FLOOD – How to recover data from your hard drive?
The entire DATABACK team is mobilized to provide you with our expertise and experience in cases where hard disks or servers have been damaged by flooding. The DATABACK laboratory has the equipment (ultrasonic baths) and procedures to enable you to recover your data and restart your business as quickly as possible.
HARD DISKS ARE NOT WATERTIGHT
Hard disks have a breather hole on the cover. This small vent allows carefully filtered air to be exchanged with the outside environment to balance pressures and regulate internal pressure.
During operation, a hard disk heats up (to 50°C), and the rise in disk temperature would increase the internal pressure if the disk were totally sealed, causing the aerodynamics of the read heads to malfunction.
Flood damage
A hard disk submerged in water for just a few seconds will not normally suffer any major damage. However, if the hard disk is submerged for a longer period of time, such as during flooding, water may seep inside the case, as it is not completely waterproof.
Disks damaged by flooding face several problems:
- electrical short circuit on the PCB
- corrosion on all components (accentuated by salt water)
- deterioration of read heads
- contamination or alteration of tray surfaces
- sludge or salt deposits on all components
- presence of moisture or water vapor inside the enclosure
OUR TIPS FOR RECOVERING YOUR DATA AFTER A FLOOD
To optimize the chances of recovering your data, it is advisable to follow a few precautions:
- DO NOT reconnect a hard disk that has been submerged in water, as this may cause further or even irreparable damage.
- DO NOT dry a hard disk that has been immersed in water: drying the media without proper cleaning will leave stains that are difficult to remove and may compromise data recovery.
- DO NOT open your hard disk
- DO NOT exchange or replace the PCB of your hard disk drive : the PCB contains unique information stored in its components which is necessary for the proper operation of your hard disk drive.
- ACT IMMEDIATELY by shipping your hard drive to a data recovery specialist the same or next day.
- CONTACT YOUR INSURER to find out if data recovery is covered.
