Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Computer with internet access
- Telephone
- Notepad
- Pen or pencil
Step1
Decide what kind of service you are going to need from a data recovery company. One option is a local company so you can physically take the hardware to them. Another option is to find a company that can recover your data using remote sources. Also, determine how much money you are willing to spend to recover your data. Recovery rates will vary depending on whether you need remote, in-lab or on-site recovery services.
Step2
Use an internet search engine to find websites for data recovery companies. Search specifically for local companies if you are going to need in-lab or on-site service.
Step3
Visit the websites of potential data recovery companies. Make note of each company's available services, pricing system and testimonials or references. Feel free to eliminate any companies that don't offer the services you are looking for or whose prices are not close to what you are willing to spend. Many websites will list testimonials, but the testimonials are more dependable if they are from a recognizable company. Any company that lists a Fortune 500 company as a client should top your list of candidates. Check the "Privacy Policy" of any company you are considering. Many companies have specific privacy policies and some will follow your specific instructions on handling your recovered data.
Step4
Call the data recovery companies that you feel offer the service you need at a price you can afford. Eliminate companies that cannot be reached over the phone. You will want a company you know you can contact when necessary.
Step5
Verify with each company the service provided, whether remote, in-lab or on-site, and pricing structure that you are looking for. Answers that differ from what is stated on the company's website should be looked into further. Consistency in policy is something you should look for in a trustworthy data recovery company.
Step6
Ask the phone representative for each company about their success rate. Any company which claims a 100% success rate is either not being honest with you or has not been in business very long. Also, ask about any service guarantees and whether or not the rates are determined by the amount of data recovered. Finally, ask about the equipment they will use in the data recovery process. The equipment of companies to be considered for in-lab services will use a class 100 clean room and nondestructive methods.
Step7
Consider your findings with each company and decide which company is trustworthy to recover your lost data.
Comments
abcdatarecovery said
on 6/28/2008 Many have tried software without realising that the software could be putting a hard drive that is on its last legs at further risk of damage and render the data beyond recovery, if there are any unusual noises coming from your drive , clicking,ticking, knocking, scraping etc do not think software will bail you out, get help from a proper data recovery company, ask to see a copy of their latest test certificate, just because they change their filters does not mean the inside of their clean room is clean , and most have a bench inside an industrial unit which could be risking your drive during the rebuild, anything 0.3 microns or more getting caught by a static charge and trapped between the head and the platter will lead to a head crash and damage to the heads and more of your precious data, some say clean rooms are not necessary, so how come the best data recovery companies spend hundre
abcdatarecovery said
on 6/28/2008 Many have tried software without realising that the software could be putting a hard drive that is on its last legs at further risk of damage and render the data beyond recovery, if there are any unusual noises coming from your drive , clicking,ticking, knocking, scraping etc do not think software will bail you out, get help from a proper data recovery company, ask to see a copy of their latest test certificate, just because they change their filters does not mean the inside of their clean room is clean , and most have a bench inside an industrial unit which could be risking your drive during the rebuild, anything 0.3 microns or more getting caught by a static charge and trapped between the head and the platter will lead to a head crash and damage to the heads and more of your precious data, some say clean rooms are not necessary, so how come the best data recovery companies spend hundre
Data-Dude said
on 6/13/2008 I would just search for "I need Data Recovery"
data-recovery said
on 3/23/2008 cont - your hard drive have ?
The filters in cleanrooms need to be cleaned regularily , the only way to test for contamination of the room is by laser testing by an independant company.
Considering the cost of these facilities the annual test to get a perfomance sheet and hopefully pass at least ISO - 5 (class 100)is negligable, and should be the minimum since achieving class 100 is does not leave enough leaway incase the external area where
the filter is may contaminate the filters on one site more quickly than another. Hence better to have spare capacity and work to a higher standard IS0-3 (class 1)
data-recovery said
on 3/23/2008 No fortune 500 company allows the fact that sensitive data which needed a data recovery to be get the data back will admit to contravening its own data protection policy , disaster recovery policy or the fact that its data backup systems or controls were dependant on a data recovery company.
It would imply they broke the law and so any data recovery company claiming to have done data recovery for such companies is also in breach of trust by advertising the fact.
Many data recovery companies claim so much but cannot pove it, beware those claiming to be class 100 certified, if they cannot show current certification do not trust your drive to them, the cost is very little but confirms if they are working to the required standard of hard drive manufacturers.
Think of it as test of cleanliness, if their cleanroom (or more likely just a bench in a garage) is not clean what chance does