| Flash drives are an inexpensive and effective data | | | | and it's components as much as possible. Your flash |
| storage solution for people who want to store data | | | | drive is no exception. Taking care in its handling and |
| somewhere other than their computer hard drive, | | | | making sure it is well packaged and protected when |
| usually for purposes of portability or data backup. | | | | you move it from one location to another will help to |
| Whether your flash drive has suffered some form of | | | | maintain the integrity of your data. Some forms of |
| physical damage, or has a software problem, there | | | | physical damage such as fire or flooding are difficult to |
| are steps you can take to recover your data. | | | | protect against, but thankfully they happen much less |
| If you have a flash drive that is physically damaged, | | | | frequently. |
| you will likely get an error message such as "USB | | | | What You Can Do About Data Loss |
| device not recognized" or "Please insert removable | | | | - If you have a physical problem with the flash drive, |
| disk" when you try to access it through your computer. | | | | do not try to use data recovery software to retrieve |
| If you're asking yourself how you could have possibly | | | | the files.If the drive is damaged physically, data |
| damaged your drive, read on for some common | | | | recovery software will not address the problem and is |
| causes of data loss that are typically quite preventable. | | | | very likely to make matters worse. The more you use |
| Causes of Data Loss | | | | a damaged drive, the more likely it is that your files will |
| - Virus attacks. Computer viruses are extremely | | | | be overwritten, making them unrecoverable. Your best |
| common and easy to pick up. Even with the best | | | | bet in case of physical damage is to take the device |
| anti-virus software out there today, it's still possible to | | | | to a data recovery specialist who can retrieve the |
| pick up a computer virus on occasion. | | | | data on the drive for you. You may find do-it-yourself |
| - Accidentally deleted files. It's very frustrating when it | | | | instructions online to try to recover your own data, but |
| happens, but most of us have deleted files accidentally | | | | doing so will further compromise the data in question |
| in the past and we likely will again. Fortunately, these | | | | and is not recommended. |
| files can usually be recovered with the help of a | | | | - If you have a software problem, there are a number |
| professional. | | | | of data recovery software programs that can |
| - Lost or forgotten passwords for password | | | | help.These programs can help recover your data in |
| protected areas of the drive. Another extremely | | | | case of loss due to accidental deletion, incorrectly |
| frustrating experience, this one can and does happen. | | | | formatted or corrupted flash drive, logical problems |
| Of course, you should always write down your | | | | with the drive, or virus infection. Be careful in choosing |
| passwords and keep them in a secure place, but | | | | a program, there are many of them out there and |
| inaccessibility of data can often be caused by an | | | | generally speaking, you get what you pay for. If your |
| incorrectly recorded or recently changed password. | | | | data is very important or sensitive, it may well be |
| - Power surges or outages. It's highly recommended to | | | | worth taking the drive to a data recovery specialist to |
| protect your electronics (including your computer!) from | | | | give yourself the best chance of retrieving your |
| power surges and outages. This can cause irreparable | | | | information. |
| damage and make data recovery very difficult. | | | | - Back up your files regularly. The best thing you can |
| - Physical damage due temperature extremes. If your | | | | do for the protection of your data and your peace of |
| computer is exposed to very high or low | | | | mind is to back up your files on a regular basis. The |
| temperatures, this can cause physical damage to its | | | | frequency of backup depends on how often you add |
| components. Always keep your computer in a cool, | | | | new files and the sensitivity and importance of the |
| dry environment and consider using a dehumidifier to | | | | information. Preventing file loss by having adequate |
| minimize the humidity in the room. | | | | backup is definitely preferable to trying to recover your |
| - Physical damage due to fire, water or impact. It goes | | | | information once it has been lost. |
| without saying that you should protect you computer | | | | |