Decide if the problem is a physical one. If you deleted a file, many programs such as R-studio can help. Make sure the program you choose is getting good feedback from its users. If you see smoke coming out of the drive, well, chances are you've got bigger problems.

Listen. If the drive is making a clicking, whirring, or grinding noise, turn it off. This sound is usually caused by the heads impacting the platters, and drives that continue to run in such a condition are less likely to be recovered. Those that are still recoverable after suffering this abuse are likely to cost more, sometimes in thousands of dollars.

Don’t panic. It’s understandable to be distressed after a hard drive crash, but acting irrationally can make the problem worse. Some people even physically abuse their computers after a crash. “We’ve seen drives come in that have been thrown through windows and into pools,” says Carmitchel. “These types of frustrated actions can make the bill pretty frustrating, too.”

Write down all of the information about the drive that you can. If you have a model number, that’s great. Otherwise, try to remember the brand of the drive. Many data recovery companies are familiar with the problems of specific hard drive brands, and this information can help them diagnose the problem over the phone.

If your information is important, call a data recovery company right away. Many companies, such as ESS, offer low cost evaluation services that will tell you exactly what’s wrong with your drive and give you a not to exceed estimate. Some even estimate the chances of recovery, and ESS applies the price of the evaluation towards the cost of the recovery. The important thing is to be timely; neglected hard drives may take on additional damage, especially in cases of floods and electrical shocks. Just remember that the longer you wait, the more the drive will cost you.