What Not to do on Losing Data

It seems terrible, inexplicable, and you want to do something about it immediately though you may not be quite sure as to what. Well, there are a lot of things you can do to get your data back, but there are a whole host of things you should not do, if you want to see those files intact again.

Physically Speaking

The urgency of the situation will depend on the type of file and the volume of data lost. If the computer is not starting up at all, it is an ominous sign, and might have lost all your data. However, we are dealing only with partial loss of data now. Below are a few guidelines that you should follow about the physical handling of your hardware.

• If you cannot find some important files and the screen keeps freezing or the machine keeps hanging, do not try to do anything at all. Simply switch off from the electric supply or pull out the plug.


• Do not panic. Most mistakes are made by people who lose their cool in the face of danger and become butter fingered, deleting more data and generally messing up further in their dilemma.


• Do not insert a CD, DVD, USB drive or portable hard drive at that time. If something is attached, close it, and take it out by using the safe removal option.


• Do not try to use peripherals such as webcam, printer or scanner for the time being. Maybe it is not related, but why take a chance?


• Do not thump or hit the machine to get it working better. It may sound unbelievable, but a lot of people actually do it, usually with disastrous results.


• Do not attempt to take out the hard disk and see what has gone wrong. Never try to take it out of its protective casing.


• If a CD or DVD is simultaneously stuck inside, and the missing programme is for the drive, do not try to pry out the disk with sharp objects.


• Do not try to run the machine through the UPS.


• Incredibly, sometimes when people notice data loss from an overheated machine, they put the hard disk in the refrigerator. Please do not try this. It may cool the drive under some circumstances, but it will not work normally.

Being Logical

There are a lot of donts where handling the software is concerned too. In fact, you need to be all the more careful in this regard since it is a software related issue.

• Do not open new programmes, and close the ones that are already running after saving your current settings/changes. If the screen keeps freezing or the machine keeps hanging, you need to steel yourself for losing a bit of your work for the sake of the overall data. If the programmes are not responding even when you try the end task option, just shut down the machine, and if that does not work, pull the plug.


• Do not try to surf the net, and try to disconnect. Close any site that is taking a long time to open. Do not follow any links.


• Do not click on any pop ups.


• Do not download any files from anywhere. Do not open online music or video clips, even for viewing. Do not save them even as temporary folders.


• Do not try to burn or play a disk.


• Do not download recovery software on to your disk. You may overwrite the files.


• Do not run a de-fragmentation immediately. Do not try to use any of the inbuilt disk cleanup utilities by the OS. These are otherwise helpful, but you are in a delicate position now. These may end up messing your system farther by scattering the FAT locations of the files you cant locate.


• You may check the recycle bin and other partitions, and even run a search. But do not try any of these if you notice files disappearing randomly it means your machine is under attack by a virus.


• Do not try to run your machine on DOS prompts. Do not try to access the settings or registry files in any way. These are classic cases where a bit of computer literacy has goofed things up further instead of helping in any way.