Data recovery: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What data recovery is

A specialist retrieves lost files from a failed drive, a damaged memory card, deleted folders or a corrupted device, using software or lab tools depending on the damage. You need it when important files are gone and the device still holds them or can be read in some way.

Signs you need it

  • A drive makes clicking, grinding or beeping noises
  • A drive or memory card shows as empty, unreadable or asks to be formatted
  • Files were deleted by mistake or a folder vanished after an update
  • A device was dropped, wet or overheated before the files stopped opening
  • A USB drive or SD card stopped working after a sudden removal

What the pro does

  • Checks the drive or device to see whether it is failing physically or logically
  • Makes a sector level copy of the drive, if needed, so the original is not damaged further
  • Runs recovery software or lab tools suited to the damage found
  • Recovers the files it can and checks that they open
  • Copies the recovered files to new media and reports what was and was not recovered

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Whether the damage is logical, such as deleted files, or physical, such as a failed head or board
  • The type of drive, such as a hard disk, solid state drive or memory card
  • The amount of data and the number of files to recover
  • Whether a clean room or lab tool is needed
  • The urgency of the work and the turnaround time
  • Whether recovered files are delivered on a new drive or by download

What a written quote should spell out

  • The diagnosis of the damage and what can be recovered
  • Whether the work is done in house or at a lab
  • The turnaround time and any rush fee
  • Whether a no recovery policy applies, and how it is charged
  • How the recovered files are delivered and stored

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you tell me the diagnosis before you start any work?
  • Does the drive need to be sent to a lab, and how is it handled?
  • Is there a fee if nothing can be recovered?
  • How long will the recovery take?
  • How is my data protected during the work?
  • Can I see a sample of the recovered files before I pay the full fee?

Red flags

  • Says it can recover everything without looking at the drive
  • Asks you to send a drive to an unknown address without a written plan
  • Opens the drive in an open room without protection and says it is fine
  • Wants full payment before any diagnosis

What you can do yourself

Stop using the device right away, since writing new data can overwrite the files you want back. Do not open the drive, press on it, or run disk repair tools on a failing drive. Keep the drive safe and call a data recovery specialist as soon as possible.

Licenses and permits

A license is usually not required for data recovery. Check with your state or local licensing agency about any business registration that applies, and ask the specialist about how it protects client data.

Data recovery questions

Can I recover files after I reformatted the drive?

Sometimes, but the chance drops as new data is written. Stop using the drive and ask a specialist to check it before you try anything else.

Is a cheap recovery program safe to use?

It can be, for simple deletions on a healthy drive. For a clicking drive or a drive that will not show up, a free program can make the damage worse.

Will the specialist look at my files?

They may need to view files to confirm the recovery. Ask how they protect your data and whether they sign a confidentiality agreement.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer data recovery remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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