Natural disasters- whether it be a hurricane, thunderstorm, fire, or a pipe leak- causes billions of dollars’ worth of damage every year. For gadget users, this poses the ultimate nightmare as most computer parts are sensitive to water damage. In this article, we outline the ways to recover your damaged data and hard drives even in disastrous events as damaging as a flood.
Quick Action
Time is of the essence when retrieving data post water damage. Mechanical and electronic components in your hard drive will degrade within hours of exposure to moister. Rather than waiting a few days or few weeks to salvage your disc, act now!
Safety First
While handling electricity in the presence of water, it is extremely important to proceed with caution.
First, unplug all gadgets from outlets and make sure the devices are turned off. For further actions, contact the computer’s manufacturer. Next, when removing the actual wet and damaged hard drive from the computer, double-check again that nothing is plugged in. Prepare paper towels and a tight plastic bag.
Keep the Hard Drive Wet!
You didn’t read that wrong. Do not dry off or clean your hard drive on your own. Flood water and water in general are repleted with minerals and particles. Once the hard drive dries, the particles will attach itself to the platters of the hard drive, hindering the data retrieval process. NOTE: using hairdryer, space heater, household cleaning solutions are especially damaging to the hard drive and should be avoided at all times. The platter on the hard drive is an especially delicate component that should not be tampered with.
The Less, The Better
In the case of post floor data recovery, there really isn’t much you can do. Rather, enlisting the help of a professional to safely retrieve the damaged data is the efficient and cost-effective way method.
Enlist Professional Help
At your earliest opportunity, wrap the hard drive in paper towels and seal it in an air tight plastic bag. There are Data Recovery Groups that specializes in water damaged hard drives, who will walk you through the data recovery process upon calling. Most likely, they will ask you to ship the hard drive as quickly as possible to one of their locations.
