Data recovery companies specialize in retrieving lost or inaccessible data from failed, damaged, or corrupted storage devices. They provide services to both individual consumers and businesses that have experienced data loss due to mechanical failure, accidental deletion, malware, or other issues.
What causes data loss?
There are many potential causes of data loss, including:
- Hardware failure – Hard drives and other storage devices can experience mechanical failures or electrical issues that make data inaccessible.
- Accidental deletion – Users may accidentally delete files or format drives.
- Malware – Viruses, ransomware, and other malicious programs can damage or encrypt data.
- Corruption – Software bugs, power outages, and other issues can corrupt file systems and databases.
- Natural disasters – Floods, fires, and other events can destroy storage devices.
- Spilled liquids – Spilling liquids on laptops or other electronics can short circuit and damage data.
When is data recovery needed?
Data recovery services are utilized when an individual or business experiences data loss and is unable to access critical files or information through usual means. Common scenarios include:
- Hard drive fails to boot up or is making abnormal clicking/beeping sounds
- External storage device is accidentally reformatted or deleted
- Ransomware encrypts files and attackers demand payment
- Erasing or deleting a drive, partition, or files when intending to erase something else
- Physical damage to a storage device from a dropped computer, flood, fire, etc.
- Critical database or virtual machine files no longer accessible
In these types of situations, specialized data recovery is required to attempt to restore access to the missing data.
What can data recovery services do?
Data recovery experts use a variety of techniques and proprietary software to retrieve lost or inaccessible data from failed or damaged devices. Some of the services they commonly provide include:
- Logical Recovery: Repairing file systems, tables, databases, and other systemic storage structures to make data accessible again.
- Physical Recovery: Bypassing failed components and reading raw data platters or chips to copy data to another device.
- Specialized Recovery: Using custom methods for complex failures like RAID arrays, encrypted volumes, and mobile devices.
- Forensic Recovery: Employing data forensics to recover damaged, deleted, or encrypted data for investigations or litigation.
- Ransomware Recovery: Decrypting or bypassing ransomware attacks without paying ransoms.
In many cases, data recovery technicians will attempt multiple approaches to maximize the chance of restoring your data. However, there are cases where data loss is complete and not even advanced techniques can recover anything.
What devices can they recover data from?
Data recovery services support recovering data from virtually every type of digital storage device, including:
- Hard disk drives (HDDs)
- Solid state drives (SSDs)
- RAID arrays
- External hard drives
- USB flash drives
- SD cards
- Digital camera storage
- Laptops and desktop PCs
- Macbooks and iMacs
- iPhones, iPads, Android phones
- Drones, action cameras, camcorders
- NAS devices and storage servers
- Virtual machine disk files (VMDK, VHD)
- Databases, accounting files, office documents
Essentially any device that stores data digitally is a candidate for data recovery in the event of a failure or data loss incident. However, the specific techniques used will vary based on the device and data types involved.
What does the data recovery process look like?
The data recovery process generally involves the following key steps:
- Initial Evaluation – The device is examined to determine failure modes and viability of recovery.
- Diagnostics – The device undergoes testing to determine optimal recovery methods.
- Data Extraction – Proprietary tools are used to image viable data from the device.
- Analysis – Recovered files and data structures are evaluated for integrity.
- Data Repair – Where possible, file systems and databases are repaired to restore accessibility.
- Data Transfer – Viable recovered data is transferred to a new storage device provided by the client.
The specific techniques used at each step vary based on the device and type of data loss. The process is highly technical and handled by trained specialists with years of data recovery experience. Most data recovery firms also classify their services based on the severity of the failure and complexity of the recovery case.
What are the data recovery success rates?
Data recovery success rates can vary substantially based on the specific situation. However, according to industry surveys, average recovery rates are approximately:
- 85% for logical recoveries
- 65-70% for physical recoveries
- 30-50% for specialized techniques like RAID, encryption, etc.
For mechanical failures of hard drives, recovery rates tend to be higher when the drive still spins up and has no physical damage. Heavily damaged drives with seized spindles or burnt circuit boards have lower success rates. The technique and effort involved with specialized recoveries also impacts success rates.
How long does data recovery take?
Turnaround times for data recovery can range from a few hours for simple logical recoveries to several days for difficult physical recoveries:
- 1-2 days is typical for straightforward logical recoveries.
- 3-5 days is normal for physical recoveries from spinning hard drives.
- 5-7+ days for complex RAID or encrypted volumes.
- 1-2 weeks for difficult platter-transfer recoveries.
Speed can vary based on factors like device backlog, parts ordering delays, data volume, and physical degradation. Many providers offer expedited service for urgent cases at a premium.
What factors affect the cost of data recovery?
Data recovery costs are driven by a few key factors:
- Type of damage – Logical recovery is cheaper than physical recovery methods.
- Device type – Standard HDD recovery is less expensive than specialized storage like SSDs or RAIDs.
- Level of service – Expedited and emergency options cost more than standard turnaround.
- Clean room needed – Class 100 clean rooms add significant cost.
- Labor-hours required – Complex recoveries take more time and expertise.
Here are some approximate typical price ranges:
| Service | Cost Range |
| Logical recovery from storage device | $300 – $1000 |
| Standard physical HDD recovery | $600 – $2000 |
| Encrypted drive or RAID recovery | $1000 – $3000+ |
| Class 100 clean room recovery | $3000 – $5000+ |
Many firms provide free evaluations to assess the feasibility, techniques, and pricing for data recovery based on your specific situation.
How can costs be minimized?
You can keep data recovery costs down by:
- Trying DIY software recovery tools first if the damage is minor.
- Getting quotes from multiple providers to compare pricing.
- Negotiating pricing based on your business volume if a business client.
- Choosing standard turnaround times vs. expedited options.
- Supplying spare equivalent parts for replacements.
- Having realistic expectations about probabilities of success.
However, when critical data is on the line, compromised solutions that lessen the chances of recovery are often false economies. Leveraging data recovery expertise often saves money relative to the value of lost data.
Should you try DIY data recovery?
For minor deleted file recovery scenarios, DIY recovery using free or inexpensive tools can sometimes help retrieve data. This is worth attempting first for accidental deletions or reformats of personal storage devices. However, for hardware failures, encryption, or more severe data loss, users often cause further damage in DIY attempts. Opening drives outside proper clean rooms, attempting drive repairs, or using recovery tools incorrectly can severely complicate professional recovery.
How to choose a data recovery service?
When selecting a data recovery company, key criteria to consider include:
- Experience – Choose an established provider with years of technical expertise and positive reviews.
- Capabilities – They should offer a full range of logical, physical, and specialized recovery methods.
- Security – They must offer confidential handling and secure destruction of recovered data.
- Certifications – Look for ISO certifications and Class 100 clean room facilities.
- Price transparency – Beware of firms that demand payment upfront before providing detailed quotes.
- Customer service – They should be responsive, answer all your questions, and set clear expectations.
Reviews from objective third parties can help identify providers known for transparency, capabilities, security, and customer service.
Data recovery mistakes to avoid
Avoid the following common mistakes to maximize chances of successful data recovery:
- Attempting to fix the hardware yourself outside a cleanroom.
- Opening the drive chassis or picking apart components.
- Exposing a failed drive to extreme temperature or physical shock.
- Trying recovery software that writes data anywhere on the failed drive.
- Continuing to power on a clicking, beeping, or abnormally operating device.
Also avoid companies that demand large upfront payments or seem evasive about the recovery process. Work only with reputable providers who set clear expectations.
Can data be recovered after a factory reset?
In some cases, data may be recoverable even after a factory reset, but results vary significantly based on reset method, device type, and intervening usage. Logical recovery can sometimes work shortly after a reset before too much new data is written. However, on modern SSDs, full drive encryption makes recovery from factory resets unlikely.
Is deleted data ever really gone permanently?
With the right techniques and tools, surprising amounts of deleted data can be recovered from sufficiently intact storage media. However, if a drive is completely overwritten, degaussed, or physically destroyed through methods like shredding or incineration, data is generally gone permanently outside of advanced forensic capabilities.
Can liquid-damaged phones be recovered?
Phone data recovery is often possible from liquid damage if the device is powered down quickly to avoid short circuiting. However, liquid causes corrosion over time, so rapid service maximizes recoverability. Phone data recovery firms use specialized techniques to repair or bypass damaged components and read viable data from chips and memory modules.
What should you do if your laptop won’t turn on?
If a laptop fails to power on, avoid forceful attempts to revive it. Get help from a specialist – forced resets could cause further hardware damage. Remove any removable storage devices and accessories and bring the laptop to a repair specialist for diagnostics. If they determine the motherboard or internal components are damaged, data recovery services may be able to extract data before repairs.
Can overridden or deleted data be recovered?
As long as new data hasn’t overwritten the deleted information or original versions, recovery specialists can often restore previous versions of files or recover deleted data, depending on the device and data types involved. However, the more a drive is used after deletion the lower the chances due to the risk of overwriting.
Can data be recovered after reinstalling Windows?
If a straightforward reinstallation of Windows overwrote the original OS installation, recovery still has a chance of retrieving documents, media, downloads, and other user files. But more complex scenarios like reformatting, repartitioning, or full drive encryption preceding the reinstall makes full recovery unlikely.
Does FBI need a warrant to recover data?
The FBI and other government agencies generally need a court warrant or subpoena to compel individuals or companies to hand over data. However, data recovery experts will provide recovered data only to the original client or authorized representative. Reputable providers do not share client data with government entities without informed consent.
Conclusion
Data recovery experts fill a critical niche helping individuals and businesses restore access to lost data from failed, damaged or corrupted devices that cannot be recovered through normal means. Their specialized tools and techniques can often salvage data from even severely compromised storage media. While data recovery has limitations in extreme cases of physical damage or encryption, reputable providers offer the best chance of getting valuable and sometimes irreplaceable data back after unfortunate data loss incidents.