First Responses before, during, after OS or Data loss crises.
** Those with Dynamic, RAID, SSD, or 3GB+ setups -- seek advice from those specialists. **
A few good "first responses" PRIOR to any OS and/or Data loss crisis
AND
A few good "first responses" AFTER any OS and/or Data loss crisis
-- using Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper, EaseUS Todo, or anything similar, free or pay-for:
---- routinely make full image backups of one's OS and Data onto affordable and reliable external media; or
---- routinely make a clone of your OS and Data hard-drive onto another reliable hard-drive
---- make usb and dvd boots with your backup/restore utility of choice
[if no cd/dvd device in laptop, if affordable, get a usb cd/dvd device]
During any of the following situations, these three first responses may be best:
1) chill 2) breathe 3) chill
During any file or files deletion loss
If Windows works, if Recycle Bin works - check for any deleted file(s) you want to un-delete.
If Windows works, if you have a 3rd party un-delete program, check that bucket.
During any Windows not working crisis
If no Windows,
OR
During any partition(s) not found crisis
If no partition(s),
Boot backup/restore/cloning utility usb or dvd,
[if no cd/dvd device in laptop, if affordable, get a usb cd/dvd device] and:
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY clone onto an external HD; or
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY full image of the hard-drive onto any affordable and reliable external media
-- wait patiently, in whichever forum you're in, for expert advice and help; or
-- if affordable, take it to a local computer fix-it place/specialist and let him/her help you; or
-- if affordable, if possible, send the hard-drive to a data recovery place
During any hard-drive not found crisis
If no hard-drive access, it's mostly either a physical failing or a "logical" failing
There is a fork in the road, you choose which tine, which path, you believe is best --
1) Boot backup/restore/cloning utility usb or dvd,
[if no cd/dvd device in laptop, if affordable, get a usb cd/dvd device] and:
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY clone onto an external HD; or
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY full image of the hard-drive onto any affordable and reliable external media
OR
-- wait patiently, in whichever forum you're in, for expert advice and help; or
-- if affordable, take it to a local computer fix-it place/specialist and let him/her help you; or
-- if affordable, if possible, send the hard-drive to a data recovery place
Making a DIY one-pass clone or full image means:
-- the process reads or tries to read each sector only once, there is no re-reading, re-trying any sector
-- the process is started and run, without interruption, to completion
-- when the process "says" it is finished, it is finished and the 2ndCopy HD is put away for safe-keeping
-- if the process interrupts itself at any time or point, the process is finished, the 2ndCopy HD is put away
AND
-- wait patiently, in whichever forum you're in, for expert advice and help before continuing; or
-- if affordable, take it to a local computer fix-it place/specialist and let him/her help you; or
-- if affordable, if possible, send the hard-drive to a data recovery place
This is as far I can go for this article. I'm hoping data restoration and data recovery specialists
will weigh in with their advice and practicals in future articles.
** Those with Dynamic, RAID, SSD, or 3GB+ setups -- seek advice from those specialists. **
A few good "first responses" PRIOR to any OS and/or Data loss crisis
AND
A few good "first responses" AFTER any OS and/or Data loss crisis
-- using Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper, EaseUS Todo, or anything similar, free or pay-for:
---- routinely make full image backups of one's OS and Data onto affordable and reliable external media; or
---- routinely make a clone of your OS and Data hard-drive onto another reliable hard-drive
---- make usb and dvd boots with your backup/restore utility of choice
[if no cd/dvd device in laptop, if affordable, get a usb cd/dvd device]
During any of the following situations, these three first responses may be best:
1) chill 2) breathe 3) chill
During any file or files deletion loss
If Windows works, if Recycle Bin works - check for any deleted file(s) you want to un-delete.
If Windows works, if you have a 3rd party un-delete program, check that bucket.
During any Windows not working crisis
If no Windows,
OR
During any partition(s) not found crisis
If no partition(s),
Boot backup/restore/cloning utility usb or dvd,
[if no cd/dvd device in laptop, if affordable, get a usb cd/dvd device] and:
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY clone onto an external HD; or
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY full image of the hard-drive onto any affordable and reliable external media
-- wait patiently, in whichever forum you're in, for expert advice and help; or
-- if affordable, take it to a local computer fix-it place/specialist and let him/her help you; or
-- if affordable, if possible, send the hard-drive to a data recovery place
During any hard-drive not found crisis
If no hard-drive access, it's mostly either a physical failing or a "logical" failing
There is a fork in the road, you choose which tine, which path, you believe is best --
1) Boot backup/restore/cloning utility usb or dvd,
[if no cd/dvd device in laptop, if affordable, get a usb cd/dvd device] and:
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY clone onto an external HD; or
-- if possible, make a one-pass DIY full image of the hard-drive onto any affordable and reliable external media
OR
-- wait patiently, in whichever forum you're in, for expert advice and help; or
-- if affordable, take it to a local computer fix-it place/specialist and let him/her help you; or
-- if affordable, if possible, send the hard-drive to a data recovery place
Making a DIY one-pass clone or full image means:
-- the process reads or tries to read each sector only once, there is no re-reading, re-trying any sector
-- the process is started and run, without interruption, to completion
-- when the process "says" it is finished, it is finished and the 2ndCopy HD is put away for safe-keeping
-- if the process interrupts itself at any time or point, the process is finished, the 2ndCopy HD is put away
AND
-- wait patiently, in whichever forum you're in, for expert advice and help before continuing; or
-- if affordable, take it to a local computer fix-it place/specialist and let him/her help you; or
-- if affordable, if possible, send the hard-drive to a data recovery place
This is as far I can go for this article. I'm hoping data restoration and data recovery specialists
will weigh in with their advice and practicals in future articles.
Last edited:
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