Data recovery from a failed or unreadable hard drive

A hard drive that Windows cannot read, has been formatted, or came out of a machine that no longer runs is often still recoverable. I charge $150 an hour including GST, there is no call-out fee, and a drop-off recovery job is usually capped around three hours of testing.

The drive in your old machine holds photos, music and documents that exist nowhere else. Before you throw the machine out or accept that the files are gone, it is worth having the drive looked at, because the outcome is better than most people expect.

Can you recover data from a drive the computer cannot read?

Usually, yes, as long as the drive still powers up and is detected. A drive that shows the wrong capacity, refuses to open or claims to be unformatted can often still be read with the right tools, and the files copied off before anything is written to it.

How often does recovery succeed?

It depends entirely on what has failed. A drive that still spins up usually gives a good result, because the platters are intact and only the file system or partitioning is damaged. A drive that has stopped spinning, or is clicking, is a different problem.

What does the three hour cap mean?

It means testing and recovery work on a drop-off job is usually capped around three hours. Within that, you get a clear answer on what is recoverable or a clear answer that it is not, rather than an open ended bill. I tell you where the work stands as it goes.

What happens if the drive is not spinning?

A drive that will not spin up usually has a mechanical failure, and that cannot be fixed on a bench. Those cases need a proper lab where the drive is opened in controlled conditions, and I use a partner for that work. I tell you when your drive falls into this group instead of charging hours for a result I cannot deliver.

Why do some companies charge so much for this?

Because they know the data matters to you and that you have few options. Prices can climb sharply once a drive is in someone else's hands. I charge straightforwardly by the hour, and if the data is not going to come back, you hear it early.

Can you recover data from an old machine that no longer runs?

Yes, and this is common. The computer itself may be finished, but the drive inside it can be removed, connected elsewhere and read. Age is not the deciding factor. The condition of the drive is.

Will every hard drive eventually fail?

Yes. Every hard drive fails eventually and the only question is when, which is why the drive you are recovering from should not be the only place your files lived. Once the data is back, I can set up a backup so it does not happen to you a second time.

Can you set up a backup while you are here?

Yes, and I usually recommend it on a recovery job. A simple backup that runs on its own means the next drive failure costs you a day, not your photos. I will talk you through the options that suit what you actually have.

How do I book a hard drive recovery?

Call 0477 319 160 or email [email protected]. Stop using the drive in the meantime. Drop it off, or I can collect it as part of an onsite visit, and I will tell you what is recoverable before charging hours.

Unreadable drives, formatted drives and drives from dead machines. $150 an hour including GST, no call-out fee. Call 0477 319 160.