Typically, when people lose data and need hard drive file recovery, they will surrender the data to the abyss, thinking that they will never retrieve it. Depending on the data importance versus cost, this may indeed be the case. But readying yourself for an inevitable hard drive failure is easier than you think, and these 10 tips are a excellent way to be ready.

1. Get a virus protection program (many are available for free), and at the very least, enable your Windows firewall.

2. Don't defragment your hard drives if there is a missing file that you want to retrieve. You should consider software for data recovery first. This will to increase the likelihood that you will be able to recover your deleted data.

3. Programs like chkdsk, Norton Disk Doctor, or scandisk are not going to help you retrieve your files. The fact is that they could greatly reduce your ability to recover data from your hard drive.

4. If your PC will not boot up in normal Windows mode, see if it can boot up in "Safe" mode. If it does, consider uninstalling any recent programs you may have acquired. If after doing this you can boot again, you may have solved the problem. Try using "System Restore", but understand that this may actually harm, and not help your situation.

5. Before purchasing software for data recovery, research and make sure that you are aware of exactly the kind of data that it will recover. You need to know what data needs to be retrieved and then search for the software that is going to get the job done. This will save you time and money.

6. Get to know your computer's file system, as this is going to help you find the correct software for your process. Also, you should know what your laptop's file system is if you are trying to recover the data on your portable computer.

7. Want to make data recovery a non-issue? Backup all critical data at regularly scheduled times. Weekly is good, but daily is better.

8. Backup is not a complete and 100% solution, as it will miss some recently changed files. Still, it's better than doing nothing.

9. If you have a crash while you are working on something, you shouldn't try saving the data since this could make you lose any data which was saved previously.

10. If you intend to go to an expert for Hard Drive File Recovery, be sure you have all the important details at hand. An experienced data recovery technician will ask you several questions over the phone to better determine the diagnosis.

No one wants to find themselves with a hard drive failure, but these things do happen everyday. Being prepared for these events will save you time and money. The best kind of hard drive file recovery is the kind you were ready for and did yourself.

As in any situation, being prepared is always your best bet.