How to pick a data recovery service?

5 pointsRocketOne2y ago2 comments

SSD drive completely failed. Two regular computer stores said their software couldnt recover anything nor did putting it into another computer, and that it would have to go to a SSD recovery service.

But how do you know who's qualified to do it? And I assume cheaper does not always mean better, but no one post rates of course. Like the data is worth a few hundred bucks maybe, but its not worth a few thousand. So where do you choose? Im in AB, Canada.

2 comments

sweetgiorni2y ago

I worked for a data recovery company. I'm not sure exactly what it means for someone to be qualified since many of the techniques are learned by word of mouth or experimentation. Company age and reviews might be a good proxy for competence.

Find a place that gives free estimates. With SSDs the price was usually either low ($300) for "simple" repairs or very high ($2000+) for more intensive jobs. The price is always negotiable, especially for those simpler jobs. Oftentimes the data was already recovered and backed up by the time the repair quote was sent to the customer.

jaclaz2y ago

>Like the data is worth a few hundred bucks maybe, but its not worth a few thousand.

Then it is not worth the effort.

Finding a (serious) data recovery company is not at all easy and SSD recovery may vary a lot (depending on the specific make/model).

This (old) .pdf (which seems anyway like a promotional piece) gives out some ranges (which probably need to be updated):

http://www.entertainmentstorage.org/articles/SSD-Data-Recove...

The whole issue is that you have no way to know what the actual issue is, not how much work is needed to (hopefully) recover some data, but I doubt that anyone will ask you less than US$ 1,000 anyway.

Basically you send them your device and hope that they are both honest and competent, I have seen stories of people that were essentially blackmailed and as well reports about the device having been (accidentally) messed with and destroyed.

Websites are mostly looking similar, stating (incredible) high percentages of success, their "clean room" (hint: likely it is only a hood)[0], (stock) photos of people clad in white bunny suits or lab coats, etc.

There are a few very large firms and a myriad of small if not tiny ones, the first ones are (obviously) more reliable, but also - I believe - more expensive and there is always the risk that they have not all good engineers/labs, the small ones while guaranteeing that your device will be handled by the (only) laboratory chief, say nothing about their actual knowledge/capabilities.

It is a mess.

[0] only for the fun of it:

https://www.forensicfocus.com/forums/general/staged-photo-ok...

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