EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDE

Quick response guides for common digital emergencies

1 Contain / 2 Recover / 3 Prevent

1 Contain

Stop the damage immediately

  1. Stop using the affected drive: Do not save new files to it. Deleted files are not truly gone until they are overwritten.
  2. Check Recycle Bin/Trash first: Also check cloud storage trash and version history (Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive all have these).
  3. Determine the failure type: Physical failure means clicking or grinding noises, or the drive is not recognized. Accidental deletion is a software problem. This determines your recovery approach.
  4. For physical failure, power down immediately: Continued operation causes further damage to the platters or flash cells.
  5. Do NOT reformat if prompted: If your computer asks you to format the drive, decline. Reformatting can wipe remaining recoverable data.

2 Recover

Get back to normal

  1. For accidental deletion: Try data recovery software (Recuva, Disk Drill, PhotoRec). Install the software on a different drive and recover files to a different drive.
  2. For physical drive failure with critical data: Go directly to professional data recovery (DriveSavers, Ontrack). Do not attempt DIY on failing drives. Expect $300 to $3,000+.
  3. Check all backup sources: Time Machine, File History, cloud sync services, email attachments, other devices. Photos may still be in iCloud or Google Photos even if the local copy is gone.
  4. For corrupted file systems: Try chkdsk (Windows) or Disk Utility First Aid (Mac) only after attempting recovery software first.
  5. For cloud storage deletion: Check the service’s version history and recovery options. Most keep deleted files for 30 to 90 days.

3 Prevent

Stop it from happening again

  • Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offsite or offline.
  • Enable automatic cloud backup for critical folders.
  • Use Time Machine (Mac) or File History (Windows) for continuous local backup.
  • Monitor drive health with tools like CrystalDiskInfo and replace drives showing warnings.
  • Test your backups periodically to make sure they actually work.

Key Contacts

Outside the United States? View international reporting resources

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