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Data recovery
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, data recovery is a process of retrieving deleted, inaccessible, lost, corrupted, damaged, overwritten or formatted data from <a href="/facts/Computer_data_storage/wPHKFpdx">secondary storage</a>, <a href="/facts/Removable_media/CGJoaUF3">removable media</a> or <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">files</a>, when the data stored in them cannot be accessed in a usual way. The data is most often salvaged from storage media such as internal or external <a href="/facts/Hard_disk_drive/kekLSGSE">hard disk drives</a> (HDDs), <a href="/facts/Solid-state_drive/aMHBy8gU">solid-state drives</a> (SSDs), <a href="/facts/USB_flash_drive/Jv0qmTCF">USB flash drives</a>, <a href="/facts/Magnetic-tape_data_storage/qJUpJnk9">magnetic tapes</a>, <a href="/facts/Compact_disc/g51GRloc">CDs</a>, <a href="/facts/DVD/7fJsHJrN">DVDs</a>, <a href="/facts/RAID/IpzWWgog">RAID</a> subsystems, and other <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronic devices</a>. Recovery may be required due to physical damage to the storage devices or logical damage to the <a href="/facts/File_system/FdPm90uc">file system</a> that prevents it from being <a href="/facts/Mount_(computing)/INDgdDX9">mounted</a> by the host <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> (OS). </p><p>Logical failures occur when the hard drive devices are functional but the user or automated-OS cannot retrieve or access data stored on them. Logical failures can occur due to corruption of the engineering chip, lost partitions, firmware failure, or failures during formatting/re-installation. </p><p>Data recovery can be a very simple or technical challenge. This is why there are specific software companies specialized in this field. </p>