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For those who still don't have an easy and effective backup system such as ABACUS, we can also recover data from your drive in the unfortunate event of a system failure.
We've answered some of the most commonly-asked questions about recovering lost data, tracking your case, and more below.
What is Data Recovery?
What should I do right now and what should I NOT do?
What is your policy on confidentiality?
What is the data recovery turnaround time?
What is the cost of data recovery services?
How can I prevent data loss?
How do I package and send media?
Can all lost data be retrieved?
Can I use disc repair or software recovery utilities?
What is the evaluation process and how long will it take?
What are the payment options?
What is Data Recovery?
Computer storage systems can fail in many different ways but the data stored on them is not always completely lost. The technique used to recover the information depends on the type of failure (file corruption, virus attack, mechanical or electrical problem and human error). Sometimes these problems occur in combination. Our lab is prepared to address all of these failure modes with multiple techniques.
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What should I do right now and what should I NOT do?
Stop using the hard drive or storage device that requires recovery. If your drive is making unusual noises or showing other obvious signs of distress, shut it down immediately and do not power it up again. Before you forget them, write down all symptoms of the failure and all recent actions and events involving your computer. Contact our technicians for additional advice (which will depend on the type of media involved). Contact us free of charge on our toll-free number.
Do not perform any operation on the storage device that will further damage the physical device or the data on it. In particular, do not write to any of the files on the device or add additional files. Do not format the drive. Do not modify the partitions on the drive (using FDISK or any other partitioning software).
Above all, do not try to open the device to see what is wrong. Hard drives are particularly sensitive to contamination and should only be opened in a microscopically clean environment.
If you have a backup, evaluate how current it is and if it will fulfill your needs. Consider restoring your backup to a different system in case you find that critical files are missing or outdated.
Avoid using do-it-yourself recovery software. These utilities can overwrite data on the drive and modify the control structures. If these operations are performed incorrectly, you risk complete loss of the data. You must balance the cost of total loss against your knowledge and experience before using such tools.
If you seek help from a trusted local authority, please remember that professional data recovery is a skill learned from practice and may require highly specialized tools.
While data recovery can seem expensive because it is labor intensive, recreating your data may be equally as expensive. Also, the turnaround time for data recovery is usually much faster than the time it would take to recreate your lost files from scratch.
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What is your policy on confidentiality?
We offer a secure environment in which your information is kept private. We will protect the confidentiality of your data against unauthorized disclosure using the same degree of care as we use to protect our own confidential information.
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What is the data recovery turnaround time?
Average turnaround time, excluding customer wait time is 2 days. Turnaround times vary and depend on many factors:
- How fragmented or corrupt the data is and how much time it takes to repair.
- How badly damaged the media is and how long it takes to read the entire drive to make a mirror image.
- How urgent the customer needs are. Occasional cases can be expedited during regular business hours if the lab utilization allows. (For a premium fee, Seagate Data Recovery Services offers a Critical Response Service that will work on your case around the clock).
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What is the cost of data recovery service?
The greatest share of the data recovery cost is labor. Other costs sometimes enter into the calculation, too, such as replacement parts and equipment costs. Your cost will depend on the type of storage device that has failed, the nature of that failure and how many hours are required to rebuild the data.
Call and we will be happy to give you a free consultation for your specific situation.
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How can I prevent data loss?
An online backup solution such as ABACUS is the most reliable and cost effective strategy for preventing data loss (read more...).
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How do I package and send media?
Only your drive is required for data recovery. For internal drives, remove the drive from the computer (get expert help if necessary) and ship only the drive. Enclose the drive in a SeaShell container or an ESD (electrostatic discharge) bag. For external drives, ship the drive in its enclosure along with its cables and power supplies. .
It is extremely important that your hard drive be packaged carefully to avoid any additional damage during shipment.
Ship the drive in its original manufacturer's packaging if possible, or pack the drive with two inches of solid foam padding inside a sturdy corrugated cardboard box. Do not use foam packing pellets, bubble wrap or newspaper.
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Can all lost data be retrieved?
There are occasions when damage to the data is permanent and a complete recovery is not possible. However, it is rare that absolutely no data is retrievable. Our expert team can usually recover some of the data even in extreme conditions.
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Can I use disc repair or software recovery utilities?
Maybe. Think first about how much your data is worth.
Be aware that no utility can make an informed decision about what to save and what to overwrite. The user of the software must apply some experience and judgment.
Never use a repair utility program unless it allows you to save an "undo" file of the repairs it makes. Include the undo file if you later send the drive to us.
Most importantly, do not format the drive or change the partitions. Either action can result in permanent loss of your data.
If your drive makes any unusual noises, do not attempt to use any type of utility software. Clicking, buzzing, scraping and other metallic noises may be indicative of mechanical failure. Shut down the computer to avoid further damage to the drive and its data. Send your drive to us for professional recovery in our cleanroom environment.
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What is the evaluation process and how long will it take?
Once we receive your media, our team will immediately start working on your case to determine the extent of the damage. We may or may not determine the root cause of the failure. We do not attempt to fix the drive, but we will assess the amount of work or parts involved to get the drive working well enough to read the data.
We strive to have the evaluations completed within 24 hrs of our receipt of the drive. We will then contact you with our evaluation results.
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What are the terms of payment?
Payment is due in full upon completion of successful recovery, prior to release of data (whether shipped, picked up or downloaded), unless by special previous arrangement.
Company checks and bank transfers are welcome. We also accept VISA, Mastercard, and American Express.
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