If you are one of the people whose computer was lost to the recent Sunrise Propane explosion in Toronto, don’t give up.
Experts have retrieved vital data from computers in the most unlikely of situations.
Kroll Ontrack--the world’s leading data recovery company--is offering free data recovery evaluations for laptop and desktop computers affected in the devastating explosion. This offer is free, it’s real and it’s available to the thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes due to the blast—but only until the end of this month.
It’s a good news day when you don’t have to write-off that sales report you spent weeks on, or say goodbye to the novel you were writing until checking out what Kroll Ontrack can do.
Irreplaceable and sentimental photos, and even videos, music, tax forms, contact lists and passwords are possibilities for retrieval.
This is no time for friends to lecture computer owners embarrassed because they never took the time to create information backup.
Human nature and statistics show that the lion’s share of the 99% of information now stored electronically is not backed up.
The old adage of “Better late than never” works in the data backup world.
“Damage to personal property from the Toronto explosion has been devastating,” says John Riddell, head of operations for Kroll Ontrack Canada. “While most possessions can be replaced and are usually covered by insurance, the same cannot be said for digital data.”
The good news is that the majority of digital data can be recovered, even when computers have been smoke-damaged or power-affected. It’s possible with the help of data recovery software and other services.
Riddell says, “Never assume that data is unrecoverable, no matter what it has been through.”
Here are a few pointers for propane explosion victims who may now be contemplating what to do with damaged computers.
“Do not shake, disassemble or attempt to clean any hard drive or server that appears to have been damaged.”
Improper handling can make recovery operations more difficult, which can lead to valuable information being lost forever.
“Never attempt to dry water-damaged media by opening it or exposing it to heat—such as that from a hairdryer.
“Tempting as it may be, do not attempt to operate visible damaged devices.
“No matter what you have heard, do not attempt to freeze-dry media.
“Do not use common software utility programs on broken or water-damaged devices.”
Even in calamity free times, if you are dealing with large servers, make sure they have adequate air conditioning. Increases in computer processor speed have resulted in more power requirements, which in turn require better cooling—especially important during the summer months.
Capricious storms during the summer of 2008 may prove that it’s time to invest in some form of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which uses batteries to keep computers running during power outages. UPS systems also help manage an orderly shutdown of the computer. Unexpected shutdowns from power surge problems can also cause data loss.
Power outages are year-round in Canada where winters are long.
Kroll Ontrack has made its reputation as the go-to company when computers go on the fritz, providing technology-driven services and software to help recover, search, analyze and produce data efficiently and cost-effectively.
Easing the frustrations of computer mishaps, Kroll Ontrack bridges the gap between technical and business professionals.
(Remembering Kroll’s generosity to Toronto’s propane explosion victims, Canada Free Press is keeping their number for the next CFP downtime disaster!)
Kroll Ontrack services a clientele base that goes full spectrum across the legal, government, corporate and financial markets around the world. But this is also a company sympathetic to the so-called computer illiterates among us, and one that is just as comfortable walking a frustrated grandmother through emailing photos of her grandchildren overseas as it is in taking a seat at the corporate boardroom table.
In addition to its award-winning suite of software, Kroll Ontrack proudly earned its reputation for providing data recovery, electronic discovery and computer forensics services.
Kroll Ontrack is the in-demand technology arm of Kroll Inc., the global risk consulting company.
No matter what you lost in the Sunrise Propane explosion, you may be able to salvage memories of family celebrations and even that company report you were hoping would lead to promotion.
For more information on this free offer, consumers can contact Kroll Ontrack at 1-800-510-0888, or visit them online at
ontrackdatarecovery.ca.
Judi McLeod——
Bio and Archives
-- Judi McLeod, Founder, Owner and Editor of Canada Free Press, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in the print and online media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared throughout the ‘Net, including on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.
