Further, modern operating systems compute data to storage in the form of virtual memory, while download system updates simultaenously. This could result in permanent data loss.
Hence, the first and foremost important thing to do post experiencing a malfunctioned device is to power down your device( through a safe shutdown!). Do not power the device back on until you are ready to perform the data recovery process, with the help of a professional.
The Do-It-Yourself
There are a variety of do it yourself software tools on the market for data recovery (UndeletePlus for Windows 8 and 7, Recuva for Windows 7, or Data Rescue 3 for Mac). The recovery time may vary depending on your file size, ranging from minutes to several hours. It is vital to note that due to dangers of overwriting, a data recovery attempt should never be done on the boot volume or by installing the data recovery software on the affected drive. Instead, opt for attaching the affected drive to another computer, or working off of a cloned copy. Remember! Self-recovering of data is possible only for accidentally deleted files. Do not self-attempt recovery if there is mechanical or component damage.
Recovery from Encrypted Volume, HDD
While data encryption is meant to serve the privacy of those using the convenience of transportable laptops, it raises an interesting barrier to successful data recovery. However, as long as you have the user password or recovery key, data recovery is not a problem. For businesses that employ higher level self-encrypting schemes such as BitLocker, however, you need additional steps. Bitlocker will require you to provide user credentials, the original self-encrypting HDD and the physical laptop with TPM module intact for data recovery.
Recovery from SSD
In comparison to the HDD, the SSD is novel and less well-studied. This means, that there is a reciprocal lower level of proprietary tools for its data recovery. Specifically, vendor-specific SSD designs incorporate built-in encryption technologies that pose barriers to data retrieval. So, evidently, businesses have leaned toward buying SSDs from larger vendors than a small SSD vendor utilizing a proprietary controller. One interesting thing to note, current trends indicate that the failure rate of SSD to be lower than that of HDD.
Defense is the Best Offence
It is evident that in the case of data recovery, it is better safe than sorry. A regular data backup regime should be ingrained within corporate, business, or even personal practices, coupled with periodic tests of those backups to ensure functionality.
