If the drive is failing, switch it off now. Every restart of a damaged drive can destroy more data. Don't run recovery software on it or keep trying it.
Signs you need this
- The drive clicks, beeps or grinds
- It was dropped, especially while running
- Water, coffee or another liquid got into the laptop or drive
- Fire, heat or smoke damage
- A power surge and now it will not spin
- A burning smell from the drive or its board
Why damaged drives need a clean room
Inside a hard drive, the read/write heads float a tiny fraction of a millimetre above the platters that hold your data. A drop can damage the heads, and a single speck of dust inside the drive can scratch the surface. That is why damaged drives are only ever opened in our clean room.
We diagnose the fault first, then replace the failed parts, sometimes using a matching donor drive, and copy your data to a healthy drive.
What to do right now
- Switch the drive or computer off and leave it off
- Do not shake, tap or open the drive
- Do not put it in rice or try to dry it with heat
- If it is wet, keep it in a sealed bag and bring it in as it is
- Do not run recovery software on a clicking drive
Damage we deal with
Head crashes, seized motors, damaged circuit boards, water and liquid damage, fire and heat damage, and drives damaged by power surges.
Prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Initial consultationFind out what has gone wrong | Free |
| Clean room diagnosticNeeded for drives with physical faults | £79 + VAT |
| Physical recovery on a single driveLabour, plus a donor drive if needed | £450 + VAT |
| Donor driveWe send you a link to buy the right donor drive. If you'd like us to buy it for you, we add 30% plus any import charges and VAT | You buy and provide it |
Prices exclude VAT. We confirm your price before any recovery work starts. See the full data recovery price list.
Questions
Can data be recovered from a water-damaged drive?
Often, yes, if it has not been powered on since. Do not dry it with heat. Keep it sealed and bring it in quickly.
Why does it cost more than a deleted file recovery?
Physical recovery means opening the drive in a clean room, replacing failed parts and carefully reading damaged media, which takes specialist equipment and time.
What is a clean room diagnostic?
We open the drive in the clean room to find exactly what has failed, so we can give you an accurate quote for the recovery.