Get the files back
Deleted, formatted, or on a drive that has stopped responding. Often recoverable, and what you do next matters.
Signs you need this
- Files deleted and then emptied from the recycle bin
- A drive the computer can see but no longer read
- Clicking, grinding, or beeping from a drive
- A machine that will not start and has the only copy of something
- A drive that was accidentally formatted or reinstalled over
What the work involves
Deleted usually does not mean gone straight away. The space gets marked as reusable, and until something writes over it the data is often still there, which is why the single most useful thing you can do is stop using the drive.
That applies to installing recovery software too. Downloading a tool onto the same drive you are trying to recover from can overwrite the exact thing you wanted back.
A drive making noise is a different situation. Clicking or grinding is mechanical, it usually gets worse with each attempt, and repeatedly powering it on to try again can turn a recoverable drive into one that is not. If that is what yours is doing, leave it off.
What is realistic depends on the drive and what happened to it. We will tell you honestly what the chances look like before anyone spends money on it.
In short
Did you accidentally delete a folder full of important files? As long as the hard drive has not completely crashed, we can recover those files, and get them back to you.
What it costs
- Residential
- $125 per hour, one hour minimum.
- Business
- $160 per hour, one hour minimum.
- Coming to you
- $35 on-site fee in the local area. There is no on-site fee for work done remotely.
Common questions
- What should I do right now?
- Stop using the drive. If it is the computer's main drive, shut the machine down. If it is making any mechanical noise, leave it switched off and do not keep retrying.
- Can you always get the data back?
- No, and anyone who says otherwise is selling something. Deleted files on a healthy drive are often very recoverable. A physically failed drive is a different matter, and severe cases need a specialist cleanroom. We will tell you when you have reached that point rather than running the bill up.
- Should I try recovery software myself?
- Be careful. Free tools can work, but installing one onto the affected drive can overwrite what you are trying to save. If the files genuinely matter, stop before you do that.
Got a problem like this? Let's get it sorted.
Call (916) 412-7616 or email [email protected]. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.