Question:

Could an expert provide insight into a perplexing situation where all the data on my computer’s drives disappeared overnight? This morning, my PC failed to locate a boot drive, leading me to suspect a BIOS reset or a malfunctioning boot SSD. Despite the BIOS settings being intact, attempts to boot from a Windows recovery USB were futile, as it failed to detect any Windows installation or repair the boot drive. Running diskpart revealed that all drives were present but appeared empty. Further investigation with a drive connected to a laptop confirmed that the drive, previously nearly full, now seemed freshly formatted. It appears that all other drives have been similarly erased. Is this a known issue, and is there any recourse available beyond resigning to the loss of all data?

Answer:

A user reports a baffling occurrence where all data on their computer’s drives vanished overnight. Upon starting their PC, they encountered an error indicating the absence of a boot drive. Initial suspicions pointed to a BIOS reset or a defective boot SSD. However, the BIOS settings were unchanged, and a Windows recovery USB could not rectify the issue or locate an existing Windows installation. Utilizing diskpart, the drives were detected but reported as empty. External verification showed the drives appeared to be freshly formatted, suggesting a complete data wipe.

Expert Analysis:

Such incidents, while rare, can be attributed to several factors:

1.

Malware Attack:

A malicious software designed to wipe data could have infected the system, leading to the loss of all stored information.

2.

Software Glitch:

An error within the system’s firmware or a catastrophic software failure could result in drives being inadvertently formatted.

3.

Physical Drive Failure:

SSDs have a limited lifespan; excessive use could lead to a sudden breakdown, although this would not typically affect all drives simultaneously.

4.

Electrical Issues:

Power surges or faulty power supplies can cause widespread damage to connected hardware, including SSDs and HDDs.

Recovery Options:

All is not lost. There are steps one can take to potentially recover their data:

–

Data Recovery Software:

There are numerous data recovery tools available that can scan drives for remnants of lost files and attempt to restore them.

–

Professional Services:

If the data is critical, consider enlisting the services of a data recovery expert. They possess specialized tools and cleanroom environments to maximize recovery chances.

–

Backups:

Regularly backing up data to an external drive or cloud service can prevent total data loss in such scenarios.

Preventive Measures:

To mitigate future risks, users should:

• Install robust antivirus software to protect against malware.
• Regularly update system firmware and software to patch known vulnerabilities.
• Consider using surge protectors to shield against electrical anomalies.
• Monitor drive health using S.M.A.R.T. data and replace hardware proactively.

Conclusion:

While the disappearance of data from computer drives can be alarming, it is a known issue with various potential causes. Recovery may be possible, and taking preventive steps can help avoid similar situations in the future. Users facing such dilemmas should act swiftly to increase the likelihood of data retrieval and safeguard against future data loss.