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Scratches on Hard Drive Platters

Can data be recovered from a scratched platter?

November 20, 2020 No Comments Uncategorized

Scratches on Hard Drive Platters.
Platters facilitate the read-write component of the hard drive; when a hard drive is communicating with the computer data is written to and read from the platters. Scratches impair the drive’s sectors hence these sectors may not be readable.

Causes of Scratched platters
1. Debris/dust causing contact between the read-write heads and the platters
2. Head misalignment which is mostly caused by knocking or kicking the drive. Head misalignment occurs when the drive has undergone a huge physical impact.


How does debris/dust get inside the drive?
1. The breathing hole of most hard drives may let dust particles inside the drive, which will then scratch the platter during the initialization process.
2. Opening the hard drive in a non-clean room environment also introduces debris on the platters.


Data recovery success rate on scratched platters depends on
1. Critical Data Size
Small files have a higher chance of being recovered provided they are not within the scratched area.
Large files however, may not be recoverable since hard drives store different fragments of the file on various places on the platter.
2. Characteristics of the Scratch
Too wide/deep scratches may render the data unrecoverable.


How to prevent scratched platters;
1. Do not open the drive in a non-clean room environment
2. Protect the drive from huge physical impacts that can cause head misalignment.
3. If the drive has clicking noises, do not power it on.

So basically, data recovery chances will depend on how severe the scratches are. if the scratches are severe, it will be impossible to recover the data since every time the heads try to read those sections, they get damaged. However, on less severe scratches, one may partially recover the data mostly in raw format.

HOW TO RECOVER RAID

HOW TO RECOVER RAID – THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE RECOVERING RAID

March 22, 2017 No Comments Uncategorized

HOW TO RECOVER RAID

RAID (redundant array of independent disks; originally redundant array of inexpensive disks) provides a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks (though not all RAID levels provide redundancy).

By placing data on multiple disks, input/output (I/O) operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increase the mean time between failures (MTBF), storing data redundantly also increases fault tolerance.

However this doesn’t mean that the RAID disks are fully fault tolerant, meaning that there is a possibility of the drives crashing. You may need to perform some data recovery incase this happens for you to get back your data

Before you can start any recovery on RAID, first consider the following factors:

  • If one of the member disks of RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 5E or RAID 0+1 is physically damaged (produces unusual sounds, e.g. clicking or repeated spin-up and spin-down sounds), don’t use this disk for recovery.
  • If you cannot avoid using a physically damaged disk, say, for RAID 0 recovery, try to create the disk image file
  • If you have a hardware RAID, you should
  • Clearly label the member disks, the cables, and the controller ports, so that the original setup can be reassembled if need be.
  • Disconnect the array member disks from the RAID controller and then attach them as separate/standalone disks to a non-RAID controller. You need to access the disks separately to be able to reconstruct RAID parameters.
  • If you plan to recover data once the RAID parameters are restored, prepare a free disk space equal to the amount of data which you are going to recover.

Once these factors are put into consideration, you can now begin recovery.

If this doesn’t work for your case or you aren’t willing to take the risk recovering on your own, you can always contact the Data Recovery Experts for professional RAID data recovery.

HOW TO RECOVER QUICKBOOKS ADMIN PASSWORD

HOW TO RECOVER QUICKBOOKS ADMIN PASSWORD

March 10, 2017 No Comments Uncategorized

HOW TO RECOVER QUICKBOOKS ADMIN PASSWORD

When using QuickBooks Desktop, you’re always signed in as a specific user. QuickBooks normally sets up an Admin account first time you install and set it up. Any other user is normally set up by the Admin. Security updates and other unforeseen circumstances may lead you to reset your password. This article guides you on how to reset your QuickBooks desktop password.

  1. If you know your Admin password and want to change it:
  • With your company file open, choose Company > Set Up Users and Passwords > Change Your Password.
  • In the Current Password field, enter your current admin password.
  • In the New Password field and the Confirm New Password field, enter your new password.

Note: If you want to leave your password blank, you must choose <select> in the Challenge Question field and the Answer field must be empty.

  • Click Ok.
  1. If you forgot your QuickBooks Admin password need to reset:

If you’ve forgotten or lost your admin password, Intuit recommends 2 solutions for this problem. The first solution may solve your problem, or you may need to try both to resolve the issue. For best results, perform the solutions in the order shown.

  1. Reset your Admin password using your challenge question
  • In the QuickBooks Desktop login screen, click I forgot my password
  • Answer the security question and click OK.
  • Click Close when you see this message:

“Your password and challenge answer and question have been removed, and your company file is no longer password-protected. When you close this window, you will be asked to create your new password and select and answer your challenge question.”

  • The Change QuickBooks Password window opens. Enter a new password and new challenge question
  • Click OK. Your will file open
  1. Reset your admin password using a reset code (access token)

Go to the QuickBooks Automated Password Reset tool to reset your Admin password.

  • From the QuickBooks version, select your version of QuickBooks Desktop.

Important: The version of QuickBooks you last opened your company file with must be installed on the computer you are using to remove and reset the password.

  • Fill in your QuickBooks license number and business info then click Submit. NOTE: All information entered must match the information in our system including email address. The email that includes the access token will be sent ONLY to that same address.
  • Accept the license and click the Download button.
  • On the next screen, click the Download Now link. IMPORTANT: Make sure if it asks you to Run or Save, you choose Save and save it to your Desktop.
  • Double-click the QBPasswordReset.exe file that was downloaded to open the tool.
  • Enter the token number you received via email into the Token Number field.
  • Select your QuickBooks version in the QuickBooks Products drop-down menu
  • Click the Browse for Company File button and select the company file that you want to reset the password on.

Note: if you are resetting the password for an Accountant’s Copy working file (.QBA), you will need to type *.* in the file name box and press Enter. This will allow you to see and select .QBA files.

  • Enter your new password in the New Password and Confirm Password fields.
  • Click the Reset Password button

You should now be able to open QuickBooks and login to your company file using the new password you just set. The QuickBooks Password Reset.exe file cannot be used again without completing the verification form again. To reset the password on another QuickBooks company file, you must return to the link in step 1 and complete the process again.

If you are unable to change or reset your QuickBooks following the above outlined steps, you can contact the Data Recovery Experts for advanced and professional assistance.

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