External Hard Drive Recovery

Manchester Data Recovery: 25 Years of Excellence in External Hard Drive Data Recovery

At Manchester Data Recovery, we are proud to be Manchester’s premier external hard drive data recovery specialists. With 25 years of expertise, we focus exclusively on data recovery services, ensuring exceptional results for our clients. Over the years, we have successfully recovered data from tens of thousands of external hard drives, offering affordable pricing and quick turnaround times.

Why Choose Manchester Data Recovery?

• Specialist Expertise: We handle only data recovery, providing unmatched focus and skill.
• Decades of Experience: 25 years of dedicated service in the field.
• High Success Rate: Trusted by thousands of clients with a proven track record.
• Affordable Pricing: Competitive rates without compromising on quality.
• Quick Diagnostics: Free evaluations via phone or email for immediate fault identification.
• All Brands and Models: Expertise with all major external hard drive brands.

Brands We Recover Data From

We specialise in recovering data from all major external hard drive brands, including:

• Seagate
• Western Digital (WD)
• Samsung
• Toshiba
• Hitachi (HGST)
• Crucial
• Intel
• Kingston
• SanDisk
• ADATA
• PNY
• Corsair
• Sabrent
• TeamGroup
• Fujitsu

Whether your drive contains an HDD or SSD, we have the tools and expertise to recover your data.

Interfaces We Support

We can recover data from external hard drives with any interface, including:

1. USB (Universal Serial Bus)

Overview

The most common connector for external hard drives, offering broad compatibility with a wide range of devices.

Variants:

• USB 2.0: Basic option with speeds up to 480 Mbps.
• USB 3.0: Standard for modern drives, with speeds up to 5 Gbps.
• USB 3.1/3.2 Gen 2: Faster option supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps.
• USB-C: A compact, reversible connector often paired with USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt protocols for enhanced speeds and functionality.

2. Thunderbolt

Overview

A high-performance interface developed by Intel and Apple, popular in professional and high-speed applications.

Variants:

• Thunderbolt 1 & 2: Mini DisplayPort connector with speeds of 10 Gbps (Thunderbolt 1) and 20 Gbps (Thunderbolt 2).
• Thunderbolt 3 & 4: USB-C connector with speeds up to 40 Gbps and support for multiple protocols, including DisplayPort and PCIe.

3. eSATA (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)

Overview

An external version of SATA, designed for high-speed data transfer.

Advantages:

• Direct connection to the computer’s SATA interface for low-latency data transfer.
• Speeds comparable to internal SATA drives (up to 6 Gbps for SATA III).

4. FireWire (IEEE 1394)

Overview

An older interface still used in some legacy devices and professional environments.

Variants:

• FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a): Speeds up to 400 Mbps.
• FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b): Speeds up to 800 Mbps.

5. Network (Ethernet)

Overview

Used by Network Attached Storage (NAS) drives, which connect to a network rather than directly to a computer.

External Hard Drive Faults That Require Professional Data Recovery Services:

External hard drives are invaluable for portable data storage, but they are prone to issues that may render data inaccessible. Here are the faults we commonly encounter that need our professional data recovery services:

1. Physical Damage

• Description: External impacts, drops, or mishandling damage the drive casing or internal components.
• Symptoms: Drive not detected, clicking noises, or visible damage.
• Why Professional Help: Cleanroom repairs and specialised tools are needed to access data.

2. Accidental File Deletion

• Description: Files are mistakenly deleted and bypass the Recycle Bin.
• Symptoms: Missing files or folders.
• Why Professional Help: Advanced Forensic recovery software is required to reconstruct deleted data.

3. Accidental Formatting

• Description: The external drive is formatted, erasing all data.
• Symptoms: Empty storage space or prompts to format the drive.
• Why Professional Help: Recovery tools can retrieve data from formatted partitions.

4. Logical File System Corruption

• Description: Errors in the file system make the drive inaccessible.
• Symptoms: “Drive needs to be formatted” or “Drive is not accessible” messages.
• Why Professional Help: Our Specialists can repair file systems and recover data.

5. Bad Sectors

• Description: Certain areas of the disk become unreadable due to wear or damage.
• Symptoms: Slow performance, corrupted files, or inability to access data.
• Why Professional Help: Our Professionals use cloning tools to bypass bad sectors and recover data.

6. Physical Damage to Platter (HDDs)

• Description: Scratches or damage to the platters prevent data access.
• Symptoms: Grinding noises or failure to detect the drive.
• Why Professional Help: Cleanroom recovery techniques are required to retrieve data.

7. Controller Failure (SSDs)

• Description: The drive’s controller chip malfunctions, making data inaccessible.
• Symptoms: SSD not detected or freezing during operation.
• Why Professional Help: Our Data recovery specialists can access NAND chips directly.

8. Damaged USB Port

• Description: Broken or loose USB ports prevent data transfer.
• Symptoms: Drive is not recognized when connected.
• Why Professional Help: Repair or bypass the USB interface to access the drive.

9. Firmware Corruption

• Description: Errors in the drive’s firmware cause it to malfunction.
• Symptoms: Drive fails to initialize or is not detected.
• Why Professional Help: Firmware tools are required to repair or replace the firmware.

10. PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Failure

• Description: Electrical or physical damage to the circuit board causes drive failure.
• Symptoms: Drive does not power on or is not detected.
• Why Professional Help: Specialists replace or repair PCBs to recover data.

11. Overheating

• Description: Prolonged heat exposure damages internal components.
• Symptoms: Drive disconnects during use or fails to respond.
• Why Professional Help: Cool the drive and recover data before permanent damage occurs.

12. Encrypted Drive Access Issues

• Description: Password-protected or encrypted drives fail to unlock.
• Symptoms: Prompts for a password or recovery key that fails.
• Why Professional Help: Forensic tools can decrypt and recover data.

13. Drive Not Recognized by System

• Description: The operating system fails to detect the drive.
• Symptoms: “Drive not detected” or no response when connected.
• Why Professional Help: Specialists diagnose and repair hardware or logical faults.

14. Power Surge or Electrical Damage

• Description: Voltage spikes damage the drive’s internal components.
• Symptoms: Drive does not power on or malfunctions.
• Why Professional Help: Recovery tools can bypass damaged circuits to access data.

15. Water or Liquid Damage

• Description: Exposure to liquids causes electrical and physical damage.
• Symptoms: Drive not powering on or showing signs of corrosion.
• Why Professional Help: Cleanroom drying and repair methods are required for recovery.

16. Read/Write Errors

• Description: Errors occur during data access, leading to corruption or inaccessibility.
• Symptoms: Files cannot be opened or saved.
• Why Professional Help: Logical repair tools can recover lost data.

17. Partition Table Corruption

• Description: Partition table damage prevents access to data.
• Symptoms: Drive appears unallocated or as raw space.
• Why Professional Help: Specialists rebuild the partition table to restore access.

18. Virus or Malware Infection

• Description: Malicious software corrupts, hides, or deletes files.
• Symptoms: Files turn into shortcuts or disappear.
• Why Professional Help: Data recovery experts restore files while removing malware.

19. Overwritten Data

• Description: New files overwrite existing data.
• Symptoms: Missing older files after saving new ones.
• Why Professional Help: Recovery of overwritten data is challenging but possible in some cases.

20. Incompatible Formatting

• Description: Formatting the drive in an unsupported system causes data loss.
• Symptoms: Files become inaccessible, or the drive cannot be opened.
• Why Professional Help: Recover data and reformat the drive to a compatible system.

Our Data Recovery Process

1. Free Evaluation
   • Phone or email consultation to diagnose the issue.
2. Drive Analysis
   • In-depth examination to determine the cause of failure and recovery feasibility.
3. Data Recovery Execution
   • Advanced recovery techniques tailored to the specific issue.
4. Data Verification
   • Ensure all recovered files are intact and accessible.
5. Data Delivery
   • Secure return of recovered data on a new drive or via encrypted online transfer.

Types of Data We Recover

• Photos and Videos: Irreplaceable memories and professional media.
• Documents: Word, Excel, PDFs, and other critical files.
• Databases: Essential business and personal data.
• Archives: Compressed files and backups.
• Multimedia: Music, movies, and other media formats.

Why Professional Help Is Essential for External Drive Recovery

Attempting DIY recovery can exacerbate the problem, leading to permanent data loss. Our professional services ensure:

• Secure Handling: We maintain data integrity throughout the recovery process.
• Specialised Tools: Access to proprietary tools and cleanroom environments.
• Expert Diagnosis: Accurate identification of the issue for effective resolution.
• High Success Rates: Maximised chances of successful data recovery.

Contact Manchester Data Recovery Today!

If you’re facing data loss, don’t wait—contact us now. With 25 years of experience, we are Manchester’s trusted partner for all external hard drive recovery needs.

Contact us for a free evaluation and let us perform data recovery from External Hard Drive today!