The $300 Data Recovery process, from A-to-Z

1) Receive hard drive Client will drop off (or mail-in, including the "mail-in" form) the bad hard drive and an external hard drive to recover the data to (unless you plan to purchase an external hard drive from us).

2) Inventory hard drive Verify hard drive, add client and hard drive information into database, label all dropped off devices with client name, send notification to client via e-mail.

3) Diagnostic analysis Determine the underlying failure. This involves removing a hard drive from it's enclosure, visually inspecting the hard drive and PCB, connecting the hard drive to a hardware data recovery interface, and listening to the sounds the hard drive makes. This may also involve testing various components on the hard drive and testing the drive's firmware.

4) Revive hard drive Depending on the problem, various steps may be required to revive the drive so it's accessible on a base-level by our data recovery hardware tools. This includes locating donor parts, repairing firmware modules, and replacing bad components on the PCB.

5) Pre-configuration Take various steps to minimize risk and ensure a successful recovery. Often this includes mapping the heads of the hard drive, disabling advanced (and often problematic) features of the hard drive, and controlling the environment of the hard drive.

6) Clone hard drive The most important step is cloning as much data as possible from the bad hard drive to one of our good hard drives. This process may take several hours, or even days, depending on the problem and size of the hard drive.

7) Logically inspect hard drive Diagnose the hard drive on a logical level. At this point, the hard drive should be available to software tools on a data recovery computer. The file structure of the hard drive will be inspected to determine the damage (if any).

8) Scan/extract data Hard drive's file system is thoroughly scanned using various software data recovery tools and data is extracted to the client's external hard drive. Sometimes two or more software tools are required to successfully recover all the client's data.

9) Verify priority files and file integrity The most important files (listed on the mail-in form, or noted when dropped off) are verified to ensure they are working properly. Other files across the hard drive will be tested and structure of the file system is verified.

10) Virus scan The external hard drive is virus scanned and any found viruses are repaired or removed.

11) Notify client Client is notified of the data recovery outcome, $300 flat fee is paid, and the hard drives are available for pickup, or drive is mailed back to the client. If the data can't be recovered, there is no charge (really!).