Data Recovery Services? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fob_Magi · 05-03-2006, 08:55 PM

Well hard drive failed today.... also learned that my wife doesnt backup her files (*@^)$YG*)^

its not making any unusual noise, spins up fine, doesnt overheat, doesnt vibrate more than usual... but my computer (and 3 others I have tried) won't recognize it in bios or in windows...

anyways back to the question... anybody have any experience with a data recovery service in the USA? I know its expensive.. but there is shit on there that we gotta have (actually she has to have)...

Jinn · 05-03-2006, 11:38 PM

What caused it to spontaneously fail? If it spins up, it's a damn good sign. It all depends on how it blew up in the first place.

Hardknock · 05-04-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fob_Magi

Well hard drive failed today.... also learned that my wife doesnt backup her files (*@^)$YG*)^

its not making any unusual noise, spins up fine, doesnt overheat, doesnt vibrate more than usual... but my computer (and 3 others I have tried) won't recognize it in bios or in windows...

anyways back to the question... anybody have any experience with a data recovery service in the USA? I know its expensive.. but there is shit on there that we gotta have (actually she has to have)...

Like what exactly?

I'll tell you right now, data recovery services will have you paying out of your ass to get back that data on that dead drive.

Now, you gotta ask yourself, do you REALLY need that data?

dlish · 05-04-2006, 02:35 AM

try the FBI.. i hear they're really good at that sorta stuff

God of Thunder · 05-04-2006, 04:10 AM

There's a product called Spinrite that I have used to recover data before. It works pretty good for recovering data from bad sectors.

It's $89.00 US, but that is a LOT cheaper than data recovery services.

Fob_Magi · 05-04-2006, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JinnKai

What caused it to spontaneously fail? If it spins up, it's a damn good sign. It all depends on how it blew up in the first place.

It froze while I was opening a webpage... I rebooted and it no longer recognizes the drive...

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardknock

Now, you gotta ask yourself, do you REALLY need that data?

Yes, we really need that data... its all of her records from when she operated her own buisness for 4 years, if we ever get audited we'd be screwed. Additionally she teaches a class at a community college... grades for the whole semester are on there (not to mention past semesters)... she willing to pay her salary for the whole semester to get it recovered (~$2000).

Quote:

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

There's a product called Spinrite that I have used to recover data before. It works pretty good for recovering data from bad sectors.

It's $89.00 US, but that is a LOT cheaper than data recovery services.

but if the computer wont recognize the hardware in bios how is a piece of software going to help?

Cynthetiq · 05-04-2006, 05:51 AM

there are several programs I've used in the past, Handy Recovery if the drive spins up and the boards aren't bad. It can take overnight or even a couple days but I have recovered lots of data.

OnTrack is the most widely used in the Fortune500 circles. They only charge $100 to look at the drive, then will charge by total amount of data restored. OnTrack also has some software that can check the drive for what it can recover without their "clean room" systems.

As far as even if the BIOS or Windows doesn't see it, sometimes the recovery tools can still access the failed drive.

cyrnel · 05-04-2006, 06:17 AM

No noises is a wonderful non-symptom. You'll probably get everything back.

Best not to keep experimenting. Depending on the problem you can do additional damage. It can be educational to play with a junk drive but given the value of your data you should pass it off to a good shop.

Someone big like Drivesavers will charge ~$40-60/GB, billed by drive size. You don't get a break if all they had to do was swap controllers. You're paying for their experience in knowing each drive and which parts can be safely swapped, how to do it carefully, and for deeper analysis if it's necessary. I often recover drives but on a best-effort basis - no promisies. Your description tells me you should pay for the experience. Get the drive model and serial numbers. Call around and get bids.

Not that it helps right now, but each week that passes usually eases the burden. People often find alternative ways to get their data - peers, email history, old students? Put the drive in a safe place in case you later need professional recovery for an audit.

Good luck!

Fob_Magi · 05-06-2006, 04:36 PM

thanx... guys... sent it to ontrack.. hopefully it will only cost an arm...

05-03-2006, 08:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	Data Recovery Services? Well hard drive failed today.... also learned that my wife doesnt backup her files (@^)$YG)^ its not making any unusual noise, spins up fine, doesnt overheat, doesnt vibrate more than usual... but my computer (and 3 others I have tried) won't recognize it in bios or in windows... anyways back to the question... anybody have any experience with a data recovery service in the USA? I know its expensive.. but there is shit on there that we gotta have (actually she has to have)... __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor.

05-03-2006, 11:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	What caused it to spontaneously fail? If it spins up, it's a damn good sign. It all depends on how it blew up in the first place. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

05-04-2006, 02:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	try the FBI.. i hear they're really good at that sorta stuff __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

05-04-2006, 04:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
God of Thunder Talk nerdy to me Location: Flint, MI	There's a product called Spinrite that I have used to recover data before. It works pretty good for recovering data from bad sectors. It's $89.00 US, but that is a LOT cheaper than data recovery services. __________________ I reject your reality, and substitute my own -- Adam Savage

05-04-2006, 05:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	there are several programs I've used in the past, Handy Recovery if the drive spins up and the boards aren't bad. It can take overnight or even a couple days but I have recovered lots of data. OnTrack is the most widely used in the Fortune500 circles. They only charge $100 to look at the drive, then will charge by total amount of data restored. OnTrack also has some software that can check the drive for what it can recover without their "clean room" systems. As far as even if the BIOS or Windows doesn't see it, sometimes the recovery tools can still access the failed drive. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

05-04-2006, 06:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	No noises is a wonderful non-symptom. You'll probably get everything back. Best not to keep experimenting. Depending on the problem you can do additional damage. It can be educational to play with a junk drive but given the value of your data you should pass it off to a good shop. Someone big like Drivesavers will charge ~$40-60/GB, billed by drive size. You don't get a break if all they had to do was swap controllers. You're paying for their experience in knowing each drive and which parts can be safely swapped, how to do it carefully, and for deeper analysis if it's necessary. I often recover drives but on a best-effort basis - no promisies. Your description tells me you should pay for the experience. Get the drive model and serial numbers. Call around and get bids. Not that it helps right now, but each week that passes usually eases the burden. People often find alternative ways to get their data - peers, email history, old students? Put the drive in a safe place in case you later need professional recovery for an audit. Good luck! __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

05-06-2006, 04:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fob_Magi Psycho Location: Texas	thanx... guys... sent it to ontrack.. hopefully it will only cost an arm... __________________ Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, "If I live I will kill you, if I die you are forgiven". Such is the Rule of Honor.