Lost And Found: Recovering Your Computer Data

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

So now it’s too late. You haven’t been backing up your computer files on a regular basis and your computer won’t boot. How are you ever going to get all your information back? All of those lengthy presentations, important memos, vital emails, downloaded Kenny G songs from iTunes®, and the photographs of your vacation in Guam. Well, it’s not as bad as you may think. What you need to do is keep a level head, set aside the things that you don’t have control over, and figure out what’s worth saving. Then you need to figure out who will save it.

What’s the Problem?
Computer is making horrendous noises when it starts up and won’t boot, chances are pretty good that there is something physically wrong with your hard drive and you will need to take it to a professional for diagnosis and repair. If the computer starts up quietly, but won’t allow you access to Windows® or DOS, then it’s possible that there is a software problem and you may be able to take care of this one by yourself.

Who Will Do It?
If the computer that conked out is at work and you work for a fairly large company, there’s bound to be an IT guy or gal running around that has all the answers and the tools needed to help you out. They have been specially trained to perform data recovery tasks and should be able to get you back up and running in no time. If you do not have an IT department, you can either shop around for a recovery service (which can become quite pricey) or attempt to do it yourself. Another good resource is friends or family. You may be lucky enough to have a brother who works with computers or an old college buddy who now works for Dell. Give them a call and ask them if they have any suggestions. I don’t know many friends who would charge you for their time.

Your computer owner’s manual or a certified Microsoft® free computer assistance web site should have all the information you need to perform the recovery yourself. Most computers come with a recovery disk that allows your computer to boot up without entering Windows so that you can access the files on your drive and copy them to an alternate source. Should you not have this disk, you can usually download one from Microsoft free of charge. One catch is that your alternate source needs to be large enough to hold all the data that you’re transferring. You may need to purchase a jump drive, or an external hard drive, or hook up another computer or laptop to your computer to carry this out correctly depending on how much information you have. This may seem out of your league, but the more you learn about your computer, the better off you’ll be in extenuating circumstances.

Is It Worth It?
You need to ask yourself this all-important question: What exactly did you lose? Are these irreplaceable files vital to your success as a budding young executive or were they immature Paint program drawings of your boss and pictures from your last fishing trip that all your buddies have and can get you copies of. The reason to ask these questions is because if you can’t do the data recovery yourself, your drive will have to be sent to a professional which is both a costly and time-consuming solution.

Now What?
Once you’re back up and running, it may be time to plan for future unforeseen problems. If you are able to find out what the specific cause of the problem was, this may be a good time to try some preventative computer maintenance. Obviously, back up your files often. If the problem was caused by a virus, perhaps you need to get or upgrade your current anti-virus protection software. If it was a hardware problem, check online or with the computer manufacturer to see if there have been any other reported problems or recalls concerning your computer model.

No machine is perfect and Murphy’s Law seems to apply doubly to computers. Unless you built it, you’ll never really be quite sure how it all works or if it is working. The best route, as always, is to be a good little computer Boy Scout. Be prepared for anything. Back up your files regularly and update your anti-virus to provide a safe and happy home for your data to live in.

iTunes is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Windows and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.

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