Data recovery

[woodgnomeknowe]

Hi. Ive just been told by a local company that the Ext hard drive that is no longer being read will need to be sent to a data recovery company as it hss physically stopped working.
My question is, can anyone recommend a reliable company preferably in Scotland but anywhere in the UK?
I was advised to send it to Ontrack in London but i notice their accounts are overdue so from experience, that is normally a red flag and obviously i cant afford to chance losing the drive if something goes wrong with them.
Thanks folks

 

[Glanza]

We've used drive savers in the past, free collection / inspection / price for work. If you don't want it doing they send it back FOC.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Scotland is a bit vague
I would prefer a place where you can go
In person rather than posting my drive
And of course no fee upfront
Theres one in dumbarton road yoker called pits
Though you could be absolutely nowhere near there

 

[Cyber-Mav]

What iv noticed is a lot of companies change to "take a look" and and just tell you it can't be recovered and to pay their fee for looking at it and pay delivery for the drive back or they can dispose of it.
I suspect they don't even look at the drive and make easy money.
Only company I trust is ontrack.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Yeah that's a possibility

Partly why I would prefer somewhere
You can go In person To actually see physical premises
Definitely need to do your due diligence
before hand especially if posting it

Plus if something is absolutely critical data
Theres always a risk it might go missing
In transit
May not happen often but it does happen
My last mm purchase disappeared in the royal mail void
Never to be seen again

The op never actually mentioned what
Local company they used
What level of expertise they had
The drive might actually be OK
Might be one you could shuck and connect to
Your pc etc

 

[woodgnomeknowe]

Scotland is a bit vague
I would prefer a place where you can go
In person rather than posting my drive
And of course no fee upfront
Theres one in dumbarton road yoker called pits
Though you could be absolutely nowhere near there

Scotland is not vague. Anywhere in Scotland is not a problem to me, hence why i said it. Anywhere else in the UK is also not an issue. You are correct, due diligence is key and thats how i role. Thanks for the reply

 

[woodgnomeknowe]

What iv noticed is a lot of companies change to "take a look" and and just tell you it can't be recovered and to pay their fee for looking at it and pay delivery for the drive back or they can dispose of it.
I suspect they don't even look at the drive and make easy money.
Only company I trust is ontrack.

Appreciate what you are saying but the company i used can be trusted 100%. Unfortunately theres no guarantee with the bigger corporates either. Ive been around long enough to know that.

 

[Armageus]

We've use this company before - they also offer no data no fee

Data Recovery - Disklabs Digital Forensics and Data Recovery

Disklabs are recognised industry leaders in the recovery of data from every type of computer, laptop and portable backup device. Ring us on 01827 55999 to discuss your data loss. Disklabs have recovered data since 1997 and are proud to be a Data Recovery partner for Western Digital since 2003.

www.disklabs.com

 

[Armageus]

i notice their accounts are overdue so from experience, that is normally a red flag and obviously i cant afford to chance losing the drive if something goes wrong with them.

Unlikely that ontrack or going anywhere, and accounts being overdue isn't a red flag for anything

 

[woodgnomeknowe]

We've use this company before - they also offer no data no fee

Data Recovery - Disklabs Digital Forensics and Data Recovery

Disklabs are recognised industry leaders in the recovery of data from every type of computer, laptop and portable backup device. Ring us on 01827 55999 to discuss your data loss. Disklabs have recovered data since 1997 and are proud to be a Data Recovery partner for Western Digital since 2003.

www.disklabs.com

Thanks

 

[Quartz]

Hi. Ive just been told by a local company that the Ext hard drive that is no longer being read will need to be sent to a data recovery company as it hss physically stopped working.

What exactly have they tried? In particular, have they tried to take the HDD out of the enclosure and put it in another enclosure?

I have used Ontrack before, many, many years ago. Do be aware that they can be seriously expensive.

 

[woodgnomeknowe]

What exactly have they tried? In particular, have they tried to take the HDD out of the enclosure and put it in another enclosure?

I have used Ontrack before, many, many years ago. Do be aware that they can be seriously expensive.

Yes, i believe one of the things they did was to try another enclosure.
I am aware of how expensive Ontrack are and thats the call i have to make obviously as it has all family photos going back 30 plus years and other data.
I just need a compsny i can trust

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Unfortunately not all drives can be shucked
Manufacturers have made it harder by various means
Worst case scenario is if
Theres a bridge encryption chip

Hopefully you do get everything recovered
If you do please make multiple backups
Anything irreplaceable should have at least 3 copies