Data Recovery

Lost your precious photos or files? Even if your file or photos have disappeared, they may not be gone forever. There are several methods of getting "lost" data back. The trick is knowing how...

Whatever you do, do nothing!

The most important thing to do first is: nothing.

Don't use the card, disk or computer. We cannot stress this enough.

When you're panicking about loosing your data this seems like the very hardest thing to do, but every time you use your disk or photo card, you run the risk of loosing even more of your precious data.

Often you've only got one shot at recovering lost data. If you do the wrong thing, it really can be gone forever.

So, if a file has disappeared, be very careful if you try to fix it yourself. There are many free programs on the internet, but these can do even more damage unless you know what you are doing, thereby forever destroying the data they are trying to save. We spend much time trying to salvage lost data that has been made worse with "free" downloaded recovery software.

What sort of data can be recovered?

I just don't know how to thank you!  I tried to copy the photos from my XD card of my African volunteer trip working with baby lions and giraffe, when some sort of glitch killed my memory card.  I lost over three weeks of my trip which was more than 1000 photos.  I bought an on line recovery package, but that only enabled me to see thumbnails of the few retrieved photos.  They couldn't be viewed at full size or printed.  I was ready to throw the card away - I was so upset.  Not only did you save my photos, you recovered footage of my visit to an African orphanage as well as of some tortoises in a somewhat compromising position...  I would be lost without your services. A big THANK YOU to you!!!  Jodie L.

All sorts! Although the most common includes: digital photos, Word documents, spreadsheets, music files, video... Theoretically, anything that is a file, could be recovered.

What can data be recovered from?
Almost anything. The most common forms include: Hard Disk Drives (HDD), USB drives, Photo Cards & Flash Memory including Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), xD-Picture Card (xD),MultiMedia Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Microdrives, CD, DVD, and others. (If you have a question, please contact CompuWell to discuss your query with no obligation or cost.)

Why CompuWell?
We are experienced with recovering lost photos and files. We have successfully recovered deleted photos and irreplaceable data files.

How?
We will come and examine your media that the files have gone from. Depending on the problem, we may be able to fix it on the spot.

Usually though, we will need to take it back to the lab, and run data recovery programs on it. The length of time varies, depending on the type and size of media, type of problem, and cause of the problem.

How long?
This depends on the type and size of the media. Our recovery process is very intensive, and analyses the media at byte level. Because this is a very thorough process this can take quite a long time, usually several days.

Often we will need to run several types of analysis as well - this may take a week or longer. Some methods might only recover some files, while other methods will recover others. By combining several together, we have a higher recovery rate. We run in-depth scans which are very slow, but have a very high success rate. We prefer to take a very thorough approach to maximse the chance of success, and will repeatedly try various techniques to recover your data.

Once we begin recovery, we will contact you and advise you of progress, and the steps we are taking.

Do you guarantee recovery?
No. Unfortunately that is impossible. Recovery can have varying degrees of success, and depends on many factors - the most important thing is to stop using your device immediately. Where multiple files are concerned (eg a digital photo card) it is unlikely that we can save every single lost file - usually most of the photos can be saved, but some will be gone forever. Consequently we consider recovery "successful" if we can save 65% or more of your lost files. Where 1 file is lost, we consider recovery "successful" if we can recover that 1 file.

Depending on the cause of the problem however, the data may be unrecoverable, or the costs of recovery prohibitive. In any event, we will always provide you with a detailed description of what we found. We always advise you of the cost, and possibility of success before undertaking work, to make sure you are fully informed and have agreed to the work taking place.

What will it cost?
We charge an initial "inspection fee". This includes traveling and inspecting your media, investigating the likely cause of your data loss, and attempting to salvage your data. In many cases we are able to salvage your data on the spot. This is a fixed inspection fee that includes 30 minutes trying to recover your data.

Sometimes though the problem is more serious and we will need to run an extensive scan of your media in our lab using special equipment. This incurs an additional "Recovery Fee", but only if we can recover your data. This is a fixed charge. Recovery is only on the basis of "No Recovery, No Fee". If we can't recover 65% or more of your data, you don't pay any more than the Inspection Fee.

Recovery fee conditions: Where 1 file has been lost, we consider recovery "successful" if we recover that particular file.
Where more than 1 file has been lost (eg photos) we consider recovery "successful" if we recover a minimum of 65% of the files lost.

Please note, in some complex cases we may have to charge an additional fee to cover labour. We will only do this with your consent, after we have provided you a quote that you have accepted, and explained to you why additional labour is required, and what that labour will entail.

If we cannot recover your data, we will suggest other options (if we believe there are any), and give you an indication of the cost of these. Charges to recover data from a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is higher than "removable" media as considerably more work and time is involved. Please click here for our fees and charges.

Still not sure? Why not give us a call. We'll happily discuss your problem over the phone, and suggest some options - no charge.