Sending a Hard Drive out for Data Recovery

[Petef56]

Over the past 10 years or so I've encountered many hard drives that failed leaving valuable data inaccessible. After resorting to all the usual tricks to revive the failed drive, I'd usually refer the owner to Ontrack data recovery or a similar company. However, I don't know of anyone that actually went through with it to pay to have their data recovered.

It's my understanding that this type of hard drive data recovery can cost hudndreds or even thousands of dollars, depending upon what is actually wrong with the drive. I can understand why it costs so much considering the special equipment and clean room facilities required, but how much does it actually cost?

For example...

* The electronics fails. Only requires that the circuit board be replaced.
A relatively simple fix. How much do they charge?

* The hard drive has mechanical failure (loud clicking sounds) and freezing the HD does not revive it. How much does that cost?

* The drive failed due to a head crash which physically damaged the platter surface and certain segments of data. How much does that cost?


Do you know of anyone who sent their HD out for data recovery and how much did it cost for a particular HD failure condition?

---pete---

[edfair]

Older data. Customer sent 1.2gb (2 500mb partitions) data drive for recovery. Got 2 525 tapes back and a bill for $3000.

He told the recovery company he would pay $300, take it or leave it, and the company agreed.

This evidently was an electronic failure, the technician reported that all data from the drive was offset two bytes from where it was expected. this on a SCO Unix system, SCSI drive, can't recall the controller. System disk was readable, data drive unreadable.

[glc]

Why don't you call Ontrack? They should be able to give you a general idea.

Seagate Recovery Services is also reputable, and I hear that they are cheaper than Ontrack.

I have heard of everything from $300 to $3000. Professional data recovery is never cost-effective for a consumer, this is why you have to stress backups with your customers.

Yes, if you are a digital packrat this gets expensive. However, the old adage "if you wanna play you gotta pay" applies. These days, the only cost-effective way to back up large amounts of data is on hard drives.

If I'm not mistaken, a friend of mine recently crashed a 1tb Seagate drive - bad sectors up the wazoo. He took it over to the local Seagate Recovery office and they quoted him something like $700 for a partial recovery.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by edfair Older data. Customer sent 1.2gb (2 500mb partitions) data drive for recovery. Got 2 525 tapes back and a bill for $3000. He told the recovery company he would pay $300, take it or leave it, and the company agreed.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by glc Why don't you call Ontrack? They should be able to give you a general idea.

That's what I just did. I got a quote back $65 for diagnosis.
Then it's about $700 to $2000 depending upon various factors.

At that rate, I now understand why none of my customers
actually went through with having their data recovered.

I was just curious what the reality was by people who
actually contracted to have it done.

If I'm not mistaken, a friend of mine recently crashed a 1tb Seagate drive - bad sectors up the wazoo. He took it over to the local Seagate Recovery office and they quoted him something like $700 for a partial recovery.

Yeah, even that is way too much for the average home user.
So I guess it's still something out of reach for most home users.

---pete---

[glc]

I used to offer data recovery with software (Ontrack Easy Recovery Pro) - my minimum charge was $300.

[HAL9000]

Originally Posted by edfair Older data. Customer sent 1.2gb (2 500mb partitions) data drive for recovery. Got 2 525 tapes back and a bill for $3000. He told the recovery company he would pay $300, take it or leave it, and the company agreed. This evidently was an electronic failure, the technician reported that all data from the drive was offset two bytes from where it was expected. this on a SCO Unix system, SCSI drive, can't recall the controller. System disk was readable, data drive unreadable.

I would have sent him the $3000 bill and put a mark on his credit record.