Data recovery is a broad term that relates to the many ways to extract data from a damaged or inaccessible magnetic medium. Technology varies greatly, and there are no standards yet set for this type of service. The demand for data recovery is increasing steadily and throughout time numerous devices have been invented that have aided the data recovery process.

The origins of data recovery can be traced back to the discoveries of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace. In 1833, Babbage began working on the creation of the first computer. This invention, later known as the Analytical Engine, was based on the components of the modern computer we use today. Babbage worked on plans for the engine for 11 years until he reported his developments at a seminar in Italy in the autumn of 1841. An Italian named Menabrea wrote a summary of this seminar and published the article in French.

In 1843, Ada Lovelace translated this article and suggested to Babbage that she add her own notes. These notes turned out to be 3 times the length of the original article, and Ada and Babbage combined ideas to finish the creation of the Analytical Engine.

Programs for the engine were punched on Jacquard cards; as a result the machine was known as the 'punch card system'. However, before long Babbage and Lovelace ran into a problem: one of the punch cards was damaged extensively by Babbage in the handling process. Retrieving the lost data from the corrupted punch card turned out to be an extremely difficult task, one in fact that neither Babbage nor Lovelace could do. A more advanced data storage system was needed in order to correctly retrieve lost information. This was the first known instance of the need for data recovery technology.

Over the years since the Analytical Engine was developed, the computer field (and consequently the data recovery field) has developed at an overwhelmingly rapid pace. As a result, the demand for new data recovery solutions has advanced at the same rate. An extensive array of new ideas and concepts has surfaced as technology has advanced. One of the major accomplishments in the computer field was the ENIAC in the 1940's.

The ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first multipurpose computer. Within the next decade computers began to be used commercially, largely due to the incredible accomplishments of the ENIAC. Not only were multipurpose computers able to store more information, but with the invention of the ENIAC, computer use became more common. Consequently, there was more room to store data and more people were using computers to store information.

Another major advance in the industry was IBM's first magnetic tape drive vacuum column for data storage in 1952. This discovery further increased storage and processing capabilities of the computer. Before the column was introduced, weak magnetic tape was used to store data. The fragile magnetic tape was a reasonable means for storage but the frequency of breakage and sudden starts and stops was high. With the IBM vacuum column, the tape was held down by a vacuum during movement. The decrease in breakage resulted in less occurrences of data loss and made data easier to retrieve when there was a problem.

In 1962, the Logic probe was introduced. The Logic probe is used on electronic logic circuits to look into failed chips. While the Logic probe only indicates state changes, it helps to identify the basic reason a chip may be failing.

In recent years, data recovery has continued to become a vital industry as computers become increasingly important in our everyday lives. Data Recovery UK Limited is on the forefront of this rapidly changing field and is dedicated to retrieving the data important to you.