Losing Memories Due to Data Loss

In the old world of analogue photography, there probably weren’t a million possibilities in the end result, but somehow unless pictures faded with time, it wasn’t easy to lose them. Now, digital photography is exciting and magical but alas data can also disappear magically.

Most amateur users of digital cameras are excited about the easy use and instant results of digital photography. Many users capture precious moments but do not bother with suitable backup. Imagine losing pictures which were the only ones you have of your fabulous world tour or the birth of a child. It can be quite heart breaking to lose digital cameras due to some error that has caused data loss.

Recovering Moments

Most amateurs are not aware that most kind of lost data is recoverable. Unless physical damage is so extensive that even the best professionals cannot help, data can be recovered. However, considering that it is a painstaking process it does not come cheap.

Sometimes we find that because of lost data we have lost wedding pictures, pictures from school, pictures of children over the years, a family re-union pictures etc. Amongst the lost pictures could be every day candid moments, pictures of scenery we don’t recall, pictures of people we don’t really know or remember.

Since data recovery is an expensive process, it is best to make a list of the pictures that you absolutely cannot lose. The rest doesn’t matter. Your wedding pictures absolutely need to be recovered unless you’ve long since been divorced and want no reminders. It would be a pity to lose carefully accumulated pictures of the children over the years. Those can never be relived and therefore definitely need to be recovered. One can always revisit a place but revisiting moments happens only through pictures. If a picture is your only souvenir of a great moment, recover it.

Professional or DIY

There are some people who are fairly adept and knowledgeable about data loss and digital photography and they may be able to use software to recover pictures themselves. That is however, an exception. Data recovery is not a simple process and needs to be done in very precise environs. Accidents that happen during the recovery process could well mean permanent loss of data. Therefore, the average user is well advised to hand over recovery to professionals. It will be expensive but if the data is valuable it is better to bear the expense than lose the data.

Not all professionals are exorbitantly expensive and one can look around for a recovery service that is fairly reasonable and professional. In fact if the problem is fairly simple, there may be smaller establishments who will recover data at nominal prices. However, make sure you do a bit of homework before you decide who to give the job to. Ask friends to recommend someone they have got pictures recovered from or ask a company to show you some of the work they’ve done. It may seem fussy to an outsider but your pictures are precious and worth the extra effort.

Better Safe than Sorry

While data recovery is possible, it is long drawn and expensive. It is therefore better to take a few precautions to prevent data loss. Even if it seems tedious, it makes sense to take regular backups of all the digital photographs that you have stored. Transferring pictures to a CD will ensure that even if the primary storage device is damaged, you have a backup.

However, CDs are not very hardy and susceptible to scratches and rough handling so make sure they are stored safely. You can also transfer pictures to your computer or even store them using online backup options.

A basic precaution to take when using digital equipment is to keep it in a clean and cool environment. Make sure that the camera is kept away from edibles and liquids. If you are carrying your camera when trekking, make sure it is well cushioned and protected.

If you drop a digital camera, do not try to rattle or shake it back to working condition. Doing this can worsen the condition and damage data completely. Instead wait to get to the nearest professional to inspect the damage.

Pictures are a legacy we leave behind so losing them can be heart rending. As long as we don’t try to meddle with the damaged source, there is always the possibility of recovery.

About the Author

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. For more information on computer crime and Computer Forensics see http://www.fieldsassociates.co.uk