Data recovery problem

jason_in98 · 03-01-2007, 03:51 AM

I posted last week about my computer (15" pbook g4 1.33 GHz) crashing. I called Mac outfitters today to see how the repairs/stauts was on my machine. They said that the hard drive needs replaced as well as the optical drive (I just had a new optical drive installed 6 months ago!). They said they tried a few ways to get the data off but that they need to try several other things, too. Apparently there hasn't been any data retrieved thus far. As you can imagine I’m really nervous/upset/worried about this. I have heard through several people that there is always a way to get the data off and that sometimes you have to send it away to a company that specializes in this. I guess my question is: do these places really work? I really don't care what the price is...I just need all of my lost data. Any thoughts or recommendations of a place to send my hard drive if Mac outfitters cannot successfully mine my data?

PC eye · 03-01-2007, 04:30 AM

To answer that question briefly a professional service already has the tools needed for data retrieval. If the data on the drive became corrupted or erased entirely something a zero fill utility would do you've already lost anything that was on it. This is why the common recommendation made is to "make frequent backups" generally on removable media in the event a drive fails. I regularly burn data dvds due to a large amount of updates, downloaded utilties, game saves, screen shots in jpg format, and other files that would otherwise be lost for good.

elitehacker · 03-01-2007, 04:50 AM

It is possible to get data off any intact disk platter, even burnt ones.

It ALL depends on how valuable your data is, if you are prepared to spend millions of bucks, then you might stand a chance of getting your data back. That is why the FBI and various other agencies shoot their hard drive platters that contained classified information when they are decommissioned because that is the only way they can be sure that no one can recover it.

The key to a successful data recovery, is to STOP using it when you want to recover your data.

PC eye · 03-01-2007, 06:09 AM

Apparently you have never heard of "Eraser" and other programs that repeatedly write binary zeros to drives in order to totally annihilate any data remaining on a drive. http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...ckage_id=65323 Tools like are used for personal security especially when going to sell a used system.

elitehacker · 03-01-2007, 07:21 AM

well, no matter what you do, there ARE some data left over, for example in the Master Boot sector or where the buffer is. That is why the FBI or agencies that have sensitive data doesn't take the change.

donovan_c6 · 03-02-2007, 03:55 AM

Yes, these places really work. They use techniques which can include the disassembly of the drive and direct examination of the drive surface. Depending on just what is necessary (it is unlikely that your drive requires anything that extreme, but hard drives that have been through fires often do), it could be several thousand dollars. I most certainly hope more conventional methods of data recovery will prove effective. There are many companies doing data recovery services. Try Salvage Recovery Lab. I contacted them once and I got my problem solved. They got 90% of my data back. I was extremely happy to get my data back. You can call them at 1 203-973-0242. I think you will have to send the drive physically.

PC eye · 03-02-2007, 08:15 AM

I simply ran a search under the "data recovery services" heading to find a good number of professional services here in the U.S. as seen at http://infospace.abcnews.com/_1_D47TJW0Y97H5R__info.abcnws.toolbar/search/web/data%2Brecovery%2Bservices

Depending on where you are try to find an alternate service or serivices to see if they have better results if something on the drive is that important. If the files are things that can downloaded again why the fuss? For highly private and personal files you would have to weigh the expense to some degree in order to see any guaranteed results if possible. If the data was scrubbed or too fragmented and partial you may never get all back.

03-01-2007, 03:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
jason_in98 New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Data recovery problem I posted last week about my computer (15" pbook g4 1.33 GHz) crashing. I called Mac outfitters today to see how the repairs/stauts was on my machine. They said that the hard drive needs replaced as well as the optical drive (I just had a new optical drive installed 6 months ago!). They said they tried a few ways to get the data off but that they need to try several other things, too. Apparently there hasn't been any data retrieved thus far. As you can imagine I’m really nervous/upset/worried about this. I have heard through several people that there is always a way to get the data off and that sometimes you have to send it away to a company that specializes in this. I guess my question is: do these places really work? I really don't care what the price is...I just need all of my lost data. Any thoughts or recommendations of a place to send my hard drive if Mac outfitters cannot successfully mine my data?

03-02-2007, 03:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
donovan_c6 New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Re:Data recovery problem Yes, these places really work. They use techniques which can include the disassembly of the drive and direct examination of the drive surface. Depending on just what is necessary (it is unlikely that your drive requires anything that extreme, but hard drives that have been through fires often do), it could be several thousand dollars. I most certainly hope more conventional methods of data recovery will prove effective. There are many companies doing data recovery services. Try Salvage Recovery Lab. I contacted them once and I got my problem solved. They got 90% of my data back. I was extremely happy to get my data back. You can call them at 1 203-973-0242. I think you will have to send the drive physically.

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03-01-2007, 04:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,730	To answer that question briefly a professional service already has the tools needed for data retrieval. If the data on the drive became corrupted or erased entirely something a zero fill utility would do you've already lost anything that was on it. This is why the common recommendation made is to "make frequent backups" generally on removable media in the event a drive fails. I regularly burn data dvds due to a large amount of updates, downloaded utilties, game saves, screen shots in jpg format, and other files that would otherwise be lost for good.

03-01-2007, 04:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
elitehacker Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,413	It is possible to get data off any intact disk platter, even burnt ones. It ALL depends on how valuable your data is, if you are prepared to spend millions of bucks, then you might stand a chance of getting your data back. That is why the FBI and various other agencies shoot their hard drive platters that contained classified information when they are decommissioned because that is the only way they can be sure that no one can recover it. The key to a successful data recovery, is to STOP using it when you want to recover your data.

03-01-2007, 06:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,730	Apparently you have never heard of "Eraser" and other programs that repeatedly write binary zeros to drives in order to totally annihilate any data remaining on a drive. http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...ckage_id=65323 Tools like are used for personal security especially when going to sell a used system.

03-01-2007, 07:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
elitehacker Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,413	well, no matter what you do, there ARE some data left over, for example in the Master Boot sector or where the buffer is. That is why the FBI or agencies that have sensitive data doesn't take the change.

03-02-2007, 08:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,730	I simply ran a search under the "data recovery services" heading to find a good number of professional services here in the U.S. as seen at http://infospace.abcnews.com/_1_D47TJW0Y97H5R__info.abcnws.toolbar/search/web/data%2Brecovery%2Bservices Depending on where you are try to find an alternate service or serivices to see if they have better results if something on the drive is that important. If the files are things that can downloaded again why the fuss? For highly private and personal files you would have to weigh the expense to some degree in order to see any guaranteed results if possible. If the data was scrubbed or too fragmented and partial you may never get all back.