Data loss is surprisingly common, usually caused by human error, component failure or viral attacks.

However, in nearly all of these cases, recovery of lost data should be possible. Only in the most severe cases of physical hard drive damage, magnetic degradation or file over-write will the data be unrecoverable.

What You Should Do

If you have accidentally deleted an important file, or your hard drive is showing symptoms of impending failure , do not continue to use your computer! The longer you keep using it, the less likely it is that data recovery will be successful. Shut the computer down and seek help.

Remember that your hard drive contains all of your personal data, much of which cannot be replaced if it is lost. It is vital to ensure that you are prepared for the chance of a hard disc failure. This involves taking regular backups of your data and being able to recover data should your drive fail.

Prices for data recovery will vary depending on how difficult the recovery is. An easy job will cost as litle as £35, but a recovery requiring a specialist may top £100.