Cheap Data Recovery
Computer hard drives are all susceptible to failure, and if a computer owner doesn't take steps to back up important files, photos and documents, then a hard drive crashing means they have to pay extra to recover the lost data. Some cheaper data recovery services can do this for less than $100 (as of January 2011).
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Background
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Computer hard drives generally fail for one of two reasons: either a logical failure or a mechanical failure. In a logical failure, data was lost because the file system is corrupt or it was accidentally formatted. In a mechanical failure, the drive's physical components are damaged, preventing it from operating correctly. In both cases, data can usually be recovered.
Mechanical Failure
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If the hard drive has been seriously damaged, it will most likely require a professional data recovery service. As of 2011, these services ranged in price between $500 and $2,500.
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Logical Failure
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According to "Popular Mechanics," a user with a hard drive that has suffered logical failure can often recover their data less expensively than with professional services. A user can remove the failed hard drive from its computer, connect it to another fully operating computer using a universal serial bus (USB) drive adapter, and run a diagnostic tool to scan the drive and find out what is recoverable. Software to recover the data cost between $40 and $199, as of 2011.
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