Unfortunately, many businesses and private individuals are often faced with the disaster that is data loss. In these situations, some people decide to recreate their data from scratch. This can be arduous, time consuming, and in may cases, impossible. Others choose to utilize a data recovery service, and while the process can be expensive, it is often the only option for people with important pictures, dleicate information, or extensive databases. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shipping your drive to a data recovery company:
1. Make sure the company uses only non-destructive methods.
If a data recovery company cannot guarantee this, they may harm your drive.
2. Pack your drive well.
Shipping companies can be brutal, and you'll need at least 4 inches of bubble wrap or foam completely surrounding your drive. If you can, try to locate the box that your drive came in; these are designed to be shipped securely.
3. Protect your drive from static damage.
When removing your drive, ground yourself. Pack the drive in a static free bag, so that when it arrives at the data recovery company, there is no further damage caused by static.
4. Call the company, and listen carefully to the phone representative's instructions.
Often data recovery companies require a case number to be placed on the drive's case; you will need to obtain one. Also, it's a good idea to make sure you understand the data recovery company's pricing structure.
5. Do not open your drive.
Data recovery companies will greatly increase their fees if a drive has been opened.
6. Do not rely on location.
Just because a data recovery company is located in your city doesn't mean they know what they're doing. Check that they will not void your hard drive's warranty--even if your warranty is already void, it's a sign of confidence if a hard drive manufacturer certifies a data recovery company.