A hard drive is a critical component of a computer system, providing permanent storage for digital data. It is a complex device made up of several key components, each of which plays a specific role in the overall functionality of the drive. This white paper will examine the anatomy of a hard drive, identifying and discussing the physical components and their functions. Physical Components of a Hard Drive: Head Actuator Assembly: The head actuator assembly is responsible for moving the read/write head over the disk surface. It is composed of an actuator arm, an actuator voice coil, and a magne ..read more

Challenges and Complications RAID 5 arrays are a popular choice for data storage because they provide high data availability and protection against disk failures. However, when a RAID 5 array fails, recovering the data can be a complex and challenging process. In this white paper, we’ll discuss the difficulties and complications involved in recovering data from a failed RAID 5 array. Determining the Cause of the Failure The first step in recovering data from a failed RAID 5 array is to determine the cause of the failure. This can be difficult because RAID 5 arrays can fail for a variety of rea ..read more

In today’s day and age computers and higher education are more common aspects of life than ever before. Whether it is community college, trade schools, or traditional four-year colleges and universities, people have been attending higher education facilities in record numbers, particularly among the Millennial and Gen-Z generations. Since 1996, there has been a savings plan that is designed to help parents, guardians, and others put money aside to help pay for future education. The plan is called a 529 Plan, in reference to its guidelines as explained in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Co ..read more

Recently, a Carolina Data Recovery client went through the rare and unfortunate events of a break-in. Their business, located in a business park, was vandalized, and forcibly entered. Thankfully, the break-in occurred when no one was actively working in the office. The perpetrators, attempted to cover their tracks, decided to take our client’s computers and flood them with water. They ripped all drives out of the computers (RAID Unit), dropped them in sinks, and ran the tap overnight. They had mistakenly assumed that these computers had the surveillance data. Instead, they almost destroyed ..read more

As fall draws near, we’d like to reflect on some of the fun we had in the summer-sun. There are few things that mean more to Carolina Data Recovery owner and founder, Ron Davis, than giving something back to the community and baseball. That’s why on June 11, 2021, we worked to help bring Friday to the Park a reality. Carolina Data Recovery, normally known for our excellent hard drive repair and data recovery services, decided to co-sponsor an outdoor, COVID-safe, family event. With food trucks a plenty, park equipment, and music. The event was intended to help create something fun for the c ..read more

The Colonial Pipeline cyber-attack has people buzzing about the scary technology at the heart of the story: Ransomware. The discussion has people raising questions about this form of Malware. What is Ransomware? How old is the Ransomware? How can Ransomware be avoided? What should someone do if their system is taken over by Ransomware? The first case of Ransomware actually comes from 1989 and was committed by Joseph Popp using floppy discs sent by mail. This early form of Ransomware worked differently than its modern descendent works today. Modern Ransomware gets into a user’s system via so ..read more

If you have an older MacBook Pro (late 2013 and mid-2014) you might find that updating your ISO to Apple’s Big Sur, also known as macOS 11, may brick your computer. Consumer Report sent out a notice mid-November letting users know of possible problems with Apple’s Big Sur update. In many cases, the update can brick your computer rendering it unusable. At Carolina Data Recovery we recover data from failed Apple Hard Drives. If you find your older MacBook Pro did not survive Apple’s Big Sur update, and you did not backup your system, then give us a call. We can recovery your valuable photo’s ..read more

What is a data recovery cleanroom? Shouldn’t the whole business be clean? Why doesn’t every small business data recovery firm have a cleanroom?  First, a cleanroom is more than just an extra-clean room. It is a room designed, ventilated, and monitored so that there are as few particles (dust, micro-organisms, and other imperceptible bits) in the room. These rooms are common in scientific and technological industries where sensitive materials are being created or worked on to guarantee a safe environment. Cleanrooms are described with the verbiage “ISO”, short for International Organiza ..read more

Photo by Bruce Mars on Unsplash Currently, more Americans are working from home more than ever before. Due to the spread of the viral infection COVID-19, morecommonly called Coronavirus, many people are having to work with technology in new ways, and many more are pushing systems to their limits. What then does someone do when their system fails and they need data recovery or hard drive repair? Anyone hoping for MacBook Pro hard drive repair from the Genius Bar is out of luck; Apple closed their doors. The Geek Squad can’t save a failed laptop right now, as Best Buy has rec ..read more

In today’s blog, we look at Ron Davis, local Charlotte data recovery expert, and his days at the forefront of data recovery. Much like a hard drive carries the varied stories of its users’ data, so too does Carolina Data Recovery keep a track of its history. Our story is one of hard work and a willingness to grow, and it is helpful in demonstrating to our customers that their data is in the best possible hands. For us, it all starts with our founder, Ron Davis.  Ron Davis found data recovery services with a bit of spontaneity. Mr. Davis was working for Eastman-Kodak in Wilmington, Ohio ..read more