Hard drives are super sensitive to any form of external force, and even the slightest bump can give them problems. If you’ve dropped your hard drive and it isn’t working, odds are, you should get in touch with a data recovery specialist immediately. If you want, there area few things that you can check for first before contacting a data recovery specialist.

While there are many do it yourself computer enthusiasts who make claims and draw attention by showcasing methods for reviving a failed hard drive and helping you recover your data, there is more myth than fact to many of their claims. We’ve outlined some of the top data recovery methods that we’ve heard of that don’t work and why.

What would you do if your hard drive crashed and you lost a lifetime’s worth of photos, videos, and memories – not to mention important work files, family recipes, and other irreplaceable information. Many of us would be distraught, and understandably so. Fortunately, there are ways to tell if your hard drive is about to crash, so you can avoid a life-ruining tech emergency!