Modern tech devices are increasingly becoming more mobile and suited to modern life styles on the move. In order to keep up with these tech changes, memory has had to adapt and become lightweight, inexpensive and easily removed for user handling purposes between devices. This means that removable storage devices such as compact flash cards and usb sticks for example can easily become corrupted and damaged.
Delicate SD cards especially in digital cameras can become easily damaged- this is because of the thin protective casing often surrounding such memory devices and the routine manner in which they are often swapped between devices.
How all is not lost if your removable storage becomes damaged in some circumstances!
On some mobile storage devices a file may be accidentally deleted by a user, yet it is possible in some circumstances to recover lost data on such a mobile device memory. Quite often memory sticks complete with a USB ports often become damaged because of physical damage and not actually on some occasions damaging the integrity of the data contained within, which can sometimes be saved.
Why it is important to be wary about the software programs that can be used to recover lost data from memory devices
Some software programs in the hands of the uninitiated to data recovery, may actually mean that important “data pointers” get lost or information gets fragmented on the media device itself. If you are in any doubt as to how you should proceed in recovering lost data on mobile devices then it is important to consult with an expert data recovery specialist first. Certain software can perform tasks that can unwittingly wipe off important data that you wish to save, so such tools should be only used by a competent professional.
How would a data recovery specialist proceed in terms of recovering lost data?
Some data specialists will use a methodical approach to preserving data through initially cloning the data source to prevent further data loss.
This in the first instance allows for a form of backup, this is in order to prevent further corruption to the original data source that is being recovered and actively worked on.
Often then data specialists use a number and wide range of varying software tools to analyse the data source.
Quite often your data specialist will have a range of powerful solutions in terms of software that is much more in-depth when compared to some more simple software packages on the market.
Depending on the time spent and how methodical the recovery specialist is will determine how deep within the media device the data get’s examined for the presence of the information that is wishing to be preserved and extracted. In some circumstances a specialist may be able to retrieve deleted files that some less capable software programs on the market may be able to retrieve. So whether you choose to carry out the work or a professional, it does depend on the value you place on the information itself and how much you want to save the data.
I do not know where to start in terms of retrieving the data- should I have a go at trying to find the data myself in the first instance before using a specialist?
Experienced data recovery specialists will have knowledge to look at areas within a data device that will allow them to find “key pointers” to retrieve information if they can be found at all. As time lapses and the devices are allowed to operate and record further information or attempts are made to retrieve information with little knowledge and expertise, then this can compromise the overall data integrity. For instance certain data storage devices will rewrite and copy over areas that have been marked for deletion, meaning that accidentally deleted files can be lost forever!
This is why using specialist software in unexperienced hands can mean that changes are made to a media device that can mean further data loss in some circumstances.