Different failures, different recovery approaches.
Data recovery isn't one thing. Logical failures (accidental deletion, corruption) are relatively straightforward. Physical failures (clicking drives, dropped disks) are much harder and sometimes not recoverable. We diagnose first, give honest odds, and let you decide.
Logical recovery — high success rate
The drive still works physically, but data is inaccessible for software reasons. Recovery success rate typically 80-95% depending on what happened after.
- Accidentally deleted files or folders
- Quick-formatted drives (Windows accidental format)
- Corrupted partition tables or MBR damage
- Filesystem errors (NTFS, exFAT, ext4 corruption)
- Ransomware-encrypted files (recovery depends on variant)
- Operating system corruption preventing boot
Physical recovery — harder, varying odds
The drive has physical damage or component failure. Success depends heavily on the specific failure — we assess each case individually.
- Clicking or grinding drives (head crash, motor failure)
- Drive not detected by system at all
- Water or liquid damage to drive
- Dropped or physically impacted drives
- Failed drive PCB (controller board)
- Bad sectors making read impossible
SSD recovery — specialized process
Solid-state drives fail differently from HDDs. When they fail, data loss is often more severe. Recovery is harder and more expensive.
- SSD not detected — usually controller failure
- SSD in read-only mode
- NVMe drive failures
- Chip-off recovery for critical data
- TRIM-related deletion recovery (very hard on SSDs)
Portable media recovery
Recovery from smaller media beyond drives — flash storage, camera cards, external units.
- USB flash drives (accidentally deleted, corrupted)
- SD cards and microSD (camera and phone storage)
- External HDD / SSD enclosures
- CF cards (professional camera storage)
- RAID recovery — 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 configurations
What to do the moment you realize data is at risk.
Actions in the first few hours dramatically affect recovery odds. When in doubt, stop using the device and call us — we'll advise before you make things worse.
If you deleted files
Stop using the drive immediately. Every file you save, every browser tab, every Windows update — potentially overwrites the deleted data. Check Recycle Bin/Trash first. If not there, don't install "recovery software" (which itself writes to the drive) — bring it in.
If drive is clicking
Power off immediately. Do not power it on to "just try one more time" — head crashes get worse with every attempt. Do not tap, shake, or freeze the drive (these are internet myths that damage drives). Bring it in cool and stable.
If drive is water damaged
Do not attempt to dry it or power it on. Bring it in wet if necessary — we can dry and clean in controlled conditions. Attempting to power on wet electronics causes short-circuits and permanent damage.
If you formatted the drive
Stop using it immediately. If Quick Format: recovery odds are good. If Full Format: much harder, sometimes impossible. Don't install anything new to the drive. Don't run "chkdsk /f" or similar tools — they can make recovery harder.
If ransomware hit
Isolate the affected machine from the network. Don't pay the ransom (often the attackers don't decrypt anyway). Bring the drive in — for some ransomware variants there are known decryption tools. For others, recovery may only be possible from backup.
If SSD failed suddenly
Note down any error messages or symptoms. Don't attempt reformat or "SSD recovery tools" — SSDs handle failures differently from HDDs and standard tools often make things worse. Bring it in.
Transparent process, no hidden fees.
Free initial assessment
Bring the drive in or send via pickup. We inspect visually, check drive detection, and assess the failure type. Free unless deeper diagnostics are needed.
Diagnostic + odds estimate
For complex cases: paid diagnostic (₹500-1,500). We give honest recovery odds for your specific situation — high/moderate/low probability with cost estimate.
You decide
Firm quote based on the failure type and specific recovery approach. You decide whether to proceed. Diagnostic fee is credited against recovery cost if you proceed.
Recovery + verification
Recovery attempt. Recovered data verified for integrity where possible. Data returned on new drive, USB drive, or your specified media. Original drive returned with disposal advice.
What we charge for, and what we can't promise.
Legitimate data recovery services charge for the technical attempt, not the outcome. Anyone promising guaranteed recovery is either lying or not doing real recovery work. Here's how we handle it:
- We give honest odds upfront — before you commit. "High probability" (logical failures, most quick formats), "Moderate probability" (some physical failures), "Low probability" (severe physical damage) — with realistic ranges, not sales pitches.
- Diagnostic fee is small and disclosed upfront — you know what you'll pay if we can't proceed.
- Recovery fee is quoted before work — you decide based on the value of the data.
- Some cases are honestly hopeless — severe multi-point physical damage, drives with dead controllers where chip-off isn't economical, encrypted drives without passwords. We say so instead of billing for hopeless attempts.
Prevention is far cheaper than recovery. If this recovery attempt is stressful, consider setting up a proper backup system afterwards. We can help — see backup & DR services.