SMR Hard Drive Data Recovery

At Rossmann Repair Group, we specialize in the recovery of data from Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) hard drives, which is new tech. SMR drives are widely used in consumer and enterprise environments since they provide higher storage capacity for less money. Their unique structure makes them very difficult to recover when they fail.


If your SMR hard drive is not working, we have all the tools necessary to get your data back!

Why Rossmann Repair?

What Makes SMR Drives Unique and Challenging for Recovery?

SMR hard drives write data in overlapping tracks, like shingles on a roof. This allows for higher storage density. While this technology maximizes capacity, it makes recovery more difficult due to the following reasons:

  • Overlapping Data Tracks: Modifying or recovering one track risks overwriting or corrupting adjacent tracks.
  • Second-Level Translators (SLT): These firmware components map logical block addresses (LBA) to physical block addresses (PBA). If the translator is damaged, the drive can return empty or corrupted data.
  • Trim-like UNMAP Commands: SMR drives used in host-managed or host-aware configurations can process UNMAP commands (similar to TRIM for SSDs) in some systems. These commands tell the drive to mark certain data blocks as no longer in use, which can sometimes erase important mapping information in the Second-Level Translator (SLT) that connects logical addresses to physical storage locations. Deleted translator metadata or zone mappings can prevent reconstruction of the overlapping data tracks unique to SMR drives.
  • Firmware Dependence: SMR drives heavily rely on firmware for managing data zones, and corruption here can make recovery extremely complex.

Who Uses SMR Hard Drives?

SMR drives are commonly found in:

  1. Consumer Electronics: External hard drives like the WD My Passport and Seagate Backup Plus.
  2. Network Attached Storage (NAS): Models like the WD Red series often use SMR drives for storage solutions.
  3. Surveillance Systems: High-capacity drives for storing security camera footage, such as some of Seagate’s SMR-based surveillance models.

Common Issues with SMR Drives

  1. Quick Formatting:
  • If you format a drive and unplug it, old-style CMR drives (CMR referring to Conventional Magnetic Recording) are trivial to recover with standard software like R-Studio or UFS. Sometimes a pain, but mostly doable.
  • With SMR drives like some WD My Passport models, you have to deal with second translators, translator dependencies, and you may not even get all the data from it.
  • Basic software like UFS Explorer and R-Studio will show only empty sectors with zeroes in a case like this where the drive was formatted.
  • Recovery often requires advanced tools to bypass damaged SLTs and restore fragmented data, like the Acelab PC3000.
  1. Firmware Corruption:
  • SMR-specific firmware handling is more complicated compared to older CMR drives.
  • If the second translator has an issue, the drive may click even if the heads are good, which can confuse new technicians into believing the heads are a problem.
  • Sometimes this means blocking access to the service area or special modules.
  • Software like UFS Explorer and R-Studio will not handle this. In this case, UFS stands for "u find shit" - only zeroes :'(

Our SMR Data Recovery Process

We use advanced technology and methods to deal with the challenges specific to SMR recovery:

  1. Translator Repair:
    • We rebuild or bypass the damaged second-level translator to recover fragmented data.
  2. Firmware Restoration:
    • Our tools safely repair corrupted firmware modules to get the drive back to working condition so we can recover all of its data.
  3. Zone Recovery:
    • By carefully handling overlapping zones, we ensure adjacent data tracks remain intact during recovery.
  4. Physical Repairs:
    • For drives with mechanical issues, our Purair VLF-48 laminar flow bench provides the controlled environment necessary for repairs. The Purair VLF-48 Laminar Flow Bench allows an ultra-clean workspace with ULPA filtration capturing 99.999% of particles down to 0.1 microns. Its vertical airflow design minimizes turbulence, making it perfect for handling delicate media during data recovery. We are NOT opening your drive in any old office!
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Watch a Real Data Recovery Service below!

Why SMR Data Recovery Requires Experienced Technicians

Recovering data from SMR hard drives is a highly specialized task that requires lots of technical expertise & precision. New technicians working with tools like the PC3000 or performing cleanroom repairs on a laminar flow bench are on their way to success if they are committed to learning, but newer technicians often make mistakes that lead to permanent data loss. Here’s why choosing an experienced technician matters!


Common Mistakes Made by Inexperienced Technicians

  1. Mishandling Second-Level Translators (SLT):

    • SMR drives rely on SLTs to map logical data to physical locations. A newbie may overwrite or improperly rebuild this translator, causing irreversible data loss.
    • Using generic PC3000 scripts without understanding SMR-specific firmware quirks can result in fragmented or missing data.
  2. Damage to Overlapping Data Tracks:

    • SMR drives write data in overlapping tracks, meaning a mistake in one area can overwrite or corrupt adjacent tracks.
    • Inexperienced techs often use cloning methods meant for standard old CMR drives which can destroy the integrity of overlapping zones.
  3. Improper Use of Cleanroom Tools:

    • Handling delicate internal components like heads or platters in a laminar flow bench requires experience. Common errors include:
      • Scratching platters while removing heads.
      • Misaligning replacement components, rendering the drive unreadable.
  4. Not addressing UNMAP Issues:

    • New techs sometimes overlook the impact of Trim commands, which can prematurely delete data necessary for a data recovery from SMR drives. Misconfiguring recovery software can make things worse.
  5. Inadequate Firmware Handling:

    • SMR drives depend heavily on proprietary firmware for managing shingled zones. Without training a technician might apply firmware fixes meant for CMR drives, bricking the device.

Why Choose Rossmann Repair Group?

  • Certified Expertise: Our technicians are extensively trained and certified by ACE Lab, the developers of PC3000. We understand the nuances of SMR drives and their unique recovery challenges. While "Apple certification" is useless & often means the technician is not allowed to do real repairs, acelab's actually matter!
  • Industry-Leading Tools: We
  • Experience You Can Trust: With years of expertise in data recovery, we handle cases other labs cannot.
  • Top Rated: No, really. Check google maps - we have the highest(and most) ratings of any data recovery company.
  • No paid advertising: No banner ads, no yelp promotions, no google adwords. We rely on word of mouth and videos demonstrating our abilities. The lack of paid advertising means the savings are passed onto you.

Contact Us Today

If your SMR hard drive has failed, don’t lose hope. Contact Rossmann Repair Group for professional data recovery services!

We Can Extract Information From These Types of Media at Our Lab

Laptop Hard Drives
Liquid damaged iPhones
Physically damaged USB flash drives
SD & microSD cards
WD MyPassport
Desktop Hard Drives
External Hard Drives
USB Hard Drives
RAID configurations
SATA, IDE, SCSI, SAS, SSD Hard Drives

Our Rates?

Giving a price without seeing the device, assessing its condition is impossible. Everyone feels better having some basic idea of what things may cost, so for a basic idea, see below. Do realize the + means price can go up! Please do note that drives that have been opened before are rarely if ever recoverable by us: mention this prior to sending it in as we rarely work on pre-worked on drives.
hard drives

Hard Drives

$100 for basic data retrieval, $250-$650 for firmware repair, $900-$2000 for heads swap.
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SD cards and micro sd cards

SDcards/microSD cards

$200 for basic data recovery, $900 for breakout board data recovery
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cellphone data recovery

CellPhones

$300-$650 for drop or liquid damage, $1200+ for difficult cases(board swap). $400+ for any damage inflicted by inept repair technicians(long screw) that is above and beyond terrible.
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ssd card data recovery

SSDs

$300-$2000 depending on extent of damage
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Love From Our Customers

Hear from our satisfied customers who trust us for their data recovery needs in Austin. We didn't become the top rated repair shop on Google maps by accident - this was a 15 year effort of providing best-in-class service, with no gimmicks. 

If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would. The Apple Genius wanted twice the price and 10 weeks to fix my Macbook Pro. Rossman received it on a Thursday, repaired and shipped it back out next day. I happily paid a nominal expediting fee for a quick turn. It arrived back to me very well packaged, clean as a whistle, and working flawlessly. EXCELLENT!
Brian Stinson Avatar
Brian Stinson
12/17/2021
These guys are LEGIT! Don't waste your time with anyone else. I had water damage in a newer iphone and had YEARS of pics which were not backed up. I was given a cost and time estimate reflective of what was on their website. Their service exceeded the high-points of both estimates. It was definitely not a drop-in the bucket cost, but worth the service. I was notified 24 hours later that my data recovery was complete. Unfortunately, my phone was not repairable but that didn't matter much to me anyway. Great service with these guys and glad to find them locally as well. If you're not in NYC- they will coordinate with you.
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Marlene Leekang Avatar
Marlene Leekang
12/17/2021
5 star ratingI never write reviews, but I feel it's especially important because this store and the service they provide are one of the reasons why New York is a great city. Amid attacks on right-to-repair, on top of all the other struggles businesses in our increasingly corporatized city faces this is the kind of place that makes this city unique. I have a new MacBook Pro M1. It took an accidental bath, and Apple quoted me 2-week turnaround for repair at a number within 20% of the purchase price for the repair. I could have bought a max'd out brand new MacBook Air for less money than the amount Apple was charging for the job. It appears as though Apple doesn't repair discreet components - they junk an entire logic board and transfer the SSD over as opposed to truly trying to make a fix. Rossmann Repair Group took the time to diagnose the issue right in front of me before I dropped it off, gave me a quote that was fair and reasonable, repaired it within 48 hours, and when I went to pick it up the total cost was less than the stated quote. The machine was good as new. They knew I was willing to spend up to the quoted amount to get a repair, yet they billed me less. It's so very rare to find specialists with that sort of honesty. They knew I was willing to pay a certain price and they billed me for the true value of services rendered. While I never hope to be a repeat customer, if any future machine faces the same fate I know where I'll be going before I ever get it looked at by Apple. This place is awesome.
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Matt B. Avatar
Matt B.
3/30/2022
5 star ratingFive weeks ago, my 10 year old daughter's 5th gen iPad stopped charging. My husband and I suspected a loose connection, but when we took it to Apple, they ran some test and concluded the logic board died. Since the iPad was set up under me when she got it (at the age of 6), I had disconnected her from *my* iCloud. Apple basically couldn't sell me a new iPad because we had no data backup. Based on Apple's recommendation, we sent it to their data recovery partner, DriveSavers, who quoted me $2800 for data recovery due to "widespread corruption" on her logic board. We declined. Enter the Rossmann Repair Group. Earlier this week, I got a call asking me what specifically was wrong with the iPad because they were able to turn it on, and had access to all the data. To say I was floored is a complete understatement - but 100% explains why the Find Me app showed my daughter's iPad location as CA, when it had a "corrupted" logic board… *eye roll* Rossmann Repair Group gave me a copy of my daughter's data for $100, on a storage device I did not have to pay for, AND fixed her home button and cracked screen for another $100. They shipped it back to me for free. $200 and it was done. I would tipped if there was a virtual tip jar... so happy!! ;) I feel completely misled by Apple, and we were flat out lied to by DriveSavers. But Rossmann Repair Group was honest, kind, and reasonable. I feel like they completely came to our rescue. I wish you could have seen the smile on my daughter's face when she got her iPad back. My heart swelled. To David, the tech who fixed it, thank you so much. Because of you, we are Rossmann Repair Group customers for life.
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Christina M Avatar
Christina M
12/17/2021
5 star ratingThey will save your life (and your harddrives life)The new address for Rossmann Repair Group is 2410 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78705.
Nils R. Avatar
Nils R.
12/13/2022
5 star ratingThey were very responsive, and very flexible. They put a new motherboard in my computer and then learned that the screen was still bad. So they didn't charge me and sent me my hard drive too. I was really impressed
Danny Shader Avatar
Danny Shader
12/17/2020
Absolutely incredible. A USB was corrupted and destroyed important legal files. They were able to recover all of it. Don’t trust anyone else!
Katherine Beck Avatar
Katherine Beck
12/17/2020
Was devastated when my phone completely died and I stupidly did not back up my phone that had tons of photos and videos of my baby and other important memories. Apple insisted there was nothing they could do and insisted I reset my entire phone meaning I would lose all of my data. I sent my phone in to Rossman Repair and they fixed it in one day and I had my phone completely fixed and in my hands with all of my data within one week. I am SO thankful for them and their promptness! Thank you Rossman for giving me my precious memories back!!!
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Morgan Buendia Avatar
Morgan Buendia
8/17/2022
5 star ratingI wasn't able to retrieve files off an external hard drive and the first estimate was $350 to $2500 (they said it had to go back to the manufacturer). Rossman was referred baby a friend and I was able to retrieve all my information. It was pricey (not $2,500!!) but worth it. I was very happy with the service.
Mvy M. Avatar
Mvy M.
5/05/2020
5 star ratingPhenomenal repair shop! My moms Macbook pro 16 with coffee spills was pretty much done for, we were heart broken so much money down the drain, luckily my brother stumbled upon this shop online. They live in Chicago, mind you they took a hige leap of faith to mail it in. Long srory short they fixed it at a fraction of what it would cost -600 bucks! For coffee spills they usually switch mother boards ect and you get a bill similar to the price of the computer. They are super transparent about the process. In todays age very few places you can blindly trust, and why i would highly recommend Rossmans to any one around the country, they literally saved my mom from a $2800 loss, so happy! Months down the line im trying to swap out my hard drive in my 21.5 imac and finding the right tape is tricky. Ive heard heaps of horror story of screens falling off in the middle of the night... Any hoot i called them up and asked them for the info, they not only ready helped me over the phone, they also went ahead and gave me there supplier for the adhesive im looking for! This goes to show what an amazing store this is! Thanks guys you rock!
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PhilosophiseIt Avatar
PhilosophiseIt
12/17/2021
I had an iPhone 8 that was totally dead, wouldn't recognize being plugged into a computer or power outlet. The biggest problem was that it hadn't been backed up in a long time and there 5000+ photos and videos of our kids were potentially lost.I sent it in to RRG and got a call from Kevin (who was the tech who was actually going to be handling my repair). He was great, forthcoming with the plan, and very polite.Bottom line? Got my phone back with all the data still intact (apps, contacts, photos, videos, settings) working 100%, AND got a flash drive with the photos and videos on it.Thanks guys!
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Chris Straughn Avatar
Chris Straughn
10/21/2019
What can I say? These guys are the best at what they do. I brought in a 2019 Macbook Pro that suffered from an entire beer bottle spill. At the end of all the repairs, a month later of getting it back, it kept panicking and shutting off with high cpu usage tasks. They then refunded me the repair costs since it was not able to be saved. I ended up also selling it to them for parts and now happy with my Lenovo. My two friends who I also referred are super happy with their services as well. They are also just finished a hard drive recovery and transferred the data to a new hard drive for me. Top notch service and fairness. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM.
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Shabad Sarpal Avatar
Shabad Sarpal
12/17/2020
They are the best, they fixed my computer, which I thought it was a lost case! I spilled coffee on my MacBook Pro, it was a lot of coffee! I took it to an apple approved repair shop and they told me that it was going to cost me more than a new computer, and that I should consider it a total loss. At this point I had no warranty, I did not buy a protection plan, and the computer was only 1 year old. At least I needed to recover my data, and this apple approved place told me it was going to be $2,100. I decided to ship my laptop to the Rossmann Repair Group, and they did an amazing job communicating with me about any updates. They estimated to repair it for $700, and then told me it was only going to cost me $425. I was very happy. They shipped it back for free, and now I have my computer working "almost perfectly" (some keys are a little sticky, and the mouse pad a little sensible), but I have all my data, which I immediately saved into an external hard drive. I highly recommend them.
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Claudia Beltran Avatar
Claudia Beltran
12/17/2021
5 star ratingWhat a great group of people! I was clueless about my old hard drive and they fixed it til top shape I’m so happy to be able to look at my old photos. Thank you so much!
Libby J. Justus Avatar
Libby J. Justus
12/17/2021
5 star ratingMy 2017 WD My Passport external hard drive wasn't functioning and made a beeping noise! We went to a nearby PC and data recovery store that couldn't recover the data and they said it was too difficult and they had issues outsourcing because the task is too difficult!! I was in a panic because ONLY THAT HARD DRIVE HAVE MY UPCOMING SEASON PHOTOSHOOT (aka: I'm screwed at work because we need those photos for our FALL 21 campaigns, ads, social media, website - you cannot imagine!!!) So when I went to pick up my broken hard drive, I quietly (more like whispered to the guy in the front so he won't get in trouble naming a competitor) of who can fix this?The guy gave me one name and it was Rossman Group. I actually asked for more options just for backup but he firmly said Rossman Group.So we went to Chelsea and they immediately provided details of the diagnostics and I paid for the deposit. I followed up in a couple days and... I poured MY HEART OUT TO... SOMONE AT ROSSMAN (sorry I forgot your name). I was desperate and needed assurance that my LIFE's work is able to be recovered!! Of course, nothing is guaranteed but I'm thankful for the free 15 min therapy session with a staff.A few hours later, they told me that it's ready for pick up... I was like, "come again???!!!!" They were able to recover ALL DATA with a new shiny hard drive.THEY SAVED MY LIFE. NO AMOUNT OF PRAYING TO JESUS, BUDDHA, GHANDI, MOTHER THERESA CAN EXPRESS MY MOST SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ROSSMAN GROUP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
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Cece C. Avatar
Cece C.
7/26/2021

Our Recent Work

Our highly trained technicians have worked on some of the most complex cases with great success. If your hard drive or SDcard is no longer responsive, we’ll get your information back!
failed usb drive during data recovery service
Have a failed external USB drive? We can by-pass the USB on your drive and go straight for your data!
unstick heads - data recovery austin
Stuck heads? No problem! We have the tools and the clean room to un-stick your heads..
on site hard drive data recovery service
We can do clean room data recovery on premises when necessary.
inspecting 6 head stack donor drive
Inspecting a 6 head stack from a donor drive before it goes into the patient.

Bottom Line:

At Rossmann Repair Group, we don’t just recover data; we restore your peace of mind. Contact us today for your hard drive data recovery needs in Austin and experience service that sets the industry standard.

Top Reasons To Have Your Repairs Done By Us

All data recovery done on-site.

Our pricing is fair.

High success rate.

You can meet & speak with the recovery specialist working on your case directly.

Get In Touch with Us

Give us a call or fill out the form below to get a fast price estimate on a fix for your device.  If you are not local, we also offer a very streamlined Mail-In Service which makes it very easy to work with us from anywhere in the country.
Mail-In Repair Service

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Monday-Friday – 11 AM to 7 PM
2410 San Antonio Street
Austin, TX 78705

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We Can Fix Your Problem

We provide the best unauthorized MacBook, iPad & iPhone Repair in Austin. You can come to our store for a free estimate without an appointment, or mail your device to us from anywhere in the world to receive service.
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