DriveTech evaluates failed drives, SSDs, deleted and formatted files, corrupted systems, external storage, and computers that no longer start. The evaluation comes before anything is attempted.
Stop now if any of this is true
- The drive is clicking, grinding, or repeatedly spinning up
- You’ve been powering it on again and again to see if it works this time
- Someone suggested installing recovery software onto the affected drive
- Windows or macOS is asking to initialize or format the disk
- The laptop got wet
In each of those cases, continuing reduces what can be recovered. Power it down and call.
What we evaluate
Hard drive not detected or not spinning
Electrical, mechanical, or firmware; each needs a different approach.
Clicking, grinding, or beeping drives
A mechanical failure in progress. Every power-on makes it worse.
SSD failure
Solid-state drives fail differently and often without warning. Controller failures and sudden disappearance are common.
Deleted or formatted files
Frequently recoverable, but only if nothing new has been written to the drive since.
Corrupted Windows or macOS systems
The computer won’t start, but the data is often intact and separable.
External drives and USB storage
Often an enclosure or interface failure rather than the drive itself.
Liquid-damaged laptops
See Liquid Damage for what to do in the first hour.
Business servers, NAS, and shared office drives
Treat as an operational emergency. Recovery, restoration, and getting the office working again are three separate problems and the order matters. See Business IT.
What to do before you come in
- Stop using the device
- Don’t save anything new to it
- Don’t initialize a disk you’re prompted to initialize
- Don’t open a sealed hard drive
- Write down the folders and file types that matter most
- Bring the drive or computer and the correct power adapter
What we won’t tell you
Nobody can promise a recovery before looking at the drive. Any shop that guarantees results, or quotes a success percentage before an evaluation, is selling you something. DriveTech evaluates first and tells you honestly what’s possible.
Common questions
Can you tell me whether my files are recoverable before I commit to anything?
That’s what the evaluation is for. You get a finding and options before any recovery work is authorized.
Do you send drives to a cleanroom?
Yes. Mechanical failures that require cleanroom work are routed to a partner facility.
Can you recover encrypted or FileVault drives?
Yes. DriveTech handles encrypted and FileVault drives. The customer must provide the password or recovery key.
What happens if recovery isn’t possible?
There is no charge if no data is recovered.