How To Choose A Data Recovery Company

	How To Choose A Data Recovery Company Sometimes it may be necessary to send your drive off to a data recovery company. This is usually when your drive has been physically damaged, meaning that the actual components are failing. A common sign of this is a clicking sound being heard from inside the case. This is most often by the disk head being unable to read the data properly. Due to the fact that hard drives are incredibly sensitive, opening them in a non-sterile environment can unleash havoc. Similar to how a single scratch can ruin a vinyl record, a tiny speck of dust alighting on the platter of a hard disk drive can cause irreparable damage. This is why professional companies open hard drive in clean rooms with less than 100 airborne particles.



	But how do you go about choosing the best data recovery company? There’s no set formula for choosing the best, but there are some tips you can follow in order to get the best bang for your buck. The first thing to be aware of is the pricing. Hard drive recovery is not exactly a cheap service (you’ll be looking high up in the three figures at least), but you essentially have to weigh up whether you need your money or data more. Be cautious of those that offer a fixed, single price for their services. Hard drive recovery is not a blueprint procedure and drives will need different procedures performed depending on the type of damage. A reputable service will also only charge you the full price if they manage to actually recover the data. Although a small fee for attempting to recover is fair, you certainly shouldn’t have to hand over the money if you haven’t got the service you expected. You should also pay attention to testimonials from previous customers. Ask your friends if they’ve had any experience. If not, the internet is always your trusty companion. Do a search for reviews of the company and see how successful they are at recovering data. Make sure you’re looking at a wide sample of testimonials and not just those listed on the recovery company’s website – they’re obviously going to be in their favour. You might find comfort if the recovery service has dealt with high profile business clients, but don’t let a lack of these put you off. Also, be sure to consider the source of the testimonials. Well-established communities and forums - such as reddit.com, tomshardware.com and overclockers.com - should carry more weight than an anonymous blog (which may actually be propaganda, rather than an unbiased review). Be wary of those that offer a 100% success rate. It may sound appealing, but either that data has been skewed or it’s not true. Contact the company and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to be inquisitive. This is your money and data on the line. What is their success rate figure built from? How do they perform the procedure? What are their guarantees? Make a note of all replies just in case you need to refer to them later. Finding a reputable company can be tricky, so make sure you do your research. Be sure to explore all your options. Don’t just go for the cheapest option or the one that is closest to you. This is your data we’re talking about. It’s important that you do not skimp on quality in a panic. However, on the other hand, it’s also important not to pay more than what you need to. If it comes back unsuccessful then do not be totally put out as you may find your luck with another company. With these tips in mind, you might want to start your search with these well-known companies: DriveSavers – This company is partnered with Newegg.com, a website you likely already trust for deals and reviews on PC components and hardware. Best Buy – The Geek Squad offers data recovery, but you don’t get anything on par with a pro data recovery lab until Level 3. Choose Best Buy if you are more comfortable dealing with someone face-to-face. The Data Rescue Center – While their DIY software may not be worth the money, if you are looking for an alternative to DriveSavers’ mail-in service, try The Data Rescue Center.