Like any computer, a laptop can fail from time to time. This may be based on something that has happened to it or simply because of general wear and tear and usage over time. If your laptop does develop a problem with a key component such as its hard drive, for example, then you may not be able to use it to get at the data and files that it contains.

If this happens and you aren't technically experienced enough to sort out the problem for yourself then you will probably need to find a computer technician who can diagnose the problem and sort it out for you. There are many different problems that can occur here to cause data loss and system failure. These include:

#1 Accidental damage: if you drop your laptop or spill water on it then its key parts may suffer damage and could stop working properly. One of the great advantages of using a laptop is that these machines are light and easy to carry around. The problem with this element of portability is the fact that they are therefore more open to accidental damage than a desktop computer a lot of the time.

#2 Virus infection: virus infection can cause serious problems to any computer including a laptop. The problem with virus and other related infections is that they can effectively disable your laptop so that you cannot work on it. So, you effectively lose access to your data. This kind of situation may need expert help to help you recover the information on your laptop.

#3 Component failure: sometimes key parts inside your laptop will simply fail for no reason. Or, as an alternative they may simply start to suffer from wear and tear over time. Sometimes you'll get an early warning sign here such as a noisy drive or unusual sounds and sometimes you won't know what is happening until you have a problem.

#4 Software failure: certain parts of your laptop such as the hard disk may have some software on them that allows them to communicate with your machine as a whole. If you develop a problem in this software then your laptop cannot communicate with your disk or drive to physically make your laptop work/access your data.

#5 Power problems: sometimes a power spike or a simple trip of a wire can cause laptop problems. A sudden surge or cut in power can prevent certain key components from operating correctly within your laptop casing which can simply mean that you cannot use it to do anything.

In most cases you will find that computer technicians and data recovery firms will be able to work out what your problem is. They should also be able to fix most regular issues with a view to getting your data back and restoring your laptop to good working order. Do bear in mind that having a go at fixing this kind of stuff yourself may actually cause more damage so don't attempt this unless you are sure of what you are doing.