Data loss can happen due to human and technical errors, natural disasters or even terrorist attacks. Statistics reveal that hardware malfunction is the single biggest cause, accounting for about 44% of all data loss. User error accounts for 32% of all data loss, software corruption – 14%, computer viruses - 7% and natural disasters about 3% of all data loss. Since there is danger from all angles, it is no wonder that data loss is so common.

The hard disk is rather like the unsung hero in the entire computer system. It toils away silently in the background, often taken for granted. Almost as if to make its presence felt, it suddenly decides to crash leading to serious data loss. The inside of a hard drive is very much like a record player. It comprises of highly polished aluminium platters, which are between 3.5 and 5.25 inches in diameter. These platters are divided into tracks which are further divided into sectors. These divisions allow for easy data access. However, it also means that it is a finely tuned delicate process where any little thing can cause damage.

When the read-write head of a hard disk touches the rotating platter, it results in a head crash. Sometimes, a particle of dirt can cause the head to bounce. This can result in a tear in the magnetic coating of the hard disk resulting in scratches. Most modern drives spin at rates between 5,000 and 15,000 rpm, which is why such extensive damage can be caused by a crash.

Human error often results in data loss. We work with data everyday of our lives and to keep track of all the data can be quite tiresome. Differentiating between important data and not so important data has to be done on a regular basis. A user can inadvertently delete a file without meaning to. Deleting a file can lead to data loss. However, even if a file appears deleted, it usually continues to reside in an unspecified location. Most data recovery experts will be able to retrieve this deleted data without too much trouble. Human error is the second highest cause for data loss.

The hard disk works according to a systematic set of instructions, which work in tandem to produce the data we require. This format is available in the form of software which is created by experts to ensure that the hard disk functions in a pre-conceived manner. When there is some problem with the hard disk and if, during repair, it is reformatted, this could readjust the initial alignment of digital codes. Reformatting could result in data loss and will require the intervention of an expert to set things in order.

Natural disasters occur in the most unexpected manner and result in huge data loss. Fire, floods, hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes etc can wreak havoc and cause monumental damage. When there is a huge natural calamity, the volume of data that can be lost due to physical damage of a storage drive, is unimaginable. In fact, when data loss is enormous, some companies are unable to recover and eventually shut down.

The 9/11 attacks are one well-known example of how human-caused disaster led to huge data loss. The computer systems in all the offices that came crashing were irrevocably damaged. Since this is a large scale disaster, the data loss too is on a large scale and can be extremely difficult to recover.

A virus is a computer program which copies itself and infects a computer without its permission or knowledge. This affects and modifies the original files which results in data loss. In fact, some viruses are specifically designed to damage a computer. Such a virus can damage programs, delete files and even reformat the hard disk. Viruses can also be bug-ridden leading to system crashes and data loss. While there are anti-virus software that are designed to protect against virus attacks, there are always new viruses on the prowl. Viruses are destructive and can spread rapidly causing huge data loss.

The world of information technology is susceptible to damage due to wear and tear. In fact, even the most advanced hard disk drives have a shelf life. Hard drives have an approximate shelf life of between 3 to 5 years after which one can expect some sort of malfunction which usually leads to data loss.