Client Situation
A client using a Gateway PC with a Samsung hard drive experienced extreme slowdowns and freezing issues while attempting to access stored files. The problem worsened over time, with symptoms including:
- Hard drive spinning but running extremely slow.
- Severe freezing whenever attempting to open files.
- Inability to access or copy even a small Microsoft Word file.
- Excessive loading times for basic operations.
Because the drive contained critical personal and work-related files, the client turned to a trusted hard drive recovery service offered by Manchester Data Recovery. With over 25 years of experience, this UK data recovery company specializes in retrieving lost, deleted, and inaccessible data.
Challenges
- Samsung Hard Drive Spins but Runs Extremely Slow – Possible causes included:
- Bad sectors and read/write head degradation.
- Firmware corruption affecting disk operations.
- Mechanical failure in drive components.
- Severe Freezing on File Access – System hangs often indicate surface degradation or failing disk sectors.
- Inability to Copy Small Files – When a hard drive struggles to copy small files, it often points to:
- Progressive drive failure.
- Corrupted file system or MFT (Master File Table) issues.
- Urgent Data Recovery Needed – The client urgently needed a hard drive data recovery service to extract all important files before total drive failure.
Our data recovery experts prioritized the case and began recovery procedures immediately. As a leading data recovery company in the UK, Manchester Data Recovery ensured a secure and complete extraction of the client’s personal and work files.
Solution by Manchester Data Recovery
Upon receiving the Samsung hard drive, Manchester Data Recovery’s engineers followed a structured forensic recovery process:
✅ Hard Drive Cloning & Sector-Level Imaging –
- A sector-by-sector clone of the drive was created to preserve data before further degradation.
- This prevented additional stress on the failing hard drive.
✅ Bad Sector & Read/Write Head Analysis – - Engineers identified severe bad sector clusters, which were slowing down file access.
- A specialized tool was used to bypass unreadable sectors and extract intact data.
✅ File System Repair & Data Extraction – - The corrupt file system (NTFS) was rebuilt, making lost files accessible.
- Engineers successfully retrieved Microsoft Word documents, spreadsheets, and media files.
✅ Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer – - All recovered data was verified for integrity.
- Successfully extracted files were transferred to a new external storage device.
Results & Client Impact
- Over 95% of files successfully recovered by the UK data recovery team
- Corrupt Microsoft Word files repaired and made accessible
- Hard drive failure diagnosed, allowing client to replace it before total breakdown
- Client received all recovered files via secure transfer from our data recovery experts
The client was extremely relieved, as Manchester Data Recovery successfully retrieved all essential documents and files, preventing permanent data loss.
Conclusion
This case highlights the dangers of ignoring slow-performing hard drives, as they often signal imminent failure. If a hard drive spins but freezes, struggles to copy files, or takes too long to load, it is critical to seek professional recovery services before complete failure occurs.
Manchester Data Recovery offers industry-leading forensic solutions to recover files from slow, failing, or unresponsive hard drives. As a trusted data recovery company in the UK, our team ensures fast, secure, and expert file restoration.
👉 Experiencing drive slowdowns or freezing? Get in touch with Manchester Data Recovery – the UK data recovery experts you can trust.