Data Recovery Recommendation

[SoulAssassin]

I posted this in peripherals but no one reads that forum....


My aunt has a laptop w a dead drive in it that's clicking like Gregory Hines' feet. It's obviously dead but she has some very important data she needs to get off it and is willing to pay for a data recovery company to go at it. Just wondering if anyone has experience doing this and if there are any companies recommended over others.

 

[stevem326]

I would recommend SpinRite by Steve Gibson. His software is legendary for recovering data off of damaged hard drives. The only thing is it's a bit expensive...but I guess it all comes down to how much your data is worth to you. I know that it would be cheaper than paying a data recovery company to do it for you though.

Here's a link SpinRite

Next time, try to make sure she backs things up on a DVD or external hard drive 🙁

 

[redbeard1]

We've used these guys a half dozen with good results each time.

Drivesavers

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: redbeard1
We've used these guys a half dozen with good results each time.

Drivesavers

Another vote for these guys!

IMPORTANT! DO NOT TRY ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE SENDING THE DRIVE OFF. THE MORE YOU TRY, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO DESTROY DATA THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE RECOVERED.

If the data was going to be readable by the drive, you wouldn't be hearing that racket. Good luck!

 

[tcsenter]

Define dead? Isn't working at all?

Don't attempt to run SpinRite on a seriously failing though still functioning drive. SpinRite takes up to 24 hours or longer to complete on large drives and that can push the drive over the brink to total failure.

If it is still functioning but making bad noises, use Ghost or Acronis to image the drive including bad sectors to a working disk then use the recovery tools on the working disk. If that doesn't work, send the drive off to a data recovery service.

SpinRite should only be used on drives with data corruption or bad sectors but not a disk with more serious problems.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

ahh click of death... takes me back to the iomega zip drive days.. what a pile of poo

 

[Solema]

Originally posted by: Damn Dirty Ape
ahh click of death... takes me back to the iomega zip drive days.. what a pile of poo

Yeah seriously. I am checking out that DriveSavers though, as I have a client that needs data recovery done. Are their prices reasonable?

 

[redbeard1]

When it comes to real reputable services, that are factory warranty authorized and have a clean room, they are about the same as the others. They all will say that the range for the recovery will run between $700 and $3500. We have been averaging about $2200 per incident. So what ever it is, better be important.

 

[Solema]

Thanks for the heads up. I did talk to that company you linked and it looks to be between $1500-$2400. I talked to the client and he said "if it's more than $50 screw it."

So I guess I got my answer there! 😀

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Solema
I talked to the client and he said "if it's more than $50 screw it."

Most folks have NO IDEA how vulnerable their data is and how much data recovery costs. I'm hoping the automated backups in the new Windows Home Server will end much of the needless data loss because folks think their hard drives are armor plated.

 

[Solema]

Tell me about it RM! WHS is the first thing I'm going to recommend to this guy once it is available.

 

[MadAmos]

I have had very good luck with Here When I was lazy and bought the farm 😱 Dave bailed me out for a reasonable cost. worth a look IMHO