Backup, backup, backup your data!! I can't say how many times I exhort my friends family and colleagues to backup their data since it's not a matter of if, but when a hard drive will crash. However, if the inevitable happens sooner than you like, and can't bear to lose your hard earned data, there is hope.

The NYTimes is on a roll today with another useful article on the emerging market for data recovery.

The first thing you learn is: hard drives are NOT reliable. Like a lot of things in life, it's not a matter of if, but when. Most hard drives have a life of 1-3 years but it really depends on the amount of usage and environment. For example, a hard drive running 24/7 is not going to last as long as one that is used only a few hours a day. The same applies for environment, heat, humidity, power spikes and physical shock, these all play a role in whether your data makes it to the next day or in some cases, second.

But for those times that you don't heed the advice to backup, companies like the Drivesavers exist to help you, even employing a crisis counselor on staff in case the client decides to take drastic measures.

However, I have to warn you, it is not cheap. A typical drive recovery according to the article can range from $2700 for the slow service to a whopping $8900 for the "I needed it yesterday" service. But that is a small price to pay for your memories or if your job is on the line.

And for those who still won't backup, I lost the original version of this post after accidentally closing my browser without saving it. I'm still waiting for the steam from head to clear the room.