Hard drive partition recovery means you're here to resurrect a partition, so that you can get to your files. But, make a mistake, and you can kiss your data goodbye.

To make matters worse, the hard drive partition recovery process usually starts by compounding the problem. How? Computer users invariably reboot the system several times, hoping that the files or partitions that are missing will suddenly reappear, like magic.

I'm Guilty 

Let me be the first person to raise my hand high, admitting I too have deleted and over-written a partition or two in my life that I have loved dearly. More importantly for you, I have recovered them, and countless others for customers during the past two decades, using a hard drive partition recovery tool and other techniques. I know exactly what to do, and just as important, what not to do, to make sure you have the best probability to recover your partitions, your data.

A hard drive partition recovery tool will not do you any good, if you make a 'grave' mistake beforehand. So, the first order of business is, to shut off the problem computer you plan to service with hard drive partition recovery software. Why?

The file system may have designated the partitions you want to recover as unused space on the storage device. So, every time the computer moves, this area can be filled with new data, which will destroy the data you are trying to recover. In tech terms, the space on your frive where the partitions lie can destroyed if the computer interacts with the file system, which means no matter how many hard drive partition recovery utilities you use, your data is not coming back. So, stop using the computer now.

Don't Click That "Yes" Button 

The next important point to know about a hard drive partition recovery utility is the infamous booting button. Once partitions are repaired or recovered, most hard disk partition recovery programs ask you to restart your computer. Don't do it. Here's why? When there is file system corruption, data can be and probably will be destroyed indefinitely during the booting process. The best method to recover your partitions and data is: exit the hard drive partition recovery tool, and then copy your data to another drive that is working properly.

Every time I mention the previous paragraph, I can hear a lot of technicians complaining in chorus, 'But that's why I am using hard drive partition recovery software, instead of a data recovery tool'; 'I don't have a second drive to recover my data'; 'I don't want to loose all my great software by reinstalling my O/S'; or, 'I don't have time to install the entire operating system, and then copy the data over'. Remember, the purpose of using a hard drive partition recovery software is just as it sounds: To recover partitions so that you can use your data again. It is not a substitution for file recovery software, thinking that you can be up and running in no time. Think safety first.

Now That My Lecture Is Over 

Start by downloading several hard drive partition recovery tools, and see which one gives you the best results. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can use a file recovery utility to directly recover the data. As a last resort, consult a few companies for data recovery services, which can be found with the service area. My final recommendation: The best hard drive partition recovery advice you will ever receive is to have that backup in hand before taking that short-cut.