If your data cannot be recovered then there is NO CHARGE!

Computer won't "boot" to the desktop (for various reasons) and you simply want to recover your data, but do not wish to have your computer repaired / restored to working order?  

 

LEFT: An example of a hard drive that is "recognized" by Linux (as a 200 GB drive) but "inaccessible" due to software damage. This is another example of a situation in which PCR can recover data from a drive that has software damage.

 

There are different levels of data recovery expertise, ranging from shops that do simple data recovery to highly specialized forensics labs. PCR successfully recovers data from drives with relatively "minor" software-based issues such as bad sectors, logical corruption, failed MBR or partition table, even when Windows can't access the drive. However if your drive has "major" problems such as physical damage (mechanical or electrical), firmware or firmware module problems, or other damage that won't allow the drive to "initialize" then you will ultimately need to take it to a specialized forensics lab, where this can cost as much as $3,000.00 whether they are successful or not at recovering your data.

 

Because these labs are so expensive, it may be worth your while to see if PCR can recover your data first. PCR uses non-destructive software to analyze and attempt recovery of data. If unsuccessful, PCR should at least be able to provide you with some helpful diagnostic results. If PCR cannot recover your data then there is no charge.

 

If your drive has begun making strange noises such as grinding or clicking sounds then you almost certainly have a physical problem and this requires highly specialized recovery expertise and expensive equipment.

What steps do you take to recover data?

Step 1 is to be sure that there are no signs of hardware damage. If the drive is making strange grinding or clicking noises then PCR will stop the job immediately. This type of hardware damage requires expensive equipment and highly specialized expertise.

If the drive is physically healthy and "recognized" then

Step 2 is to attempt to copy the data onto a stable safety backup drive. Hopefully the data is readable as files and folders. If not then the data should be still be copied to a backup drive as an image (exact byte for byte clone).

Step 3 is to analyze the drive with software to determine what may be causing the problem, and possible repair the drive back to normal software health.

If only raw data can be backed up, rather than in tact files and folders, then

Step 4 is to translate the raw data into files (documents, jpg images, MP3 files, etc). Even when data is only showing up as raw hexadecimal data there are ways to recover photo, document, mp3 and other file types. Hopefully you defragmented your hard drive periodically. The chances of recovering complete, in tact files decreases when raw data is fragmented.

 

Why do data recovery places charge so much? Is this "highway robbery"?

 

Specialized data recovery places recover data using very expensive equipment, with some individual systems costing upwards of $15,000. This one, which is capable of recovering from firmware module damage, "only" costs $9,870. Furthermore if the hard drive must be opened up, then a specialized dust-free "clean room" must be used. There is also a very steep learning curve to do advanced data recovery. Complicating things even more is the fact that the various drive manufacturers all use many different parts and software components for their drives and it constantly changes. The time needed to just analyze (not recover) data from a drive might be a full day -- and this is work being performed by highly trained technicians in a very specialized field!

 

NOTE: Please provide a backup media such as a secondary computer or backup drive.

 

If no data can be recovered then there is NO CHARGE.

 

PCR will simply copy data as it exists on your failing drive byte per byte. There is NO guarantee of the quality of data recovered. Some of your data files may be corrupted. An example of corrupted data might be an MP3 file that skips or won't play, or a document file that won't open due to damaged sectors on your hard drive. 

 

Does NOT include re-configuration of recovered data, settings, etc.  If you need to recover data to a new computer AND configure that computer to work with your old settings, programs, drivers, etc click here. Your data will be simply copied into a folder on the new computer or drive that you provide. That's it. Does not include data cleansing or organizing. PCR will typically recover the "documents & settings" folder (Windows XP) or "users" folder (Windows Vista), which is where documents, spreadsheets, emails, photos, audio, movies, mp3's and other personal items are stored by default. This is also where desktop items are stored. 

Does NOT include importing data into programs, organizing, management, or "cleansing" of files (example: deleting or renaming documents or files with long file names, importing emails back into your email program, placing files into specific folders, configuring internet account access settings). 

Any sharing & security permissions that you or other users may have applied to folders and files (to restrict access) will be lost after file transfer, however these attributes can later be reconfigured by you. Again, the folders and files will not be lost - only the permission attributes.

Does not include decryption of encrypted folders and files. Expect encrypted files to be lost if you didn't previously export a "certificate" while the computer was bootable to the desktop. A certificate must be backed up from a working computer that boots to the desktop.

Does not include decryption of Internet Explorer passwords, and other passwords or data for which a "certificate" must have been previously exported by the user. Again, a certificate must be backed up from a working computer that boots to the desktop.

Click here if you need data recovery and reconfiguration on another computer or new installation of Windows.

Palisades Computer Repair is limited by what exists on your hard drive, the health of the original drive and the health of the destination drive. Data corruption or loss can occur before, during, or after file transfer. PCR will always make a good faith effort to protect your data. Protecting your data is priority one. However Palisades Computer Repair nor it’s repair tech will be legally liable for any data lost. Customer is fully responsible to backup any important data. 

Other related pages: backup your data yourself.

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Since 7/31/09