Disk Recovery

In most circumstances, a mechanical disk failure will result in your disk having to be replaced. So if you do not know what is involved get an expert to help you out. (Trusted Partners - Rits Security Group)

Firstly, you will need to make sure you have a copy of your old data, applications and operating system. If you ever wondered why it is so important to keep backups now you have your answer. If you have no backups or if they are incomplete there is still a good chance you can recover the files you need from your damaged disk.

Disk Life Expectancy

Computers are generally expected to last between 5 and 7 years. After this period the operating system and original software will almost certainly be superceded and possibly unsupported by the manufacturer.

How to identify a suspected failure

The hard disk is an integral part of your computer. In most cases, if it is damaged your system may not boot properly. It may boot to a certain point but not completely so try to identify at what stage the system fails and take not of any errors on screen. You can search for information about these error messages on the internet to find a detailed description of the problem.

A mechanical failure should also be audible. Disks usually make some noise even when they are working properly. If a componant is damaged you should be able to hear a clicking or grinding. If you need to recover files you should avoid further damage to the disk by shutting down your system.