If your drive suddenly stops responding or realise you can no longer access some data, following the steps below could increase the chances of you getting the information back

1. If your drive is making noises that are unusual such as clicking or grinding, switch your system off as soon as you can. DON'T TRY TO RESTART IT!

2. If the data has disappeared, don't write anything else to it, as it may overwrite the data you need to recover.

3. Don't use the internet as even browsing causes the system to write temporary file to a hard drive.

We always fear the worst when something goes wrong, but when it comes our data storage, it may be easier than you think to get that data back.

HARD DRIVES
You may just have a loose power or data cable. This is not uncommon if your system has been moved recently.

CDS/DVDS
Try cleaning with a non abrasive solution. If the disc is scratched there are motorised disc cleaning tools available that do a very good job.

FLOPPY DISKS
When the discs have not been used for some time, the cover which is pulled back by the drive can stick. Just wiggle it side to side with your fingers until it moves freely.