When you are using operating systems other than Microsoft Windows, it is often necessary for you to use a file recovery company or program that specializes in the system that you use. If you use Linux or another Unix based OS, you need to make sure that the company or software that you are attempting to use to recover your data is fully compatible as Linux can use a variety of different file systems to function. This makes recovery of data from a Linux based system slightly more complicated than from a Windows or a Mac.

Your first goal should be to determine how your hard drive failed. If it's a hardware problem, you need to consult with a file recovery service for sure, as attempting to use do it yourself software can render your drive unrecoverable. If it's just simple data corruption or an accidental deletion, software will be perfect for the job. Be aware that Linux' file system is far more active than the NTFS system that Windows XP typically uses, so getting your files back can be very time sensitive. Remember, your files are recoverable only as long as they haven't been overwritten.

So now that you know what type of recovery that you need, you should begin your search online. Generally, if you need software for Linux data recovery, you can probably find a selection of freeware to help you out. Linux is open source software, and lends itself to easy development. Again, Google and the other major search engines are your friend. Several other websites such as Sourceforge besides the search engines also have a huge selection of free, open source utilities available, along with a recommendations and discussion feature.

Data loss can be a terrifying situation. It can cost you financially, both by the direct expense of having to pay for data recovery, and the indirect expense of lost time, lost client data, and lost project information. As always, you should have a backup that you update frequently, and store offsite in a safe location. But a hard drive crash is survivable, no matter what your operating system.