Physical damage can afflict storage media in a variety of fashions. For one thing, a compact disc storing pertinent data can be affected by having one of its layers or its metallic substrate scraped off of it. Hard drive disks often experience mechanical failures, such as failed motors or head crashes. Quite often, tapes simply break down.
The problem with physical damage is that it always causes the loss of at least some – if not all data on the storage device. Sometimes the system’s logical structures can be seriously damaged as well. Logical damage must be dealt with immediately in order for any data recovery to occur.
If physical damage has occurred to your operating system, chances are great that you will not be able to repair it on your own. Data recovery from physical damage must be performed by a trained professional. There are a number of professional companies out there who specialize in data recovery resulting from physical damage. Unless you are a professional engineer with a significant degree of technical expertise, it is recommended that you leave this job to professionals. Sure, it is often very expensive, but you must decide whether your data is worth it or not.
Typically, data recovery companies utilize Class 100 cleanroom facilities to protect the operating system while the data recovery process is being undergone. Raw images are extracted in this process, which are then utilized in the reconstruction of usable data after the repair of logical damage has been completed. Then, some files may be available for use – but quite often, some files are lost as a result of physical damage.
Okay, so there have been some reports of users getting their data off their damaged operating systems themselves by using some pretty bizarre methods, including literally freezing the drive (in their freezers) or spinning it around on the ground. But again, you will have much better luck using the skills of a professional, rather than “gambling” in this fashion.
Keep in mind that by opening up your operating system and attempting to recover the data manually, you will almost certainly void the warranty offered by your operating system’s manufacturer. If you are an amateur, then it is best to keep in mind those words you likely learned as a child: Don’t try this at home, kids!