External Hard Drive Data Recovery

External Hard Drive Recovery By the Experts

Our skilled engineers have successfully retrieved lost data from damaged and defective external hard drives since 2007. We have continued to develop new tools and techniques as external disks evolve and portable SSDs become more common.

This has enabled us to restore billions of files across many external devices, making us certified pros in our industry. Our team at Secure Data Recovery has decades of experience and has seen every failure type. Take advantage of our No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee by giving us a call today.

Call For A Free Quote 800-388-1266

We Helped Thousands Get Their Lost Data Back

With over 5,818 satisfied customers and counting, we are proud to provide the service and results that exceed your expectations. Hear what they have to say.

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Data Recovery Services for Every External Drive

Our experts have the specialized hardware and software to handle failed external hard drives from any brand. We have resolved all data loss scenarios involving these devices over the past 16 years and counting. Our technicians have addressed drives damaged in drops and erased on accident. That means we have the tools, replacement parts, and a Class 10 ISO 4 cleanroom to help repair the drive. If the disk works but files are missing, we can use advanced recovery methods to locate and restore deleted data. No matter the issue, we can recover data from your device, as evidenced by our 96% success rate.

Partnerships With the Best Storage Companies

We maintain close partnerships with numerous data storage companies. That includes popular manufacturers of external drives. As a preferred partner, we have established our expertise across all external HDD and SSD lineups. In many cases, our service will not void your product warranty either. The leading brands trust our proven, secure process to deliver results in the most challenging conditions. Regardless of media, size, file system, or failure mode. Here are some of our partners.

External SSD Data Recovery

Our extensive experience with NAND flash storage has prepared us as more users choose SSDs over HDDs for external devices. While SSDs offer better performance and resilience than hard disk drives, the data loss events are often more complex. However, SSDs do not deter us. We have a large library of SSD controllers and state-of-the-art soldering stations for cases with physical damage. We also have cutting-edge software that provides low-level access to the device’s firmware and stored data. These tools allow our engineers to perform a wide range of recoveries on external SSDs.

Reviews for External Drive Cases

Average rating 4.9
This service was rated 4.9 out of 5.0 based on 554 review(s)
Douglas Paradis

My account rep, Scott McMacken, showed great empathy when I first contacted him about recovering data from a hard drive which included pictures of a beloved pet cat who had recently passed away. His first thought was to offer his condolences for the loss of my pet, rather than trying to sell me on Secure Data''s recovery services. I was sold instantly and the recovery process thereafter was fair... Read More

Verified
Tom Berrett

HDD data recovered

I did something stupid and plugged my old modular HDD power cables into a new power supply, which fried all my drives.
My experience with Secure Data Recovery had been excellent, they walked me through what needed to be done at every step and kept me informed of their progress. They were able to recover all of my data, I am eternally grateful!
I''m not sure what I would have done if they... Read More

Verified
Heather Marlar

Happy Customer

I’m so thankful to have been referred to this company! Timothy Rutan was a pleasure to work with. He was professional, knowledgeable and kind. When I received my new external hard drive I cried happy tears to see all of my files that I thought were going to be gone forever. THANK YOU for recovering my files and being a great company to work with!

Verified
Lois Matson

Good experience

Do you back up your files? Yeah, so do I, until I didn''t.

After I dropped a (not backed-up) external drive on the concrete, Secure Data Recovery recovered all but a tiny fraction of 1% of my files. Those remaining files were damaged, so they weren''t recoverable. The process was smooth, relatively timely, and an overall good experience. Thank you, Scott and team!

Verified
David Pratt

Back up drive recovery

My back up external hard drive stopped working; it would make sounds and grind to a halt. I reached out to Secure Data and Scott helped me through the process. I was unsure at first, but he walked me through all my options and always returned emails in under 12 hours. I got almost all my data back, only one file out of 1TB was unrecoverable. Would definitely use Secure Data again.

Verified
Timothy Mammen

Hard Drive Recovery

I needed to recover data from a broken hard drive. My experience with Secure Data could not have been better, starting with the process to courier the drive to them. They provided the FEDEX label with the shipping instructions. They were able to quickly confirm the data could be recovered and performed the recovery in a couple of days. I was able to review a list of the folders and files recovere... Read More

Verified

Secure Data Recovery Process

1

Free
Consultation

Shut down the device and give us a call. We are available 24/7 for a free consultation and quote.

2

Free
Diagnostics

Your device will be safely diagnosed by an expert at one of our state-of-the-art labs.

3

Review &
Decide

One of our team members will contact you to review the diagnostic results for your approval. This will give you an idea of how much data is recoverable.

4

Data Recovery & Return

Our engineers work hard to retrieve your files. Once you submit your payment, you’ll receive the recovered data on a new external drive.

Common Failures for External Drives

External disk drives and SSDs share the same design principles as built-in devices. So, while external drives have similar failures to internal storage, some malfunctions occur more frequently. Our track record of retrieving files from failed devices speaks for itself. These are a few of the most common failures:

Logical:

  • Deletion
  • Reformatting
  • Encryption

Physical:

  • Platter Damage
  • PCB Damage
  • Firmware Damage

Mechanical:

  • Head Crash
  • Motor Failure
  • Actuator Failure

Unlike hard drives, SSDs do not have moving parts. Therefore, SSDs have a number of unique failures that require a different approach. Here are some reasons that SSDs can suffer data loss:

  1. Physical Damage: SSDs could stop working due to damaged or defective connectors, components, or solder joints. Solid-state drives also have a limited amount of program/erase cycles. The device could encounter problems while reading or writing data as cells degrade.
  2. Electrical Issues: SSDs are susceptible to power surges and dips. Unstable voltage can ruin critical electronics on the drive’s board and lead to sudden data loss.
  3. Logical Errors: SSDs are not immune to file corruption, deleted data, or software bugs. In addition, these devices have several algorithms and processes that contribute to their function but can complicate cases.

Whatever the problem on external HDDs or SSDs, we can help resolve it.

External Hard Drive Repair

An external hard drive can have a higher risk of data loss because it is a compact, portable device. This role exposes them to bumps, drops, spills, debris, dust, and extreme temperatures. As a result, a broken disk often requires repairs to recover data. We have restored thousands of drives with severe physical, mechanical, and electrical damage in our best-in-class cleanroom. Whether you have damaged media or a defective controller, we can fix it.

Success Stories

Our service has set new standards since our founding in 2007. In that time, we have created a secure, transparent process and developed groundbreaking methods to reverse data loss. You can see that commitment to excellence in some of these success stories for external drives:

WD Blue HDD Crash Threatens Years of Personal Images

WD Blue HDD Crash Threatens Years of Personal Images

Images Recovered from WD Scorpio Blue HDD after severe mechanical failure

Images Recovered from WD Scorpio Blue HDD after severe mechanical failure

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does data recovery cost for external drives?

    It varies. The cost of data recovery depends on the difficulty of the job. Our pricing considers factors like the failure type, storage media, and investment required to retrieve lost files. Each of these details differs from case to case. Because of this, we provide free diagnostics and quotes. We will not charge You only charge you once we get your data back. Call now to learn more.

  • Are your results guaranteed?

    Yes. Our service offers a No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee. You get your data back, or pay nothing.

  • Do you offer different service options?

    Yes. In addition to our standard option, we have expedited and emergency data recovery services. These options allow you to choose the plan that best fits your needs.

  • How long does the recovery process take?

    It depends. Emergency service is often less than 48 hours. An expedited case turns around between 4 and 6 days. Our standard plan averages between 7 and 12 days.

  • Are you certified?

    Yes. We are the service with the most industry-specific certifications. We partner with major manufacturers to achieve the best outcomes regardless of device or failure. However, we also undergo regular SSAE 18 SOC 1, 2, and 3 audits. These audits prove our security systems protect your personal and private data. Large companies, healthcare providers, government agencies, academic institutions, and home users trust us with their sensitive data. You can, too.

  • Do you have a cleanroom for invasive procedures?

    Yes. Our Class 10 ISO 4 cleanroom contains less than 10,000 nanoparticles per cubic meter. A cleanroom filters air and prevents harmful substances from contacting the platter of an HDD. Opening a drive outside a cleanroom increases the risk of permanent data loss.

  • How do you return my data?

    We transfer your data to an external drive of your choice and then safely ship your recovered files to you.

  • Can I recover my files with free data recovery software?

    Sometimes. However, software can also worsen the situation. None of these products can recover data from a damaged drive. Improper usage could cause permanent data loss. Consider a certified service if retrieving the data is essential. Your first attempt is your best shot.

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