How It Works
Honest Pricing, No Guarantees
Data recovery isn't always possible. Before any work begins I'll assess the drive and tell you what looks recoverable. You decide whether to proceed from there.
Step 1 — Assessment ($50)
You drop off the drive and pay $50 upfront. I run a full scan with professional recovery software and report back exactly what files are recoverable and what isn't. This fee is non-refundable — it covers my time regardless of the outcome.
Step 2 — Recovery ($50 more)
If files are recoverable and you want to proceed, I complete the recovery and transfer everything to you. The remaining $50 brings your total to $100. If nothing is recoverable, you only owe the $50 assessment — not a penny more.
You'll always know what's recoverable before you decide whether to proceed. No pressure, no surprises.
Supported Media
What I Can Recover From
I can attempt recovery from most common storage devices. If you're not sure whether your device qualifies, just reach out and describe what you have.
Internal Hard Drives & SSDs
Laptop and desktop drives from Windows and Linux machines. Whether the drive was accidentally formatted, the OS won't boot, or files were deleted — I can assess what's there.
External Hard Drives
External drives that have been accidentally formatted, dropped, or stopped showing up. As long as the drive isn't physically damaged beyond recognition, software recovery is worth attempting.
USB Drives & Thumb Drives
Accidentally deleted files from a flash drive, or the drive shows as empty when it shouldn't be. Common and often very recoverable depending on how long ago it happened.
Memory Cards
SD cards, microSD cards and other flash memory from cameras, drones and other devices. Deleted photos, corrupted cards and accidentally formatted media are all worth scanning.
Common Situations
What Brought You Here
These are the most common data loss situations I see. If yours isn't on the list, reach out anyway.
Accidentally Deleted Files
Emptied the recycle bin, deleted something you needed, or lost files after a cleanup. The sooner you stop using the drive the better the chances.
Formatted Drive
Accidentally formatted the wrong drive, or reinstalled Windows without backing up first. Often still recoverable depending on what's been written to the drive since.
Corrupted Drive or Files
Drive shows up but files are inaccessible, or the drive asks to be formatted when it shouldn't. Corruption can often be worked around with the right tools.
Dead or Failing Computer
Computer won't boot but the drive might be fine. I can pull the drive, connect it externally and attempt to recover your files even if the machine itself is dead.
Lost Photos or Videos
Deleted photos from a camera SD card or a drive full of memories. Photo and video files are among the most commonly recovered file types.
Virus or Ransomware
Malware that deleted or encrypted your files. Deleted files from a virus attack can sometimes be recovered. Ransomware-encrypted files are a different story — recovery depends on the specific strain.
Honest Limitations
When Recovery Won't Work
I'll always tell you honestly what's possible. Sometimes the answer is nothing, and I'd rather you know that upfront than find out after spending money.
Physical Drive Damage
If a drive is clicking, grinding, or completely dead from a physical failure, software recovery won't work. That requires a professional clean room lab — a service that costs hundreds to thousands of dollars and is outside my scope. I'll tell you if that's the situation after the assessment.
SSDs & TRIM
Solid state drives are harder to recover from than traditional hard drives. Modern SSDs use a feature called TRIM that clears deleted data quickly and permanently. Recovery is sometimes possible but less reliable than with HDDs.
Encrypted Drives
If a drive is encrypted and you don't have the key or password, the data is not accessible regardless of what software is used. Encryption is designed to be unbreakable without the right credentials.
Time & Overwriting
The longer a drive has been in use after data loss, the lower the chances of recovery. When files are deleted, the space is marked as available and can be overwritten at any time. The sooner you stop using the drive and bring it in, the better.
Not Sure If Your Files Are Recoverable?
Describe what happened and what kind of device it is. I'll give you an honest read on whether it's worth attempting before you commit to anything. The worst I can tell you is it's not possible — and that's free information.
Lost Something Important?
The sooner you stop using the drive and reach out, the better the chances. Describe what happened and I'll let you know if recovery is worth attempting.