Have you used a data recovery service or know of a good one?

[Double Trouble]

A friend had a lifetime worth of photos and videos on a hard drive... and the drive failed. Yes, I know, it should have been backed up etc etc -- trust me, those were my first thoughts. Bottom line is, she didn't, and now the drive motor failed. I'm fairly certain the data is OK, the drive won't spin up.

Anyone have a recommendation for a good data recovery service? I know it's not going to be cheap, I already told her that, but I don't think she has any alternative, it's every picture and video of her family that she has.

Any info or recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Jhill]

I can't rick roll you but it's coming in 3.2.1...............

 

[Mutilator]

Drivesavers.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: Mutilator
Drivesavers.

Any experience with them?

 

[Dorkenstein]

I've used drive savers, they are very good but extremely expensive also. If you are dealing with pictures you can try Pixelrescue which is based in Boston, MA. I've used them too and the owner is very friendly and helpful.

 

[OdiN]

Drivesavers is very good at what they do. But you will pay for it.

 

[sheemone00]

I used DriveCrash.com.

It took a while, but I got all the data back. Cost me a lot though!

 

[FP]

Just for reference how much is alot?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: binister
Just for reference how much is alot?

few grand...

 

[Dorkenstein]

Easily over two grand if I remember correctly.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: Dorkenstein
Easily over two grand if I remember correctly.

That's kind of what I'm afraid of. I've told her it's going to be a lot of $$, but I don't think in the thousands would be feasible.

I'm going to start with the places folks have posted so far, for the morning crowd, if you have any additional suggestions please post them.

Thanks!

 

[kranky]

We used Ontrack once, great results, cost a lot.

Never tried these guys, but they say they are cheap. http://www.nationwidedatarecovery.com/

 

[Kelemvor]

I've also used OnTrack. When I worked for GE, that's who we used if we really had to get seriously important data. They are expensive but if it can be gotten, they can get it.

Could try something on your own first like GetDataBack. I use that any time I need my own data back.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I've also used OnTrack. When I worked for GE, that's who we used if we really had to get seriously important data. They are expensive but if it can be gotten, they can get it.

Could try something on your own first like GetDataBack. I use that any time I need my own data back.

GetDataBack doesnt work with mechanical failure.

 

[Double Trouble]

Thanks for the additional suggestions, I'm going to get some estimates from those places.

Never tried these guys, but they say they are cheap. http://www.nationwidedatarecovery.com/

Their prices are lower (or seem to be) than most other such places, but I'm afraid to just send her drive to some place just because they seem cheap, they might pull on of those "oh, now that we've looked at it, it's going to be another $1000" deals, and when you say you won't do that you'll never get your data back. I appreciate the suggestion, I'll contact them as well.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I've also used OnTrack. When I worked for GE, that's who we used if we really had to get seriously important data. They are expensive but if it can be gotten, they can get it.

Could try something on your own first like GetDataBack. I use that any time I need my own data back.

GetDataBack doesnt work with mechanical failure.

Unfortunately the drive doesn't spin up anymore.... so software based recovery is not an option. I'm guessing it will require a clean room to rebuild the drive and then recover the data.

 

[Old Hippie]

I've seen Daves Data Recovery recommended several times.

 

[shoRunner]

geek squad uses ontrack, its 1599 for mechanically damaged drives.

 

[OdiN]

If you can find the same model of hard drive as she has, you can try swapping the PCB on the bottom of the drive. Sometimes these fail - and it's not an internal mechanical failure. I've done this for people before with good results, depending on the problem.

 

[Rustican]

Try freezing your hard drive first to recover data. Put it in a ziploc bag and let is sit in your freezer for 24-48 hours. See if it boots up again. Copy all the important files off before it stops working and save yourself a few grand.

http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.c...e-to-recover-data.html

 

[Aharami]

same thing happened to me a few years back. after finding out how much it costs to get data back with these data recovery companies, i decided not to go with them. I'm still holding onto the drive in hopes that maybe sometime in the future, these services will be affordable enough for me to use them.

 

[Modelworks]

You really can do this yourself if your halfway mechanically inclined.
You need to purchase an exact replacement for the drive.
Purchase some latex gloves so you don't leave fingerprints on platters.
Pick a good work area that is relatively free of dust.
Switch the drive electronics only first to see if that was the problem, then move on to the more complex things.

I've done it lots of times and its not the "oh my God , you got to have a pure o2, dust free, clean suit and specialty tools" type of job.

Once you got the data recovered, be sure to backup it.

EDIT:
Forgot to add that on most modern drives the electronics can be switched without ever opening the cover to the where the platters are.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
You really can do this yourself if your halfway mechanically inclined.
You need to purchase an exact replacement for the drive.
Purchase some latex gloves so you don't leave fingerprints on platters.
Pick a good work area that is relatively free of dust.
Switch the drive electronics only first to see if that was the problem, then move on to the more complex things.

I've done it lots of times and its not the "oh my God , you got to have a pure o2, dust free, clean suit and specialty tools" type of job.

Once you got the data recovered, be sure to backup it.

Yeah, you don't need to be in a dust free environment to fix the drive long enough to get the data off.

 

[compuwiz1]

I wonder if you could find a used identical drive that was not very valuable and have a geek install the platters of the bad drive in it, then recover the data.

The drive probably wouldnt live very long, since it would not be totally clean, but if I knew how to do this, I'd try it.

Also, has this drive been been plugged into a different power plug. Maybe the rail on the PSU is bad.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
I wonder if you could find a used identical drive that was not very valuable and have a geek install the platters of the bad drive in it, then recover the data.

The drive probably wouldnt live very long, since it would not be totally clean, but if I knew how to do this, I'd try it.

Also, has this drive been been plugged into a different power plug. Maybe the rail on the PSU is bad.

sounds like someone could make a couple hundred real quick on here.... namingly Modelworks .