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Data Recovery Services
Marmoset
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, my hard drive is borked pretty badly.
I'm pretty much at the point where I KNOW I'll need to send it off to a place so they can do a thing.
Most files on there I can live without, as tribute to my idiocy. But there are a couple of things I really, really need (or maybe just sentimental things I think I need... =/).
Searching for services online has sucked; they all look the same, use the same annoying business lingo, etc. I don't really know what to do. Does anyone know of any truly reputable companies that rise above the swarm of cheapo ones? I already know it'll be pretty expensive, but I'd like to have a definitive set of options before I decide it's just not worth it.
Thanks.
I'm pretty much at the point where I KNOW I'll need to send it off to a place so they can do a thing.
Most files on there I can live without, as tribute to my idiocy. But there are a couple of things I really, really need (or maybe just sentimental things I think I need... =/).
Searching for services online has sucked; they all look the same, use the same annoying business lingo, etc. I don't really know what to do. Does anyone know of any truly reputable companies that rise above the swarm of cheapo ones? I already know it'll be pretty expensive, but I'd like to have a definitive set of options before I decide it's just not worth it.
Thanks.
Marmoset on
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Data Recovery Services do suck, and will cost quite a bit. I'd keep trying on your own before resorting to those =/
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
This would be the one. =( Which is why I was sure I'd need a service; as I understand it, the evil clicking is just about the worst case scenario.
That SATA-to-USB cable would be awesome, but it just seems like it would be totally unreadable. We've already tried slaving it in the same tower to the other HDD, and unless we did it wrong, it's just not being recognized. I'm too afraid of damaging my platters more to try anything further.
What about putting it in the freezer? Wasn't putting an HD in the freezer for a day or so supposed to fix, or possibly fix, some sort of issue? Fill me in on that if I'm wrong, or what I may be trying to refer to
The freezer trick doesn't "fix" anything - and it's really a one-shot deal. What it does is shrink down the metal bits so that they're freed up - but once the drive heats up again, it's going to lock up. However, if you only need to pull a bit of data off of it, you might be able to.
1. Ziploc bag. Condensation is your enemy.
2. At least 12 hours in the freezer, preferably 24.
3. Do not boot off the drive - remove it from the freezer, hook it up to an external casing or SATA-to-USB cable, and immediately start copying your most important data first.
Varying degrees of success have occurred with this. Anecdotally I've done it on many drives and been able to save hundreds of gigs of data - but the drives themselves are still paperweights afterwards. It's not a permanent fix.
Obvious disclaimer, I cannot be held responsible for any damage that may result from freezing your drive.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Put the drive IN the freezer... then close it with the cables hanging out... while awkwardly positioning the PC up by the fridge... that way it stays cold
Saving the whole drive isn't important to me; I really just need a couple of minutes to salvage my sappy stuff.
As far as damage, I can't say - anything that's been Holy Fuck Mission Critical has gone to a data recovery service at the expense of someone other than myself, and the freezer trick has not even been attempted. I would weigh the cost of a data recovery service (mention "powers on with audible mechanical failure" when asking for quotes) versus the risk of losing the sentimental data.
The airtight bag during freezing is crucial though. You absolutely do not want condensation in the works of your drive.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
But should I chicken out, any chance you could tell me which recovery services you used, and how much they cost and stuff? Just to return to my OP.
Also, when you say "useless afterwards," you mean not even salvageable by a service? Exploded forever?
Sorry for all the questions, I've been in panic mode for two days.
Honestly, I haven't had to send one out that way in a while, since I haven't been in that field of IT for years. Last I checked, we were using OnTrack's service, and it was around $500 to $750 for a desktop/notebook drive. We have yet to send a server drive, because we back those up religiously.
Useless afterwards is in the personal recovery sense - if I'd gotten what I needed off the drive, there was no point in sending it out for a $500-$750 service.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.