Experienced a hard drive failure and lost important data. Need reliable data recovery service. Any recommendations based on personal experiences?
Oh, that sucks big time when you lose important data due to a hard drive failure. Been there, done that. Here are some recommendations based on personal experiences and what I’ve heard from tech friends:
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DriveSavers: These folks are the go-to for many people. A bit pricey but they’ve got a solid rep for recovering data from just about any disaster. They worked wonders for my buddy’s failed SSD.
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Gillware: They have some affordable options if you’re on a tight budget. They recovered some critical documents for me after a head crash and did it pretty quick too.
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Ontrack: Heard a lot about Ontrack, a bit more on the expensive side but they’re top-notch, especially if you’ve got a business-critical failure.
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SalvageData: Used them once for an external HDD that died. Good turnaround time and friendly customer service.
If you’re looking for a software solution and don’t fancy sending your drive off, give Disk Drill a shot. Used it myself to recover some accidentally deleted files and was pretty impressed. Easy to use and spotted more recoverable files than I was expecting.
For more insights and perhaps some user experiences or recommendations, you might want to check out the Best Data Recovery Subreddit. Tons of users share their experiences there, and you might find additional advice.
Good luck, hope you get your data back!
Totally understand the pain of a hard drive crash; it happened to me last year. Just to echo some of what @sonhadordobosque mentioned and add my own twist:
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DriveSavers: Yeah, they’re kind of the gold standard. I used them for a catastrophic failure of an SD card—I thought all my travel photos were gone, but they managed to pull them back. They aren’t cheap, though.
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Gillware: Good stuff for budget-conscious users; however, I noticed their customer support can be hit or miss. But when they’re on, they’re great.
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Secure Data Recovery Services: Noticed this wasn’t mentioned but had to bring them up because they helped me out big time. They’ve got ISO-5 Class 100 Cleanroom facilities, which is pretty high-tech and reassuring. They’re definitely worth considering for business-critical data.
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Stellar Data Recovery: Another route if you’re looking for a DIY software solution like Disk Drill. I’ve tried it for recovering some lost partitions, and it did a decent job—though it’s a bit more technical compared to Disk Drill.
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Ontrack: Agreed on the price point—leaning towards the more expensive side. But if you’re looking at RAID recoveries or complicated scenarios, these guys know their stuff. Used them once when my RAID 5 array failed, and they were solid.
As for the DIY software, if you’re considering Disk Drill, it’s user-friendly and effective to pull back deleted files before they’re overwritten. It’s one of the easiest to use in my opinion.
Lastly, if you’re looking for more collective wisdom, the best data recovery subreddit is a gem. Loads of folks sharing their recovery successes and mishaps.
Hope this adds something valuable to your quest for data retrieval!
Experienced a data loss myself last year, so I can totally relate. A few options not covered by @viajantedoceu and @sonhadordobosque:
- Data Recovery Group: Extremely professional and quick. They handle everything from HDDs to SSDs and even RAID systems. They recovered a client’s critical financial data within a week.
- Seagate Recovery Services: Surprisingly decent for manufacturer recovery services. They’re not as pricey as the big shots like DriveSavers but still reliable. Recovered a 3TB drive for a friend without issue.
Now, let’s dive into the Disk Drill discussion:
Pros:
- User-friendly interface, even if you’re not tech-savvy, you’ll find your way around easily.
- Covers a wide range of file types and devices.
- Quick scan times.
Cons:
- Limited features in the free version, so be prepared to pay if you need comprehensive recovery.
- Sometimes doesn’t detect more complex file system issues, especially on badly corrupted drives.
Moreover, while Disk Drill is good for DIY scenarios, it isn’t foolproof for severe crashes. If the data is critical, opt for professional services initially.
Others worth noting:
- CleverFiles Data Recovery: Pretty good for simplicity and scope but can occasionally miss deeply nested files.
- Recuva: Budget-friendly software solution, though not as powerful as Disk Drill. Great for simple deletions but hit-or-miss with corrupted files.
In conclusion, professional services like DriveSavers or Seagate are safer bets for crucial data. For less critical data or secondary attempts, DIY tools like Disk Drill offer valuable services, despite some limitations. Mid-range options like Seagate and Gillware also offer decent recovery rates without breaking the bank. Good luck!