Question: I run a home-based biz and I've never been good about backing up my computer data. Last week my PC started making strange grinding sounds and suddenly stopped. The computer store says it's hopelessly trashed. I have months worth of work that I did not back up. Is there any way to recover it?
Answer: Performing regular computer backups is vital for every small business. But if disaster strikes and you haven't backed up your data, there may still be hope in a data recovery service. These companies specialize in coaxing data from damaged computers - including everything from e-mails to customer lists and photos. Success rates very, depending on the skill and experience of the service and the extent of damage to the computer. Don't give up. Several computer experts told Leslie Contreras, a young professional in Dallas, that no data could be recovered from her damaged hard drive. But when she sent it to Ontrack Data Recovery, the Minneapolis-based firm recovered everything. Recovery solutions range from do-it-yourself software to in-lab services:
Ontrack Data Recovery is one of the most experienced and tech-savvy companies in the field. Ontrack offers a full range of data recovery services for PCs, laptops, servers and other storage media. They can help small businesses protect, manage or (if necessary) recover "lost" data and claim more than 80,000 successful recoveries to their credit. There's even a remote recovery service available via an Internet or modem connection. In a matter of hours, a recovery specialist can retrieve inaccessible data, even if your system can't boot. Ontrack has offices in the Los Angeles, Washington, DC and New York metropolitan areas. Visit www.ontrack.com or call (800) 872-2599. The Web site has a helpful "Data Recovery Wizard" that can quickly point you to the right solution for your data loss situation. Emergency, weekend and priority services are also available.
Disk Doctors, with full-service labs in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Princeton (NJ), San Diego and San Jose, CA, has been providing data recovery services since 1991. Disk Doctors offers a "no recovery/no charge" policy with free evaluations and a free phone consultation. Visit www.diskdoctors.com or call (800) 347-5377.
ESS Data Recovery uses advanced equipment and techniques to repair and recover data from hundreds of different data loss situations, including hard drive failure, tampering and the always-popular coffee and soda spills. The evaluation fee is $62.50. Expect to pay about $100 per hour for standard service. ESS says its average tab is about $740. Visit www.savemyfiles.com or call (800) 237-4200. ESS is based in Highland, IL.
ActionFront Data Recovery Labs offers a full range of recovery services for all media, including hard drives, servers, tapes, disks and others. ActionFront has a "no data/no charge" policy, no evaluation fee and four full-service labs in Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto and Santa Clara, CA. A team of 45 engineers, technicians, researchers and customer service reps help recover your data as completely and economically as possible. ActionFront has been around since 1989. Visit www.actionfront.com or call (800) 475-0158.
Independent Technology Service (ITS), in Simi Valley, CA, has been involved in computer data recovery since 1980 and can handle data loss due to all kinds of problems. ITS offers flat-rate pricing, based on the capacity of the hard drive, starting at $250. There is no evaluation fee. Call (800) 342-3475 or visit www.datarecoveryspecialist.com.
Data Recovery Net has 18 years experience in hard drive repair and data recovery, and offers recovery services for data loss caused by power surges and outages, static electricity, lightning strikes, fires, floods, other natural disasters, sabotage, viruses, equipment malfunctions, accidents and user error. Call (888) 339-3412 or visit www.datarecoverynet.com.
If your computer crashes, know your options for data recovery.
Data loss is an event we usually don't think will ever happen, but data recovery is something to educate yourself on, lest it negatively effect, or even destroy, your business. People may never have an auto accident, but they usually buy insurance. The same thing goes with your computer data. You should buy “insurance” for your data recovery in accordance to your needs. The value of the data will determine how ...
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