FAQ

Symptoms

After the reinstallation of your Operating System, you notice that you can't find your data on the drive anymore.

What to do about them ?

It's most probably a partition problem and thus, a software problem. Don't format your HDD and don't try to reinstall the Operating System again, or you may lose your data definitively.
To recover your data, you must call a professional.

• do not format it
• do not put it in the fridge
• do not scratch the CD/DVD surface
• do not clean it with a corrosive product

When your CD stops working, it may be due to one of two types of failure: physical or software. In any case, don't try to repair it yourself. The more you tamper with it, the greater the likelihood of damaging the surface, and consequently losing your data irretrievably.

• Remove the key from your computer without closing the program
• Don't take to pieces the USB key on your own
• Don't format it
• Don't force the plug in the socket if there's any resistance

When your USB key doesn't work anymore, it can be two different kinds of breakdown, physical or software. At any rate, don't try to repair it by yourself. The more you try to repair it, the more you risk to damage irreversibly your data.

• put your hard drive in the fridge. It may bring dampness into it.
• hit the disk on the side or on the top. You may damage the reading heads and the platters.
• open the hard drive by your own. Open the disk in a non-sterile environment may bring some particles into the disk and damage the platters' surface.
• in case of shock, don't try to fix it yourself, you may damage the disk. Appeal to a professional !

In general, when the disk isn't functional anymore, the more you try to use it, the more you risk breaking it definitively. As the reading heads are sliding about 7 nanometers over the platters, any shock or any dust particle could severly damage the platters' surface, making the data impossible to read.

• do not open it, you may damage some internal components
• do not format it, you may lose your data for good
• do not try to hit it on any side, you may phisically damage internal components
• do not try to turn it off and on many times, you may cause electric surge

We mainly offer our services in Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Germany. However, we receive data recovery requests from around the world.

#Information,

Symptoms

The JBOD system is an aggregate of a few HDDs. Unlike the RAID 0 system, the data is written on the first HDD. Then, when the first one is full, the data is written on the second HDD. And so on.

What to do about them ?

If the defective HDD doesn't contain any data and the JBOD system is built with two HDDs, you should be able to plug the first HDD on a computer and recover your data.
Should the opposite occur, you should ask a data recovery specialist to repair the defective device in order to repair and recover the data with the other functional HDDs.

Symptoms

If the disk falls, its surface or reading heads can be damaged. If the hard drive doesn't start, don't try to start it over and over because you may damage the disk more seriously.

What to do about them ?

If you hear a noise such as a jingle, the problem is probably involving the reading heads. If you don't hear any noise, but your drive don't start due to a fall, it may be another physical problem. At any rate, bring it quickly to a professional and don't try to fix it yourself.

Symptoms

If your hard drive has been through flood or fire, you'll have to face a physical problem. Many problems can ensue from fire/flood, such as melting of components, dampness into the disk, defectiveness of the electronics.

What to do about them ?

Don't dry your HDD with a hairdryer, and don't open it to clean possible soot stains. Don't try to repair or plug your hard drive on your own.
Contact a specialist who will be able to determine the problem and to act consequently in a suitable environment.

Symptoms

The RAID 0 system is an aggregate of a few HDDs. Each file is divided into parts on every HDDs of the RAID 0 system. If a HDD is defective, there will be missing file parts so you can't access to the data anymore.

What to do about them ?

You should ask a data recovery specialist to repair the defective device in order to repair and recover the data with the other functional HDDs.

Symptoms

With a RAID 1 system, all the HDDs are like mirrors of the others.

What to do about them ?

If all the HDDs are defective, you should ask a data recovery specialist to repair the defective device in order to repair and recover the data with the other functional HDDs.
Should the opposite occur, it means that the copy HDD is still intact. So, you can plug it on a computer and recover your data.

Symptoms

Your RAID 5 system has at least 3 HDDs. If a HDD is defective, your RAID 5 system is in failsoft mode but still working.

What to do about them ?

You should change the defective drive as soon as possible. Normally, the RAID controller will integrate the new HDD and recreate the data, so your RAID system will be completely secured again. This operation may last a few hours.

Symptoms

Your RAID 5 system can take a single HDD breakdown, not more. Your RAID system isn't functional anymore.

What to do about them ?

You should ask a data recovery specialist to repair the defective device in order to repair and recover the data with the other functional HDDs.

Symptoms

Your RAID 6 system can take two HDD breakdowns, not more. Your RAID system isn't functional anymore.

What to do about them ?

You should ask a data recovery specialist to repair the defective device in order to repair and recover the data with the other functional HDDs.

Symptoms

Your RAID 6 system has at least 4 HDDs. If a HDD or two are defective, your RAID 6 system is in failsoft mode but still working.

What to do about them ?

You should change the defective drive as soon as possible. Normally, the RAID controller will integrate the new HDD and recreate the data, so your RAID system will be completely secured again. This operation may last a few hours.