Data Recovery HDD

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I have a Compaq Presario notebook and according to my local PC shop, the HD has died. Apart from lots of important work related stuff, I also have the latest batch of photos of my Grandson. I’ve been looking on the net and there seem to be several firms offering data recovery services. Does anyone have direct experience with these services and if so are there any traps to watch out for?

Thanks

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I suspect you will find it a very expensive exercise, since it is what is usually called a “distress purchase”…

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I suspect you will find it a very expensive exercise, since it is what is usually called a “distress purchase”…

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I agree with both John & Cowboy.

Data recovery is extremely pricey and not always successful.

Not all “dead” HD’s are really gone. A “tech” who doesn’t want to extend themselves to get a drive working again, will just pronounce it dead and install a new HD. A lot easier than going the extra mile to do a little CPR. Have it checked by someone else.

Bob

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I agree with both John & Cowboy.

Data recovery is extremely pricey and not always successful.

Not all “dead” HD’s are really gone. A “tech” who doesn’t want to extend themselves to get a drive working again, will just pronounce it dead and install a new HD. A lot easier than going the extra mile to do a little CPR. Have it checked by someone else.

Bob

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I read somewhere that putting a ‘dead’ hard drive in the freezer for a while will sometimes do a Lazarus on it long enough to recover the data. Don’t know anyone who has tried it though, but it seems reasonably risk-free.

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I read somewhere that putting a ‘dead’ hard drive in the freezer for a while will sometimes do a Lazarus on it long enough to recover the data. Don’t know anyone who has tried it though, but it seems reasonably risk-free.

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Conversely, I have heard that putting it in the oven (less than 80C !!) might also have a similar, very temporary, restorative effect. And see here!

(I can hear the sound of Urban Myths flying around!!)

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Conversely, I have heard that putting it in the oven (less than 80C !!) might also have a similar, very temporary, restorative effect. And see here!

(I can hear the sound of Urban Myths flying around!!)

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An interesting reading about this concept right here

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Ah – just the 74 pages, then?!

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Ah – just the 74 pages, then?!

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An interesting reading about this concept right here

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Hi Joe,

Sadly I’ve had recourse to use the services of one, I don’t recall just who, of these companies. They were very expensive and while they recovered a large percentage of files the critical stuff proved to be lost and gone forever. Guess only you can judge if the cost is worth the chance of recovering what you want.

If it was my call and I had no other chance of getting the photos back I’d be very tempted to try.

Let me know if you want more details, I’ll drag it out of my (paper based) files.

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I found a local data recovery service (Sydney) who were both reasonably priced and successful. I guess that price is relative and depends on how badly you need the missing files. These guys charged less for the total service than some were asking for a quote. All up, I reckon they did the job for about 30% of the fees of most others and I have to say that I am happy with the service. It cost me about AU$600 and for that, my wife is speaking to me and I no longer wake up in a cold sweat after dreaming about irate clients (or wives).

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions.

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Glad it worked out, and that you’re still married! This emphasises yet again the need for a regular and reliable backup.
(Must remember to do one this weekend…!)

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[indent]

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(Must remember to do one this weekend…!)

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[/indent] Me too! Actually mine now current, I got virused about two weeks ago!

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[indent]

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(Must remember to do one this weekend…!)

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[/indent] Me too! Actually mine now current, I got virused about two weeks ago!

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Glad it worked out, and that you’re still married! This emphasises yet again the need for a regular and reliable backup.
(Must remember to do one this weekend…!)

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I found a local data recovery service (Sydney) who were both reasonably priced and successful. I guess that price is relative and depends on how badly you need the missing files. These guys charged less for the total service than some were asking for a quote. All up, I reckon they did the job for about 30% of the fees of most others and I have to say that I am happy with the service. It cost me about AU$600 and for that, my wife is speaking to me and I no longer wake up in a cold sweat after dreaming about irate clients (or wives).

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions.

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Hi Joe,

Sadly I’ve had recourse to use the services of one, I don’t recall just who, of these companies. They were very expensive and while they recovered a large percentage of files the critical stuff proved to be lost and gone forever. Guess only you can judge if the cost is worth the chance of recovering what you want.

If it was my call and I had no other chance of getting the photos back I’d be very tempted to try.

Let me know if you want more details, I’ll drag it out of my (paper based) files.

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