In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for recovering data in a plurality of systems is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of allowing at least one system of the plurality of systems to fail, retaining a plurality of locks of the at least one system and restarting the at least one system utilizing minimal resources. In a second aspect of the present invention, a system for recovering data in a plurality of computer systems is disclosed. The system comprises means for allowing at least one computer system of the plurality of computer systems to fail, means for retaining a plurality of locks of the at least one computer system and means for restarting the at least one computer system utilizing minimal resources. According to the present invention, the method and system for recovering retained locks in a plurality of systems recovers the data being protected by the retained locks of a failed system quickly and with minimal system disruption.