Why Our Process Works
Most data recovery attempts fail because people work on the original drive directly. Every read attempt on a failing drive risks further damage. Our image-first workflow prioritizes creating a sector-by-sector copy before attempting any file extraction.
We use professional tools (PC-3000, DeepSpar, Rusolut) that communicate directly with drive firmware and hardware. These tools can stabilize drives, repair firmware issues, read degraded sectors, and create forensic images that consumer software cannot touch. Our No Data, No Charge policy means you only pay if we succeed.
All hard drive work requiring clean conditions is performed on a ULPA-filtered laminar-flow clean bench, validated to 0.02 µm particle count. We validate airflow and particle count. No spacesuits, no theater; just proven engineering. Remote customers can follow our shipping guide for safe drive packaging.
Our 6-Step Recovery Process
From initial evaluation to verified delivery, every step is designed to maximize your chances of recovery.
- 1
Free Evaluation
We examine the drive or device to determine the failure type and recovery feasibility.
What we do:
- Visual inspection for physical damage
- Connection test to see if drive is detected
- SMART data analysis if accessible
- Listen for mechanical failures (clicking, beeping)
- Firmware detection and ROM reading
- Initial recovery odds assessment
Outcome
You receive a firm quote, honest odds of success, and estimated timeline before any paid work begins.
- 2
Stabilize Access
We stabilize the drive enough to begin imaging without causing further damage.
What we do:
- Firmware repair if drive is not detected
- ROM reading and adaptive repair for initialization issues
- Translator repair for frozen drives
- Power management adjustments to prevent spindown
- Head unsticking for beeping drives (clean-bench procedure)
- Initial test read to verify heads can access platters
Outcome
Drive is stable enough to attempt sector-by-sector imaging, or we've identified it needs head swap first.
- 3
Clean-Bench Work (if needed)
For mechanical failures, we open the drive in a particle-filtered environment.
What we do:
- Head swap for clicking or degraded heads
- Stuck head removal for beeping drives
- Platter swap for spindle motor failures
- Donor parts selection and testing
- Laminar flow ULPA-filtered clean bench work
- Post-swap initialization and test read
Outcome
Drive has working heads and can spin up for imaging, or we've determined platters are too damaged.
- 4
Sector-by-Sector Imaging
We copy all readable data to a healthy drive before attempting file extraction.
What we do:
- PC-3000 or DeepSpar imaging for degraded drives
- Sector map creation to track bad areas
- Multiple read passes on problem sectors
- Reverse direction reading for head degradation
- Timeout adjustments to prevent head damage
- Image verification and integrity checks
Outcome
We have a complete or partial image of your drive that we can work with safely without risking the original.
- 5
Data Recovery
We extract files from the image using filesystem reconstruction and carving tools.
What we do:
- Filesystem repair for corrupted metadata
- Partition table reconstruction
- File carving for deleted or unallocated files
- RAID array virtual reconstruction
- Encryption handling if keys are available
- File verification and corruption checking
Outcome
Your files are extracted, organized, and ready for delivery.
- 6
Verification & Delivery
We verify the recovered data and deliver it via your preferred method.
What we do:
- Random sampling of recovered files to verify integrity
- File count and size verification
- Folder structure preservation
- Delivery to external drive, USB, or secure download
- Original drive securely erased or returned
- Final invoice and recovery report
Outcome
You receive your data on a new drive or via download, with documentation of what was recovered.
Professional Tools & Equipment
The difference between success and failure often comes down to having the right tools.
PC-3000
Professional data recovery system for hard drive firmware repair, sector imaging, and head map adjustments. Industry standard for serious recovery work.
DeepSpar Disk Imager
Forensic imaging tool with precise head control, reverse reading, and sector skip management for severely degraded drives.
Rusolut VNR
NAND flash recovery tool for chip-off data extraction from SD cards, USB drives, and unencrypted SSDs. Not applicable to Apple devices with T2/M-series or Secure Enclave hardware encryption.
Laminar Flow Clean Bench
ULPA-filtered clean bench for head swaps, platter work, and other procedures requiring particle-free air. Validated to 0.02 µm particle count.
Donor Parts Inventory
Extensive inventory of donor drives for head assemblies, PCBs, and firmware chips. Critical for minimizing turnaround time.
R-Studio & UFS Explorer
Professional file recovery and RAID reconstruction software for filesystem repair and data carving.
Recovery Types & Methods
Different failures require different approaches. Here's how we handle common scenarios.
Logical Recovery
File deletion, corruption, formatting
Drive is mechanically healthy but files are deleted or filesystem is corrupted. We image the drive, then repair filesystem metadata to extract files. For deleted files in unallocated space where filesystem records no longer exist, we fall back to file carving.
Cost: $100-$500
Firmware Recovery
Drive not detected, initialization failure
Drive powers on but doesn't show up in BIOS or Disk Management. We use PC-3000 to repair ROM, adaptives, translator, and firmware modules until the drive initializes.
Cost: $600–$900
Mechanical Recovery
Clicking, beeping, head failures
Clicking or beeping indicates physical head or motor failure. We perform clean-bench head swaps or stuck head removal, then image immediately before donor heads degrade.
Cost: $1,200–$1,500
SSD / Flash Recovery
Controller failure, chip damage
SSD and flash recovery requires different tools. We repair controller firmware, or on unencrypted drives where the controller is dead, we remove NAND chips and read them directly with specialized hardware. This does not apply to Apple T2/M-series devices, where the encryption keys are bound to the Secure Enclave.
Cost: $200–$1,500
RAID / NAS Recovery
Multiple drive failures, controller failure
We image each member drive individually, then virtually reconstruct the RAID array on our workstation. Failed drives are recovered using standard methods first.
Timeline: 1-3 weeks | Cost: $300-$2,000+
Mobile Device Recovery
iPhone, iPad, Android data recovery
iPhone and mobile recovery requires board-level repair to restore power so the Secure Enclave can decrypt data in place. Chip-off NAND reading does not work on iPhones or iPads; the AES-256 keys never leave the SoC.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks | Cost: $300-$650
Process Questions
Common questions about how we recover your data.
Why is image-first recovery important?
How long does the data recovery process take?
Can I watch the recovery process?
What if the imaging process fails?
Why use PC-3000 instead of data recovery software?
When is clean-bench work required?
How do you source donor parts for head swaps?
How is RAID recovery different from single-drive recovery?
Ready to start your recovery?
Free evaluation on all data recovery jobs. No Data, No Charge guarantee. Mail-in service available from all 50 states.