A lot of serious data loss issues are caused by problems with a computer's hard drive. This is a key part of any computer system and even minimal damage to a hard drive can give you problems accessing the data that it holds.

Dealing with hard drive problems is not generally something that experts recommend you try for yourself. This isn't like simply restoring a file from the Recycle Bin when you accidentally delete it. This can be a much more complex operation that requires specific skills and experience and that often needs to be carried out in a sterile environment such as a Clean Room or lab.

The main storage element of the hard drive in your computer is often referred to as the 'platter'. Damage to this area of a hard drive is often the most complicated to sort out as damage here can actually remove the data that is stored on the hard drive itself. This damage can be caused by problems with other parts of the drive or problems with a platter itself. This kind of data loss and damage really is the province of the experienced computer technician.

Another common problem area with a hard drive is with the 'arm' of the drive. Damage here could also result in more serious damage to the platter so if you are given warning signs such as a clicking noise from inside your computer then you should shut down your system as soon as you can to avoid further damage. Arm damage can often be sorted out by a data recovery expert who can use fixes to get the actual data back off the drive itself.

In some cases mechanical or physical failure of parts of your hard drive can be sorted out be taking the hard drive apart and putting the data storage areas into a new hard drive so that the data can be retrieved and accessed. This is usually best done in the afore mentioned sterile environment. If you get dust or particles into the delicate workings of a hard drive then this can, in itself, cause a lot of damage.

Hard drive problems or failure are issues that we may all come across at some point or other if we use a computer for long enough. These components have to withstand a lot of wear and tear and their operations are delicate and often open to damage. At the end of the day hard drives are not indestructible and were not meant to last forever so drive failure and malfunctions are actually relatively common.

For this reason the majority of data recovery experts recommend that you back up the data on your computer very regularly. Hard drive failure or problems will almost certainly lead to data loss and not all of your data may be retrievable. The stress and inconvenience that this may cause can be simply avoided if you have all of your data backed up.