What should an examiner do if sectors are found to be missing during an acquisition?

When sectors are found to be missing during an acquisition, it is important for an examiner to check for Host Protected Areas (HPA) or Device Configuration Overlays (DCO). HPA and DCO are techniques used by manufacturers to hide data from the standard operating system, which can result in sectors appearing missing even when they exist.

By investigating HPAs or DCOs, an examiner can determine whether the missing sectors are actually part of the storage but are concealed due to these manufacturer settings. This step is crucial because it can reveal important data that may not be accessible through normal means.

In forensic analysis, thoroughness is key, and checking for HPAs or DCOs ensures that the examiner covers all possible areas of the storage device, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the acquired data and ensuring that no critical information is overlooked.