Hard Drive Data Recovery

Nottingham Hard Disk Drive Data Recovery Services

25 Years of Expertise – Affordable and Fast Recovery Services

At Nottingham Data Recovery, we specialise in professional hard drive data recovery services for all brands, types, and operating systems. With over 25 years of experience, our team provides reliable, efficient, and secure solutions for recovering lost data from any device.

Devices We Recover Data From

We recover data from hard drives in:

• Computers (Desktop PCs and Workstations)
• Laptops
• CCTV Recording Systems
• RAID Servers
• NAS Devices
• External Hard Drives

Supported Operating Systems

We handle data recovery for the following operating systems:

• Windows
• MacOS
• Linux
• Unix

Supported File Systems

We handle data recovery for the following file systems:

1. NTFS (New Technology File System)

• Usage: Default file system for Windows OS.
• Features:
  • Journaling for reliability.
  • File compression and encryption support.
  • Large file and volume support (up to 16 EB).
  • Fine-grained permission settings.

2. FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32)

• Usage: Legacy file system used in USB drives, SD cards, and older systems.
• Features:
  • Compatible with almost all operating systems.
  • File size limit of 4 GB and volume size limit of 8 TB.

3. exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)

• Usage: USB drives, external hard drives, and SD cards (preferred for larger capacities).
• Features:
  • Combines compatibility of FAT32 with support for large files.
  • No journaling, making it lighter for portable storage.

4. APFS (Apple File System)

• Usage: Default file system for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
• Features:
  • High-speed file handling and encryption.
  • Space-efficient snapshots and clones.
  • Optimized for SSDs and flash storage.

5. HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus)

• Usage: Legacy file system for macOS before APFS.
• Features:
  • Journaling and file compression.
  • Compatible with older macOS versions.
  • Less efficient on SSDs compared to APFS.

6. EXT4 (Fourth Extended File System)

• Usage: Default file system for Linux distributions.
• Features:
  • Journaling for data integrity.
  • Support for large files and volumes (up to 1 EB).
  • Backward compatibility with EXT2 and EXT3.

7. XFS

• Usage: Enterprise-level Linux systems (e.g., Red Hat Enterprise Linux).
• Features:
  • High performance for large-scale data storage.
  • Journaling and advanced allocation techniques.
  • Ideal for servers and high-performance workloads.

8. Btrfs (B-Tree File System)

• Usage: Linux distributions (openSUSE, Fedora, etc.).
• Features:
  • Built-in RAID support and checksumming for data integrity.
  • Snapshots and cloning capabilities.
  • Efficient for SSDs and large-scale storage.

9. ZFS (Zettabyte File System)

• Usage: Enterprise systems, Linux (Proxmox, Ubuntu), and FreeBSD.
• Features:
  • Data integrity via checksums.
  • Integrated RAID support.
  • Snapshots, deduplication, and high scalability.

10. ReFS (Resilient File System)

• Usage: Windows Server and enterprise-level storage systems.
• Features:
  • Built for resilience and scalability.
  • Supports data integrity through checksums.
  • Optimized for virtualised environments and large-scale workloads.

Hard Drive Brands We Support

We recover data from all major hard drive brands sold in the UK, including:

Seagate
Renowned for reliability and performance, Seagate offers a range of hard drives suitable for various applications. The BarraCuda series is particularly popular for everyday computing needs.

Western Digital (WD)
WD provides a diverse lineup of hard drives, with the WD Blue series being a favorite for desktop users seeking dependable storage solutions.

Toshiba
Toshiba’s hard drives are known for their durability and performance, with the Canvio series standing out as a top choice for external storage.

Hard Drive Interfaces Supported

Our experts can recover data from any hard drive interface, including:

• SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
• PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment) – IDE
• NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express)
• SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
• SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
• PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)
• M.2 Interface
• U.2 Interface
• eSATA (External SATA)

Types of Data We Recover

We recover all types of data stored on hard drives, such as:

• Photos
• Videos
• Documents
• Databases
• Business-critical files

Common Hard Drive Faults We Recover From

1. Mechanical Failure

• Description: Physical damage to components like the read/write head or spindle motor.
• Symptoms: Clicking, grinding, or whirring noises; drive not spinning.

2. Bad Sectors

• Description: Damaged areas on the drive surface make data inaccessible.
• Symptoms: Slow performance, corrupted files, or inability to access certain files.

3. Firmware Corruption

• Description: Errors or corruption in the drive’s firmware prevent it from functioning.
• Symptoms: Drive not recognised by the system or appearing as uninitialized.

4. Logical Corruption

• Description: Errors in the file system or partition table make the drive unreadable.
• Symptoms: System prompts to format the drive or shows no data.

5. PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Failure

• Description: Damage to the drive’s electronic board due to electrical issues.
• Symptoms: Drive not powering on or being recognized by the system.

6. Accidental File Deletion

• Description: Important files are mistakenly deleted.
• Symptoms: Data no longer visible but the drive operates normally.

7. Drive Not Recognized by BIOS/System

• Description: The system or BIOS fails to detect the hard drive.
• Symptoms: Drive does not appear in the system setup or file explorer.

8. Power Surges or Electrical Damage

• Description: Sudden voltage spikes damage the drive’s components.
• Symptoms: Drive becomes unresponsive or shows signs of failure.

9. Head Crash

• Description: The read/write head physically contacts the platter, causing damage.
• Symptoms: Scraping noises; inability to read or write data.

10. Platter Damage

• Description: Scratches, warping, or other damage to the platter surface.
• Symptoms: Data corruption, slow performance, or complete inaccessibility.

11. SSD Controller Failure

• Description: Failure of the controller chip in solid-state drives.
• Symptoms: Drive not recognised, or all data appears inaccessible.

12. NAND Flash Wear (SSD Degradation)

• Description: Prolonged use causes wear on the flash memory cells in SSDs.
• Symptoms: Data corruption or the drive becoming read-only.

13. Accidental Formatting or Initialisation

• Description: The drive is formatted or initialized, erasing the file system.
• Symptoms: Complete data loss, with the drive appearing empty or unallocated.

14. Overheating

• Description: Excessive heat damages the drive’s internal components.
• Symptoms: System crashes, slow performance, or permanent drive failure.

15. Encrypted Drive Failures

• Description: Drives protected by encryption become inaccessible due to lost keys or corruption.
• Symptoms: Inability to unlock or decrypt data.

16. Water or Liquid Damage

• Description: Exposure to water or other liquids damages internal components.
• Symptoms: Drive unresponsive or corroded connectors.

17. Virus or Malware Infection

• Description: Malicious software corrupts or encrypts data on the drive.
• Symptoms: Files disappear, become inaccessible, or get encrypted (e.g., ransomware).

18. Partition Table Corruption

• Description: Corruption in the partition table prevents the drive from being accessed.
• Symptoms: Drive appears unallocated or requires reformatting.

19. File System Corruption

• Description: Damage to the file system makes files inaccessible.
• Symptoms: System errors or inability to open specific files or folders.

20. Physical Impact or Shock Damage

• Description: Dropping or mishandling the drive causes physical damage.
• Symptoms: Drive not detected, clicking sounds, or slow performance.

Why Choose Nottingham Data Recovery?

• 25 Years of Expertise: Trusted by individuals, businesses, and government organizations.
• Free Diagnostics: Get a no-obligation analysis of your hard drive issue.
• Affordable Pricing: Competitive rates with no hidden fees.
• Fast Turnaround: Quick recovery times to minimize your downtime.
• Advanced Tools: Cutting-edge technology for successful recovery in the most challenging cases.
• Secure and Confidential: We prioritise your data’s safety and privacy.

Contact Nottingham Data Recovery Today

Don’t let data loss disrupt your personal or professional life. Trust the experts at Nottingham Data Recovery to retrieve your valuable files quickly and efficiently.