1. Installing recovery software
Installing it, or saving files to the same drive, can write over what you want to recover. If the drive is physically damaged, the software makes it read the damaged areas again and again, which speeds up the failure.
2. Powering on a drive that makes noise
Clicks or squeals usually point to a mechanical fault, and every power-on can further damage the surface where the data is stored.
3. Opening the drive
Inside, it works to tolerances of nanometres: a speck of dust is enough to scratch the surface. It is only opened in a controlled environment.
4. Accepting "format" or "repair"
When the system offers to format or repair the drive, that action rewrites the structures that record where each file is.
5. Swapping the drive's board for an identical one
Each board holds information specific to its own drive, so an identical board from another drive does not work and can make the damage worse.
6. Rebuilding a RAID or moving drives around
A rebuild attempt, or a drive reinserted in a different position, can erase the array's configuration.
7. Drying a wet device with heat or in rice
The right thing is to dry the outside with paper towel, without rubbing, put it in a closed bag and bring it in immediately.
What to do instead
Stop using the device, switch it off, do not open it and contact us. If it is ransomware, do not switch it off: disconnect it from the network and leave it on.
Is your device failing?
A technical evaluation tells you what can be recovered before the damage goes any further.