Data Recovery Digest

Recovering corrupted data from today's most popular form of optical media, including CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays, is a challenging task. While these discs are created differently depending on the type of hardware used to record data to them, either through a factory-pressing or an at-home "burning," they are still susceptible to a variety of corruption issues.

For starters, optical media still suffers from longevity issues. While the longevity of optical media may differ based on a number of factors, recorded CDs can last anywhere from 20 to 200 years. Recorded DVDs, on the other hand, have a much shorter life expectancy ranging from a few years to 100 years. Recently introduced recordable Blu-Ray discs have a lifespan of as much as 200 years.

Longevity withstanding, all of these discs can become corrupted in a number of other ways. Factors such as extreme heat or cold and physical damage can also cause the data on a disc to become corrupted. Even spilling liquids or food onto a disc has the potential to damage the data stored therein.

Thankfully, for those who are attempting to recover lost data from corrupted optical media, there is hope in the way of the new Olympus LEXT OLS4000 3D microscope. The laser-scanning, confocal microscope is able to restore corrupted data from both factory-pressed discs as well as home-burned optical media.

According to the original press release distributed by Olympus, the LEXT OLS4000 has three main features: the ability to store high-resolution image timelines that range from a single shot all the way up to 625 separate images, novice-level accessibility and automated 3D image acquisition functionality that is twice as fast as previous 3D microscopes from Olympus.

Moreover, the LEXT OLS4000 is able to generate user-defined reports that match all of your specifications and requirements with the click of a button. This information is also editable by the user, allowing for easy and immediate customization of all reports.

Another useful function of the LEXT OLS4000 which is not featured in some of its competitors is the auto measurement function, which allows users to make efficient and reliable measurements - even consecutively - without fail. This includes everything from basic image alignments to detailed paramters as defined specifically by the user.

Finally, the Olympus LEXT OLS4000 utilizes a non-contact form of data restoration, so the device never has to come into direct contact with the damaged media. Comparable microscopes rely on a stylus-type mechanism, which can actually damage the surface of an optical disc even more than it already was. Furthermore, the non-contact laser scanning process of the LEXT OLS4000 lets the microscope scan miniscule areas of an object that simply are not accessible by stylus-driven, non-laser microscopes.

Having manufactured optical devices for over 90 years, the professionals at Olympus are intimately familiar with the niche of optical media such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. Those who are interested in finding out more information about the Olympus LEXT OLS4000 can visit their website, www.olympus.com, for product specs and further product details.