You Can Lose Data Right Now
By: James Walsh

Most people do not recognize the telltale signs which foretell the ensuing data loss nor are they comprehensively aware of the potential situations contributing to data loss. Murphy’s Law (‘Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong“) is very much applicable to your data. The following are some signs of data loss:

You switch on the computer. The power supply indicator on the CPU glows and then goes off. Nothing happens. You try switching on the CPU again nothing happens.
There is a consistent sound of scraping or rattling or abnormal noise levels from the CPU. There is no vibration or muted signs of hard disk, activity inside the CPU.
The Monitor cryptically displays that the device is not found or boot device not found.

If you have come across any of the above, you have experienced the single biggest factor (above 40%) that causes data loss – Hardware related problems. Improper electric power supply, spikes or surges tend to harm the SMPS (power supply unit), hard disk, the motherboard and the various processors inside the CPU.

Loose connections between the various hardware devices inside the CPU and between the various peripherals, are also not to be taken lightly. Improper handling (an accidental drop) and bad working conditions can result in crashed hard disks or damaged components. The chances of recovering data from physically damaged data devices are minimal. Further signs to watch out for are:

The data that was accessible to you previously, is no longer accessible
‘File not found’ error
The system starts up, but halfway through the process it gives up
The familiar ‘blue screen of death’
The message ‘File appears to be corrupted’

These hints of possible data loss are software errors caused by missing system files or vital files that have undergone some unintended change due to the fault of the human operator.

Lapses in concentration while working on the computer, careless use of potentially destructive commands, typographical errors while issuing system commands, experimentation with third party software without proper system safeguards, no periodical backups of precious data, lack of operating system maintenance, trying to repair a perceived hardware problem without any technical expertise of your own, usage of pirated software are the leading technical reasons for human error creeping into your system.

The element of human error, is the second biggest single factor (30% plus) contributing to data loss. It is also the most important deciding factor, which dictates whether the data loss can be recovered from, minimized or is permanent.

Maradona’s goal, which sunk England’s sporting hopes (during the 1998 Football World Cup) was attributed to the ‘hand of god’. Your data can be surely wiped out by the forces of God, unless you take precautions before those forces are unleashed. Lightning strikes, fire, thunderstorms, floods, fungal buildup due to dampness or moisture, excessive dust or heat, rodents or insect menace and excessive magnetic fields physically harm the hardware, thereby causing data loss.

There’s not much you can do in these situations except to take precautions, unplug, wait it out and thoroughly checking the system prior to resuming work. Mercifully, less than 10% of overall data loss occurs this way.

Maybe due to increased awareness or the efficiency of software programs, most computer users take some precaution (though not comprehensive) against the criminals lurking in the dark by-lanes of the Internet waiting to pounce upon your data or mess with your computer. Most surveys showed that less than 10% of all reported data loss occurred due to this willful mechanism of data loss i.e. through spyware, viruses, Trojans, botnets, worms and the rest of the ilk.

All these calamities described above, are waiting to happen and be a cause of terrible data loss, only if you let them be a cause for damage. There are a host of software utilities and hardware devices within affordable reach to implement data security. If proper precautions are in place and you maintain a cool head, none of these causes can affect your data, though there may be a temporary loss of data. Keep yourself and your computer updated and implement the latest trends in preventing data loss in the first place. You will surely agree that ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleJoe.com

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk“>Data Recovery see www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk

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