather
1. Summer heat can be a significant problem as overheating can lead to drive failures can result. Keep your computer in a cool, dry area to prevent overheating.
2. Make sure your servers have adequate air conditioning. Increases in computer processor speed have resulted in more power requirements, which in turn require better cooling - especially important during the summer months.
3. To prevent damage caused by lightning strikes, install a surge protector between the power source and the computer’s power cable to handle any power spikes or surges.
4. Invest in some form of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which uses batteries to keep computers running during power outages. UPS systems also help manage an orderly shutdown of the computer - unexpected shutdowns from power surge problems can cause data loss.
5. Check protection devices regularly: At least once a year you should inspect your power protection devices to make sure that they are functioning properly.
Responding to Data Loss Caused by Severe Weather
1. Do not attempt to operate visibly damaged computers or hard drives.
2. Do not shake, disassemble or attempt to clean any hard drive or server that has been damaged - improper handling can make recovery operations more difficult which can lead to valuable information being lost.
3. Never attempt to dry water-damaged media by opening it or exposing it to heat - such as that from a hairdryer. In fact, keeping a water-damaged drive damp can improve your chances for recovery.
4. Do not use data recovery software to attempt recovery on a physically damaged hard drive. Data recovery software is only designed for use on a drive that is fully functioning mechanically.
5. Contact Ontrack Data Recovery at 800 872 2599 for free data recovery consultation 24/7/365. Our experts will explain options and answer any questions you have about your damaged data storage devices.
Never assume that data is unrecoverable - no matter how extreme the damage. Ontrack Data Recovery engineers have retrieved data from devices damaged in Hurricane Katrina, the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster, and numerous other disasters.
Beyond “just” Data Recovery: Tape Restoration Services
What happens when you need to access files from an old backup tape that is no longer compatible with your back up system, tape drive or back up software?
The rapidly changing world of IT means that new innovations are constantly replacing the latest technology. With changes to back up regimes, old tapes become redundant despite requests for old files to be restored. Furthermore, data compliance regulations require businesses to retain data for many years, often longer than the availability of the technology used to store it.
In most cases, the data format from the "old" system is not compatible with the "new", making the transfer of data a major challenge. With 20 years experience in data restoration, Kroll Ontrack has worked with practically every type of storage format, media and data loss scenario. This gives us a unique insight and the ability to facilitate the conversion of data between various platforms, file formats, tape formats, etc.
Tape Conversion & Tape Migration
Kroll Ontrack's tape conversion service can transfer data files from an unrivalled array of backup formats, even those that have been obsolete for many years. Moreover, Kroll Ontrack’s data conversion utilities are used throughout the industry to reformat data from mainframe systems to allow for the importation into PC and UNIX database and spreadsheet applications. Kroll Ontrack has developed a wide range of tools and bespoke software to process data so that it can be transferred to newer systems in a quick and accurate manner.
Tape Duplication
Kroll Ontrack has developed software and systems that allow for the off-line duplication of your vital backups or for the creation of multiple copies of data for distribution. With most backup applications your only choice is to repeat the backup to create a second copy of your save sets. This can cause problems as system performance will be affected and often the extra copy has to be made during business hours when the most important files are in use. Kroll Ontrack can copy your tapes independently from your live systems and validate them with a restore process. We can also supply a system solution for your duplication requirement.
Tape Recovery
Kroll Ontrack, through its Ontrack Data Recovery services, can quickly and successfully recover lost data from tapes, no matter how extreme the cause. Trying tape recovery on your own or through an inexperienced provider may lead to further damage. Select a data recovery provider with resources, expertise and experience you can trust.
Causes of Tape Failure and Data Loss
Corruption – operational error, mishandling of the tape or accidental overwrites caused by inserting or partially formatting the wrong tape.
Physical damage – broken tapes, dirty drives, expired tapes and damage caused by fire, flood or other natural disaster
Software upgrades – inability for data on tape to be read by new application or servers
Tape Recovery Process
Tape recoveries are performed in dust-free cleanroom environments
Tapes and tape drives are carefully dismounted, examined and processed
Proprietary tools can “force” the drive to read around the bad area to recover your data successfully
Drives are imaged and a copy of the disk is created and transferred to new system
LTO Tapes
The LTO tape has emerged as one of the major players at the high data capacity and high performance end of the market. Kroll Ontrack has extensive experience with the recovery of data from LTO tapes. The majority of the problems that we see are the result of human error such as accidentally re-initialising a tape, or forgetting to enable the append option before starting a backup.
If you or your customer have a specific tape project in mind, contact one of our data recovery representatives for a free consultation.
The rapidly changing world of IT means that new innovations are constantly replacing the latest technology. With changes to back up regimes, old tapes become redundant despite requests for old files to be restored. Furthermore, data compliance regulations require businesses to retain data for many years, often longer than the availability of the technology used to store it.
In most cases, the data format from the "old" system is not compatible with the "new", making the transfer of data a major challenge. With 20 years experience in data restoration, Kroll Ontrack has worked with practically every type of storage format, media and data loss scenario. This gives us a unique insight and the ability to facilitate the conversion of data between various platforms, file formats, tape formats, etc.
Tape Conversion & Tape Migration
Kroll Ontrack's tape conversion service can transfer data files from an unrivalled array of backup formats, even those that have been obsolete for many years. Moreover, Kroll Ontrack’s data conversion utilities are used throughout the industry to reformat data from mainframe systems to allow for the importation into PC and UNIX database and spreadsheet applications. Kroll Ontrack has developed a wide range of tools and bespoke software to process data so that it can be transferred to newer systems in a quick and accurate manner.
Tape Duplication
Kroll Ontrack has developed software and systems that allow for the off-line duplication of your vital backups or for the creation of multiple copies of data for distribution. With most backup applications your only choice is to repeat the backup to create a second copy of your save sets. This can cause problems as system performance will be affected and often the extra copy has to be made during business hours when the most important files are in use. Kroll Ontrack can copy your tapes independently from your live systems and validate them with a restore process. We can also supply a system solution for your duplication requirement.
Tape Recovery
Kroll Ontrack, through its Ontrack Data Recovery services, can quickly and successfully recover lost data from tapes, no matter how extreme the cause. Trying tape recovery on your own or through an inexperienced provider may lead to further damage. Select a data recovery provider with resources, expertise and experience you can trust.
Causes of Tape Failure and Data Loss
Corruption – operational error, mishandling of the tape or accidental overwrites caused by inserting or partially formatting the wrong tape.
Physical damage – broken tapes, dirty drives, expired tapes and damage caused by fire, flood or other natural disaster
Software upgrades – inability for data on tape to be read by new application or servers
Tape Recovery Process
Tape recoveries are performed in dust-free cleanroom environments
Tapes and tape drives are carefully dismounted, examined and processed
Proprietary tools can “force” the drive to read around the bad area to recover your data successfully
Drives are imaged and a copy of the disk is created and transferred to new system
LTO Tapes
The LTO tape has emerged as one of the major players at the high data capacity and high performance end of the market. Kroll Ontrack has extensive experience with the recovery of data from LTO tapes. The majority of the problems that we see are the result of human error such as accidentally re-initialising a tape, or forgetting to enable the append option before starting a backup.
If you or your customer have a specific tape project in mind, contact one of our data recovery representatives for a free consultation.
Does Encryption Complicate Things?
Encryption continues to be the topic on every CIO and IT person’s lips nowadays. No one wants to end up in the news as the next victim of a privacy breach or the next company that didn’t protect its customers’ information. If you conduct a news search using the words “personal data breach,” you’ll be alarmed at the number of instances where personal information such as social security and credit-card numbers have been exposed to possible theft. In a recent breach, a state government site allowed access to hundreds of thousands of records, including names, addresses, social security numbers and documents with signatures.
Whether it’s government agencies, research facilities, banking institutions, credit card processing companies, hospitals--or your company’s computers - the risk of compromising private information is very high. At the recent “CEO-CIO Symposium,” speaker Erik Phelps from the law firm Michael Best & Friedrich described the relationship business has with technology. In his presentation, he stated that since “business relies so heavily on technology today, business risk becomes technology dependent.” The possibility of litigation is part of business. It has always been a risk of doing business, but because technology and today’s business are so intertwined, business risk has a higher threat level. This has prompted many to encrypt workstations and mobile computers in order to protect critical business data.
If you have rolled out encryption, how do you maintain your IT service quality when the hard disk drive fails? How do you plan and prepare for a data loss when the user’s computer is encrypted? These are all issues that should be considered when putting together a data disaster plan. In addition, data recovery, one of the more common missing elements of a disaster recovery plan, should also be factored in because it can serve as the “Hail Mary” attempt when all other options have been exhausted.
Data Recovery and Encryption
Business continuity and disaster planning are critical for businesses regardless of their size. Most archive and backup software have key features to restore user files, database stores and point in time snap-shots of users’ files. Software is becoming more automated so users don’t have to manually backup their files. Some computer manufacturers have built-in backup systems that include dedicated hard disk drives for archive storage. Most external USB hard disk drives have some sort of third party software that provides data archiving during a trial time period. Such solutions, while solving the data backup need, create questions regarding how effective the systems are with respect to user data. What are your options when a user’s computer has a data disaster and the hard disk drive is fully encrypted?
Most IT security policies require a multi-pronged approach to data security. For example, when setting up a new computer for a user, the IT department will require a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) password for the system before the computer will start. BIOS password security varies in functionality. Some are computer system specific, meaning that the computer will not start without the proper password. Other BIOS passwords are hard disk drive specific, meaning that the hard drive will not be accessible without the proper password. Some computer BIOS employ one password for access control to the system and the hard disk drive. To add a second level of protection, new IT security policies require full hard disk drive encryption. The most common of full hard disk encryption software operates as a memory resident program. When the computer starts up, the encryption software is loaded before the operating system starts and a pass-phrase or password prompt is required. After a successful login from the user, the software decrypts the hard disk drive sectors in memory, as they are needed. The process is reversed when writing to the hard disk drive. This leaves the hard disk drive in a constant state of encryption. The operating system and program applications function normally, without having to be aware of any encryption software.
The Recovery Process
Recovering from hard disk drives that are encrypted follows the same handling procedures as all other magnetic media. A strict process of handling and documentation starts right at the shipping door upon drive receipt and ends when the drive is shipped back to the customer. In most cases, when working with a top data recovery provider, all recovery processes are logged. This results in an audit trail of the recovery history and serves as verification that the recovery was conducted in a secure, compliant manner. Specifically, you want to ensure the process consists of the following high-level steps:
Triage drive; determine faults without opening drive
Clean room escalation for physical or electronic damage
Secure original media
Sector-by-sector copy of drive data
User Key used to decrypt data
Produce file listing of user file names
Repair file system
Prepare data for delivery
Encryption options for data delivery
After the first four stages listed above, the recovery engineer will begin to map all key file system structures that point to the user files. However, if the hard disk drive is encrypted, then the drive needs to be decrypted in order to proceed.
Decryption
If this is the case, a user key or decryption password is required. Fortunately, encryption software has come a long way over the years. Instead of using a master password for decryption, most professional encryption software provides a technician level pass-phrase that changes on a daily basis. This protects the user’s password and the organization’s master password.
Many organizations are comfortable providing these one-time use pass-phrases so that the recovery work can continue. However, this is not always the case. For some organizations, providing this information to an outside vendor, such as a data recovery provider, is against their security policy. In these situations, a successful recovery is still possible. There are data recovery vendors that can perform recoveries while leaving the data in its encrypted form throughout the entire process. In this case, the data will be recovered and sent back to the client in its encrypted form; however, the specific results will be unknown until the files are opened by someone with access to the encryption key. Ultimately, this limits the ability for a data recovery provider to communicate the success of the recovery until the recovered data is delivered and opened, thereby placing some burden back on the customer.
As a result, it is clear that significant time and cost savings are associated with allowing your data recovery vendor to access your one-time use pass-phrase codes while attempting to recover your encrypted data. At the same time, it’s critical to ensure that your selected vendor also understands security protocols, is knowledgeable about encryption products and has privacy policies in place.
Resuming Recovery
Following the recovery, preparation for delivering the data begins. Since the original hard disk drive was encrypted, safely securing the recovered data is highly important. The recovered data is backed up to the media choice of the user and is re-encrypted. The new decryption key is communicated verbally to the user; email should not be used, as this could be a security risk. Some leading edge data recovery companies are able to deliver recovered data back to the customer in an encrypted format on external USB/Firewire hard disk drives. From the start of the recovery to the final delivery, data should be secure throughout the entire process.
Data Recovery Vendor Considerations
When looking for a data recovery provider, it’s important to ensure that the one selected can handle not only the various types of media, but also understands the data security regulations of today’s organizations. For example, encrypted data requires special data handling processes -- from the clean room to the technically-advanced recovery lab. This isolation ensures no one person has complete access to the media throughout the recovery process, thereby providing security while maintaining recovery continuity and quality.
Additionally, it is important to note that some data recovery companies have been cleared for security projects and services for U.S. government agencies. As a result, these companies implement data privacy controls that are based on the U.S. government’s Electronic Defense Security Services requirements for civilian companies that are under contract for security clearance projects or services.
Unfortunately, most data loss victims only consider data recovery right after they have experienced a data loss and are scrambling for a solution. Emotions run high at this point. The fallout from a data disaster and corresponding data loss is sometimes crippling, with the IT staff working around the clock to get the computer systems back to normal. These distressed circumstances are not the time to think about what makes a good data recovery vendor. Incorporating this important decision into your business continuity planning is best done in advance. Some key questions to ask as part of this proactive exercise include:
Do you have a relationship with a preferred data recovery vendor?
What should you look for when reviewing data recovery companies?
Do you include data recovery in your disaster and business continuity planning?
Do you have a plan for how to handle data loss of encrypted data?
Do appropriate people have access to the encryption keys to speed up the recovery process?
Sometimes planning for these procedures can become involved and tedious, especially if you are planning for something you have never experienced. Do some investigating by calling data recovery service companies and presenting data loss situations such as email server recoveries, or RAID storage recoveries or physically damaged hard disk drives from mobile users. Ask about data protection and the policies in place to protect your company’s files.
Additionally, find out the techniques and recovery tools the providers use. Ask the companies how large their software development staff is. Inquire about how they handle custom development for unique data files. For example, will they be able to repair or rebuild your user’s unique files? Does the data recovery service company have any patents or special OEM certifications?
While these details may not seem important at first, they can be the decisive factors that determine whether your data recovery experience is a positive and successful endeavor.
Following is a checklist of factors to consider when searching for a data recovery vendor for encrypted data or ensuring your data recovery partner is able to comply with your data security policies:
Solid Reputation – Experienced data recovery company with a strong background.
Customer Service – Dedicated and knowledgeable staff.
Secure Protocols – Expert knowledge of encryption products with privacy protocols in place.
Technical Expertise – Capable of recovering from virtually all operating systems and types of storage devices.
Scalable Volume Operations – Equipped with full-service labs and personnel that can handle all size jobs on any media type.
Research & Development – Invested in technology for superior recoveries; not just purchasing solutions.
It is important to understand that data loss can occur at any time on any scale. It’s especially crucial to be prepared with a plan that adheres to your company’s security policy. The more prepared one is, the better the chance for a quick and successful recovery when a problem arises.
About the Author:
Sean Barry is the remote data recovery manager of North America at Kroll Ontrack, the largest, most experienced and technologically advanced provider of data recovery products and services worldwide. Kroll Ontrack is able to recover lost or corrupted data from virtually all operating systems and types of storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab capabilities, using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques.
Whether it’s government agencies, research facilities, banking institutions, credit card processing companies, hospitals--or your company’s computers - the risk of compromising private information is very high. At the recent “CEO-CIO Symposium,” speaker Erik Phelps from the law firm Michael Best & Friedrich described the relationship business has with technology. In his presentation, he stated that since “business relies so heavily on technology today, business risk becomes technology dependent.” The possibility of litigation is part of business. It has always been a risk of doing business, but because technology and today’s business are so intertwined, business risk has a higher threat level. This has prompted many to encrypt workstations and mobile computers in order to protect critical business data.
If you have rolled out encryption, how do you maintain your IT service quality when the hard disk drive fails? How do you plan and prepare for a data loss when the user’s computer is encrypted? These are all issues that should be considered when putting together a data disaster plan. In addition, data recovery, one of the more common missing elements of a disaster recovery plan, should also be factored in because it can serve as the “Hail Mary” attempt when all other options have been exhausted.
Data Recovery and Encryption
Business continuity and disaster planning are critical for businesses regardless of their size. Most archive and backup software have key features to restore user files, database stores and point in time snap-shots of users’ files. Software is becoming more automated so users don’t have to manually backup their files. Some computer manufacturers have built-in backup systems that include dedicated hard disk drives for archive storage. Most external USB hard disk drives have some sort of third party software that provides data archiving during a trial time period. Such solutions, while solving the data backup need, create questions regarding how effective the systems are with respect to user data. What are your options when a user’s computer has a data disaster and the hard disk drive is fully encrypted?
Most IT security policies require a multi-pronged approach to data security. For example, when setting up a new computer for a user, the IT department will require a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) password for the system before the computer will start. BIOS password security varies in functionality. Some are computer system specific, meaning that the computer will not start without the proper password. Other BIOS passwords are hard disk drive specific, meaning that the hard drive will not be accessible without the proper password. Some computer BIOS employ one password for access control to the system and the hard disk drive. To add a second level of protection, new IT security policies require full hard disk drive encryption. The most common of full hard disk encryption software operates as a memory resident program. When the computer starts up, the encryption software is loaded before the operating system starts and a pass-phrase or password prompt is required. After a successful login from the user, the software decrypts the hard disk drive sectors in memory, as they are needed. The process is reversed when writing to the hard disk drive. This leaves the hard disk drive in a constant state of encryption. The operating system and program applications function normally, without having to be aware of any encryption software.
The Recovery Process
Recovering from hard disk drives that are encrypted follows the same handling procedures as all other magnetic media. A strict process of handling and documentation starts right at the shipping door upon drive receipt and ends when the drive is shipped back to the customer. In most cases, when working with a top data recovery provider, all recovery processes are logged. This results in an audit trail of the recovery history and serves as verification that the recovery was conducted in a secure, compliant manner. Specifically, you want to ensure the process consists of the following high-level steps:
Triage drive; determine faults without opening drive
Clean room escalation for physical or electronic damage
Secure original media
Sector-by-sector copy of drive data
User Key used to decrypt data
Produce file listing of user file names
Repair file system
Prepare data for delivery
Encryption options for data delivery
After the first four stages listed above, the recovery engineer will begin to map all key file system structures that point to the user files. However, if the hard disk drive is encrypted, then the drive needs to be decrypted in order to proceed.
Decryption
If this is the case, a user key or decryption password is required. Fortunately, encryption software has come a long way over the years. Instead of using a master password for decryption, most professional encryption software provides a technician level pass-phrase that changes on a daily basis. This protects the user’s password and the organization’s master password.
Many organizations are comfortable providing these one-time use pass-phrases so that the recovery work can continue. However, this is not always the case. For some organizations, providing this information to an outside vendor, such as a data recovery provider, is against their security policy. In these situations, a successful recovery is still possible. There are data recovery vendors that can perform recoveries while leaving the data in its encrypted form throughout the entire process. In this case, the data will be recovered and sent back to the client in its encrypted form; however, the specific results will be unknown until the files are opened by someone with access to the encryption key. Ultimately, this limits the ability for a data recovery provider to communicate the success of the recovery until the recovered data is delivered and opened, thereby placing some burden back on the customer.
As a result, it is clear that significant time and cost savings are associated with allowing your data recovery vendor to access your one-time use pass-phrase codes while attempting to recover your encrypted data. At the same time, it’s critical to ensure that your selected vendor also understands security protocols, is knowledgeable about encryption products and has privacy policies in place.
Resuming Recovery
Following the recovery, preparation for delivering the data begins. Since the original hard disk drive was encrypted, safely securing the recovered data is highly important. The recovered data is backed up to the media choice of the user and is re-encrypted. The new decryption key is communicated verbally to the user; email should not be used, as this could be a security risk. Some leading edge data recovery companies are able to deliver recovered data back to the customer in an encrypted format on external USB/Firewire hard disk drives. From the start of the recovery to the final delivery, data should be secure throughout the entire process.
Data Recovery Vendor Considerations
When looking for a data recovery provider, it’s important to ensure that the one selected can handle not only the various types of media, but also understands the data security regulations of today’s organizations. For example, encrypted data requires special data handling processes -- from the clean room to the technically-advanced recovery lab. This isolation ensures no one person has complete access to the media throughout the recovery process, thereby providing security while maintaining recovery continuity and quality.
Additionally, it is important to note that some data recovery companies have been cleared for security projects and services for U.S. government agencies. As a result, these companies implement data privacy controls that are based on the U.S. government’s Electronic Defense Security Services requirements for civilian companies that are under contract for security clearance projects or services.
Unfortunately, most data loss victims only consider data recovery right after they have experienced a data loss and are scrambling for a solution. Emotions run high at this point. The fallout from a data disaster and corresponding data loss is sometimes crippling, with the IT staff working around the clock to get the computer systems back to normal. These distressed circumstances are not the time to think about what makes a good data recovery vendor. Incorporating this important decision into your business continuity planning is best done in advance. Some key questions to ask as part of this proactive exercise include:
Do you have a relationship with a preferred data recovery vendor?
What should you look for when reviewing data recovery companies?
Do you include data recovery in your disaster and business continuity planning?
Do you have a plan for how to handle data loss of encrypted data?
Do appropriate people have access to the encryption keys to speed up the recovery process?
Sometimes planning for these procedures can become involved and tedious, especially if you are planning for something you have never experienced. Do some investigating by calling data recovery service companies and presenting data loss situations such as email server recoveries, or RAID storage recoveries or physically damaged hard disk drives from mobile users. Ask about data protection and the policies in place to protect your company’s files.
Additionally, find out the techniques and recovery tools the providers use. Ask the companies how large their software development staff is. Inquire about how they handle custom development for unique data files. For example, will they be able to repair or rebuild your user’s unique files? Does the data recovery service company have any patents or special OEM certifications?
While these details may not seem important at first, they can be the decisive factors that determine whether your data recovery experience is a positive and successful endeavor.
Following is a checklist of factors to consider when searching for a data recovery vendor for encrypted data or ensuring your data recovery partner is able to comply with your data security policies:
Solid Reputation – Experienced data recovery company with a strong background.
Customer Service – Dedicated and knowledgeable staff.
Secure Protocols – Expert knowledge of encryption products with privacy protocols in place.
Technical Expertise – Capable of recovering from virtually all operating systems and types of storage devices.
Scalable Volume Operations – Equipped with full-service labs and personnel that can handle all size jobs on any media type.
Research & Development – Invested in technology for superior recoveries; not just purchasing solutions.
It is important to understand that data loss can occur at any time on any scale. It’s especially crucial to be prepared with a plan that adheres to your company’s security policy. The more prepared one is, the better the chance for a quick and successful recovery when a problem arises.
About the Author:
Sean Barry is the remote data recovery manager of North America at Kroll Ontrack, the largest, most experienced and technologically advanced provider of data recovery products and services worldwide. Kroll Ontrack is able to recover lost or corrupted data from virtually all operating systems and types of storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab capabilities, using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques.
Digital Photo Data Loss - Saving Memories in a Digital Era
With family get-togethers, holiday pageants and winter vacations, it’s definitely the season for taking pictures. Amateur photographers everywhere are grabbing their cameras to capture the perfect holiday memory – and now more than ever, they’re using digital cameras to do the job. According to Photo Marketing Association International (PMAI), 122 million digital cameras will be sold in 2008, and over half of all U.S. households will own a digital camera.
Many of these digital cameras no doubt ended up as holiday gifts – and along with them the digital media where the pictures are actually stored. Other digital toys like portable MP3 players and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) use digital media to store information, making memory cards, flash media and microdrives products that people should become accustomed to in the new year. However, like computers, digital media can suffer from corruption and make your information inaccessible. If you run into problems and think your precious holiday pictures are lost forever, don’t panic. Ontrack Data Recovery can help.
There are many types of digital storage media available today in various capacities, ranging from tiny memory cards that come bundled with cameras to high-capacity microdrives. Regardless of the format, people are trusting their pictures to a different media than traditional film – and with that new media, comes new problems. Instead of overexposure or a damaged roll, you have to deal with corrupted data and hardware failures. Most digital media is formatted with the FAT file system for data storage and organization. When this file system gets corrupted, the device that uses the memory card can’t find the data so whatever information you have stored is “lost.” Even though it still exists on the memory card, the data is inaccessible.
What could cause the file system to become corrupted? When the device becomes low on power or when the card is removed while the device is on are common situations where the file system may no longer point to the data. When hardware failure occurs, the digital media is physically damaged and cannot connect with the device that reads the data. This typically happens due to accidental breakage or rough treatment.
In either case, it is important to remember that recovery is always a possibility. Although Ontrack Data Recovery typically deals with hard drives from individual users or huge servers from large companies, they also have the technology and expertise to handle all types of digital media. With their technique of finding critical data to rebuild the file system, Ontrack Data Recovery engineers use special tools in their data recovery labs to find lost data and repair hardware damage.
So if you open your presents to discover a new digital camera or other digital toy that uses digital media storage this holiday, embrace your new technology knowing that data recovery service is an option if any problems occur.
Many of these digital cameras no doubt ended up as holiday gifts – and along with them the digital media where the pictures are actually stored. Other digital toys like portable MP3 players and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) use digital media to store information, making memory cards, flash media and microdrives products that people should become accustomed to in the new year. However, like computers, digital media can suffer from corruption and make your information inaccessible. If you run into problems and think your precious holiday pictures are lost forever, don’t panic. Ontrack Data Recovery can help.
There are many types of digital storage media available today in various capacities, ranging from tiny memory cards that come bundled with cameras to high-capacity microdrives. Regardless of the format, people are trusting their pictures to a different media than traditional film – and with that new media, comes new problems. Instead of overexposure or a damaged roll, you have to deal with corrupted data and hardware failures. Most digital media is formatted with the FAT file system for data storage and organization. When this file system gets corrupted, the device that uses the memory card can’t find the data so whatever information you have stored is “lost.” Even though it still exists on the memory card, the data is inaccessible.
What could cause the file system to become corrupted? When the device becomes low on power or when the card is removed while the device is on are common situations where the file system may no longer point to the data. When hardware failure occurs, the digital media is physically damaged and cannot connect with the device that reads the data. This typically happens due to accidental breakage or rough treatment.
In either case, it is important to remember that recovery is always a possibility. Although Ontrack Data Recovery typically deals with hard drives from individual users or huge servers from large companies, they also have the technology and expertise to handle all types of digital media. With their technique of finding critical data to rebuild the file system, Ontrack Data Recovery engineers use special tools in their data recovery labs to find lost data and repair hardware damage.
So if you open your presents to discover a new digital camera or other digital toy that uses digital media storage this holiday, embrace your new technology knowing that data recovery service is an option if any problems occur.
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