External hard drive recovery

The backup drive that turned out to be the only copy. Portable drives lead hard lives: they are dropped, knocked off desks and unplugged mid-transfer, and most arrive here after one of those.

Ask about data recovery Call 020 7237 6805

Why external drives are different

Inside a portable drive is a 2.5-inch hard drive or an SSD. A drop while it is running can bring the heads into contact with the platters, and that is the most common serious fault we see.

Many recent portable drives cannot simply be removed from the case and connected to a computer. The USB socket is built into the drive's own circuit board, and some models encrypt everything in hardware even when no password has been set. Recovery has to take both into account.

Symptoms and what they suggest

Clicking, beeping or buzzing

A mechanical fault, usually after a drop. Unplug it and do not try again.

Light on, not recognised

A firmware fault, a failed USB board or weak heads.

"You need to format the disk"

The file system cannot be read. Do not format.

Very slow, freezes the computer

Bad sectors or failing heads. Copying files yourself puts the drive under more strain.

Broken or loose USB socket

Often repairable, but the data should be secured first.

Recovery starts with a professional evaluation, charged at £94.80. It tells you what has failed and what can be recovered, and you then receive a fixed price for the recovery itself.

What to do now

Unplug the drive. Do not keep reconnecting it to see whether it comes back.
Do not open the case or the drive.
Keep the original cable and case with it; on encrypted models the original electronics matter.
If you set a password on the drive, have it ready.

We collect drives and devices by insured courier from anywhere in the UK, or you can post yours tracked and insured, or bring it to the workshop in London SE1. See how to send a drive safely.

Common questions

I dropped it and now it clicks. Can the data be recovered?

Often, provided it has not been run for long since. The damaged parts are replaced from a matching donor and the drive is copied. See clicking and beeping drives.

Can I take the drive out of its case and connect it directly?

On many current models there is no standard connector to plug into, and on hardware-encrypted models the data would be unreadable. It is safer to leave it as it is.

Get a price from a technician

Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.

020 7237 6805

Creative IT workshop
Unit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm