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A Quick Comparison between Physical and Logical Data Recovery for Hard Drive / Media Drive
Multiple users are still confused about physical and logical data recovery for hard disk drive (HDD). Thus, in this article, we’ll throw out a quick comparison of them.
Hard drive can be subject to both physical and logical data losses. And different kinds of data losses should be dealt with different types of data recovery means. Maybe you are still unclear about the two kinds. Don't worry. In the followings, I'll unveil them in detail.
Physical vs. Logical Data Loss
When it comes to data recovery, it is necessary first to mention data loss. Thus, in this section, we will expose the differences of physical and logical data losses in 2 aspects – causes and symptoms.
1. Causes
Physical data losses commonly occur due to physical damage to the hard drive, such as head crashes, spindle seizure, printed circuit board corruption and so on. Such damage generally results from an abnormal environment, drop, impact or water, fire, age, etc.
Yet, in contrast, logical data losses are different. It usually occurs due to human errors, like mistaken file deletion, partition failure, partition deletion or corruption, accidental formatting, virus infection, etc.
2. Symptoms
In the event of physical data losses, you’ll find some mechanical issues involving the hard drive in general. For example, you could hear a clicking, whirring, or other grinding noises from the hard drive or the hard drive is powerless due to a power failure.
Yet, if the drive is an internal one in a computer, the computer may fail to boot up as expected in case of logical data losses. Or files may be lost or corrupt, like Outlook PST corruption, user documents folder, etc. If the drive is a member in RAID, the RAID array may be offline.
Physical vs. Logical Data Recovery
After exploring the physical and logical data loss, we’ll further probe into corresponding data recovery.
1. Method
Provided that you are subject to physical data loss, you should attempt physical data recovery. Such data recovery mainly involves component replacement, reconstructing traces, platter transplant, and so a cleanroom required for the operation with specialized tools and professional experience. Or else the drive will suffer further damage.
On the contrary, logical data recovery is much easy to perform. It usually includes the deletion of a virus, program restoration, file system repair and partition recovery, etc., without surgical intervention but only if the recoverable area is not physically damaged and accessible.
2. Price
Based on the different recovery methods, physical data recovery is much more complicated and stricter in many respects than logical recovery. Thus, it’s sure that physical data recovery is more expensive than a logical one.
We will start with a logical analysis first and progress to physical.
The estimated price range for the recovery are as follow:
Logical Recovery:
USB / Flash memory or a small Hard Drive $200 - $600
Big Hard Drive $500 - $1000
Hard Drive in a Raid formation $1200 - $2000
Physical Recovery:
USB / Flash memory or a small Hard Drive $600 - $1200
Big Hard Drive $1200 - $1800
Hard Drive in a Raid formation $2000 - $6000
Logical recovery require the expertise of the data specialist.
Physical recovery require the expertise of the data specialist and electronics specialist.
When it comes to data recovery, it is necessary first to mention data loss. Thus, in this section, we will expose the differences of physical and logical data losses in 2 aspects – causes and symptoms.
1. Causes
Physical data losses commonly occur due to physical damage to the hard drive, such as head crashes, spindle seizure, printed circuit board corruption and so on. Such damage generally results from an abnormal environment, drop, impact or water, fire, age, etc.
Yet, in contrast, logical data losses are different. It usually occurs due to human errors, like mistaken file deletion, partition failure, partition deletion or corruption, accidental formatting, virus infection, etc.
2. Symptoms
In the event of physical data losses, you’ll find some mechanical issues involving the hard drive in general. For example, you could hear a clicking, whirring, or other grinding noises from the hard drive or the hard drive is powerless due to a power failure.
Yet, if the drive is an internal one in a computer, the computer may fail to boot up as expected in case of logical data losses. Or files may be lost or corrupt, like Outlook PST corruption, user documents folder, etc. If the drive is a member in RAID, the RAID array may be offline.
Physical vs. Logical Data Recovery
After exploring the physical and logical data loss, we’ll further probe into corresponding data recovery.
1. Method
Provided that you are subject to physical data loss, you should attempt physical data recovery. Such data recovery mainly involves component replacement, reconstructing traces, platter transplant, and so a cleanroom required for the operation with specialized tools and professional experience. Or else the drive will suffer further damage.
On the contrary, logical data recovery is much easy to perform. It usually includes the deletion of a virus, program restoration, file system repair and partition recovery, etc., without surgical intervention but only if the recoverable area is not physically damaged and accessible.
2. Price
Based on the different recovery methods, physical data recovery is much more complicated and stricter in many respects than logical recovery. Thus, it’s sure that physical data recovery is more expensive than a logical one.
We will start with a logical analysis first and progress to physical.
The estimated price range for the recovery are as follow:
Logical Recovery:
USB / Flash memory or a small Hard Drive $200 - $600
Big Hard Drive $500 - $1000
Hard Drive in a Raid formation $1200 - $2000
Physical Recovery:
USB / Flash memory or a small Hard Drive $600 - $1200
Big Hard Drive $1200 - $1800
Hard Drive in a Raid formation $2000 - $6000
Logical recovery require the expertise of the data specialist.
Physical recovery require the expertise of the data specialist and electronics specialist.
