We DO NOT charge to evaluate.

Evaluating a hard drive and other digital media will take 12 to 72 hours, based on which service options you have selected. However due to availability of workstations, technicians and current work load we like to allow ourselves a maximum of hours to complete your evaluation.

Typically we get our recoveries done within 1 to 10 business days. However there are times when the degree to which the media is damaged more time is needed for the imaging process. Drive imaging is basically copying data from your damaged/unstable hard drive onto one of our house drives. This is to preserve your data and so that we can run additional data recovery software without worry of your unstable drive having a catastrophic failure during that process. Furthermore, we do offer expedited services for an additional charge. Rates vary depending on if the work needs to be completed overnight, during the weekend or holidays.

Dozens of factors can affect the difficulty of the recovery process, and as such, costs vary from case to case. We base our pricing on three things, the capacity of your hard drive, operating system used and most importantly the type of hard drive failure. Pricing should be based off of time and resources used to complete the service.

Success rates also vary by media type. Our overall recovery success rate is 95 percent.

We will never share your data with a third party, We do have the obvious security measures including confidentiality agreements, Additionally, our engineers will directly access your files unless you specifically ask them to verify key data. We uses strict protocols and networks to keep client information safe and we regularly update our security systems to maintain compliance. When you send your media to our offices, you can rest assured that we will take every possible step to keep your data confidential.

We keep a backup of your data for 14 days on protected servers to guard against shipping issues and other unexpected events. After 14 days, our engineers securely delete this data using standards.

In some rare cases after a recovery the failed hard drive can be reused. However, we do not recommend it. Usually they are unstable and it would not be wise to put them back into service. 

Since the introduction of cheap over the counter software success rates in our industry have fallen dramatically. The reason is simple, hard drives that are starting to fail deteriorate and often times can fail so severely that your data will be lost forever. The longer your hard drive is running while you are trying to recover the data with software the more damage you are doing. Professional data recovery services do not approach a recovery the same way a consumer would. We have specialized equipment, knowledge, and expertise to know how to preserve your data before your hard drive “crashes” completely.

No. There are exceptions, for example if you bring us a hard drive that has been previously opened then we will often times charge a small amount to pay for parts and labor. Normally we would make that investment ourselves.

In most cases once the recovery is complete we will be able to generate a file listing of exactly which files are good and bad. This file listing will be emailed to you for your review. Also we will allow you to verify your data via remote connection.

Yes, in most cases if you describe the symptoms the hard drive is having we will be able to categorize the hard drive failure type and give a more accurate estimate for the data recovery service. Keep in mind that the phone consultation can differ from the actual evaluation results from our technician. This is due to the fact that several different failure types show the same symptoms.

Your return media options may vary depending on the size of your recovered files. We typically return recovered data on external, USB-capable media. You can provide media or purchase external media from us. 

To put it simple, if your device stores digital data, we can recover it.
All Types of Hard Drives, Flash Drives and USB Drives, All Types of RAID Configurations, Solid-State Drives, Hybrid Drives, All types of phones like android to iPhone,Virtual Servers,Virtual Drives, Data Tapes, Cartridges, Zip Drives, Floppy Drives and More. We have experience with Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, UNIX, Solaris and all other operating systems. 

The only way to prevent data loss is to regularly back up your media. Set up a regular backup schedule. If possible, you should perform offsite backups and check your data occasionally. Important data should be protected with multiple backups. If your media fails, turn it off. Do not run any software on your system or attempt to repair your media. Call our team to discuss your next steps.

This varies by media type, but computer hard drives often make unusual noises when a mechanical component is damaged or off track. Clicking, whirring and grinding sounds are particularly serious symptoms. Other common symptoms include:, Visibly Damaged Electronics, Error Messages Indicating Corruption or Unrecognized File Formats, Signs of Virus Infection, Your Hard Drive Does Not Power On, Your Computer Does Not Recognize Your Hard Drive, If you notice any of these symptoms, turn your computer off immediately and contact us to set up a risk-free media evaluation.

When you delete a file, your computer does not immediately overwrite the digital information associated with the file. However, you will quickly overwrite the file if you continue to operate your computer. This causes permanent damage and drastically lowers your chances of a successful, full data recovery. For the best results, immediately turn your computer off using its power switch. Do not use the normal shutdown process. Keep your hard drive powered off until you can speak with a qualified data recovery professional like us.

Hard drives can sustain serious damage when running in a failed state. This damage can greatly complicate the data recovery process and drive up the costs of professional recovery services. To limit damage, turn your drive off as soon as you notice clicking sounds, excessively slow operation or any other signs of data loss. Do not turn the drive on for any reason. Call us right away to set up an evaluation.

Hard drive failures, accidental file deletion, operating system failure, file corruption, malicious programs and natural disasters can all cause data loss. Hard drive failures are probably the most common cause of serious data loss. All hard drives have mechanical components that will eventually wear and break, but many computer users do not take the time to back up their drives.

Please read packaging guidelines at : RESOURCES > Shipping & Packaging