How Our Data Recovery Process Works

Whether you have a single USB stick or a failed 24-disk server, every recovery follows the same careful process, designed to protect your original device and give you a clear decision at each stage.

1. Get in Touch

Call 020 7064 4996, email info@dataretrieval.org.uk or book online. An engineer will ask what happened and advise you on what to do (and not to do) before sending the device.

2. Drop Off or Courier

Bring your device to our London lab or drop-off point (Monday to Saturday, 09:00–18:00), or we can arrange a courier collection. Package drives in anti-static bags with plenty of padding. For RAID and NAS systems, label each disk with its slot number.

3. Free Initial Assessment

We test the device to identify the fault – logical, electronic, firmware or mechanical – and, where possible, check whether your important files are readable. Diagnostics normally begin the same day.

4. Fixed, No-Obligation Quote

You receive a clear quote and an estimated turnaround time. Nothing is charged until you approve it. See our pricing.

5. Repair and Imaging

We repair the device only as far as needed to read it safely – heads and motors in the cleanroom, firmware with PC-3000, or board-level repair for SSDs, Macs and phones – and create a full sector-by-sector image. All further work is done on this copy.

6. Recovery and Verification

We rebuild the file system, RAID or virtual machine from the image and extract your files. We then share a file list so you can confirm that the data you need has been recovered.

7. Secure Return

Your data is copied to a new external drive (supplied at cost, similar in capacity to your original) or to media you provide, and returned in person or by courier. Your data is handled confidentially throughout, in line with UK GDPR (ICO Reg No: ZA060744).

Emergency Service

For business-critical failures we offer an emergency service, working extended hours to get you back up and running as quickly as possible.