There are about as many ways to perform data recovery as there are files and systems in the computing world.

The most important thing to know when it comes to data recovery is how to prevent ever needing to perform it. Having a separate backup for critical data is vital and there are many ways to go about doing this. The easiest way is to simply save data to an external device, such as a tape drive. You can perform the same function with a CD-R drive and burn your data to a CD whenever necessary. On the other end of the spectrum are the software and hardware solutions specifically geared toward keeping your data secure and always available. Many of the companies that offer data recovery services also provide software tools that will assist you in backing up data on your system, keeping it free from virus attacks, accidental deletion or other system failures. The type of backup system you need will depend upon the criticality of your data. Of course, it may not seem critical until its gone, so at the very least, it is a good idea to save a copy of things like your