This page is part one of a three part series that provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by customers about hard drive data recovery. Check out why we’re one of the best data recovery companies here. See our If your question isn’t answered here, you can contact a customer service representative for immediate assistance by clicking here.
What is the procedure for data recovery?
Data recovery engineers will assess your hard drive and provide you with a data recovery quote, after which they will wait for your approval. If the drive has been physically damaged, engineers will work in an ISO Class 4 cleanroom to restore the drive to a usable state before creating a copy (clone) of the device for backup purposes. Even if the hard drive has suffered permanent damage, our engineers can frequently recover the data from the portion of the hard drive that has not been damaged. We work under carefully monitored conditions in order to reduce the likelihood of a second hard drive failure following the repairs.
If your hard drive has lost data due to an accidental deletion or another logical (non-physical) reason, we will first create a clone of the drive and then use proprietary tools to restore your files back to their original location on the drive.
After we have recovered your data, we will transfer your files to another device and then send that device to you for you to use. Alternatively, we can also save it to the cloud for your own personal secure access. For the time being, we keep a temporary copy of the data on-site in case anything happens to it. When it comes to standard hard drive recovery cases, Hard Drive Recovery Group has a “no data, no charge” policy in place. Our engineers will not charge you any fees if they are unable to recover your data. You will not be charged at all unless you have requested a specialized return shipping service.
Is the “no data, no charge” policy applicable in all circumstances?
If your situation necessitates immediate attention and it is after normal business hours, we may charge a non-refundable fee for our evaluation. Our “no data, no charge” policy, on the other hand, continues to apply to the quoted recovery fee. In special circumstances, such as RAID recovery, an exception to this policy may take effect.
What is the reason that some companies are charging evaluation fees?
Hard drive evaluations necessitate the involvement of trained data recovery engineers who must devote considerable time to analyzing failures; some companies charge a fee for this service. For standard cases, we provide free quotes because we recognize that no two cases are alike. If your case is not recoverable or if you decide not to pursue data recovery after receiving a quote, we do not believe you should be penalized in any way. In this way, you, the customer, are not exposed to any risks.
What happens if I decide not to proceed with data recovery after receiving an estimate?
We will ship your hard drive back to you using the shipping method you specify. You’ll only be responsible for shipping and handling costs. Your drive will be in its original condition; however, due to the fact that we open hard drive enclosures in a certified cleanroom during evaluations, some stickers may need to be changed.
If you do not require your hard drive to be returned, we can securely destroy and recycle it using appropriate media sanitization techniques at no additional cost to yourself.
Why must data recovery companies must first evaluate the hard drives they receive in order to provide a quote?
Even when hard drives are manufactured by the same company, no two cases are exactly alike. By evaluating the individual drive, we can determine whether or not it is possible to recover the data and which components will need to be replaced. Data recovery companies that charge flat fees have lower success rates than those that charge hourly rates because certain cases may not result in a profit.
Some other types of data storage devices, however, may be more appropriate for flat rate pricing because these devices typically do not require treatment in a cleanroom and their recovery processes are more predictable.
Is it possible to reduce the costs of data recovery by focusing on specific files?
In the majority of cases, no. When restoring hard drives that have been physically damaged, our engineers create a complete clone of the entire drive. During this process, we will not be able to target any specific files. In cases where there isn’t any physical damage, the first step is to create a complete backup, and targeting individual files doesn’t save any time or reduce the cost of the process.
Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a specific file (or a specific type of file), please let us know. No data, no charge policy applies to the files that you identify as being of particular importance. If we are unable to recover your data, you will not be charged a recovery fee.