Data Recovery Process

Mass Data Recovery Process

At Mass Data Recovery, we understand that each data recovery process is unique. We strive to achieve and maintain total customer satisfaction from the beginning. As such, we have developed tools and processes that are Read-Only. This means that they do not harm the data or the status of the crashed media, no matter the outcome of the recovery process.

Step 1:  Analysis of the Media in our Data Recovery Lab

  • A dedicated recovery technician will be assigned to your project.
  • Your recovery technician will study the completed submission form to determine symptoms of failure (clicking, grinding, etc.) or other pertinent information about the drive/recovery.
  • Based upon the completed submission form and our current observations the hard drive(s) will be tested for functionality, using our latest equipment. The recovery technician will determine whether the problems are physical (hardware), logical (file structure) or both.
  • If the determination is physical, we will retrieve any necessary parts from our extensive inventory. If necessary, we may source them from our vendors. Parts may be needed if an attempt is made to temporarily repair the drive to a working condition.
  • Once the evaluation is complete, you will be contacted with the results, an approximate time for completion and the total recovery cost. At this time, you will be asked for your approval to proceed.
  • The Analysis report along with the quotation is sent to you through email, telephone or fax.

Step 2:  Recovery of your data from the media

  • Upon receiving your approval to proceed, the job will be re-queued for the actual Data Recovery Process.
  • Any necessary mechanical repairs are completed and an exact mirror image (clone) of each hard drive is completed.
  • The integrity of your data is never placed in jeopardy. All recovery procedures are performed on an exact sector by sector duplicate of your original drive, never on the original.
  • Using special equipment, recovery technicians evaluate the condition of the data structure and repair any logical (file structure) damage. Then the recovered data is transitioned to our secure storage servers in preparation for data return.

Step 3:  Handing over the data to you

  • Your recovered data can be returned in a variety of ways. Data can be transferred to a new hard drive, external drive, or saved to writeable DVD’s or CD’s.
  • All recovered data orders are shipped USPS Priority Mail, unless otherwise specified.
  • A copy of the data will be stored in our secure facility for 10 business days to allow time for customer restoration of data. After 10 business days, the data is wiped.
+ Step 1: Analysis

Step 1:  Analysis of the Media in our Data Recovery Lab

  • A dedicated recovery technician will be assigned to your project.
  • Your recovery technician will study the completed submission form to determine symptoms of failure (clicking, grinding, etc.) or other pertinent information about the drive/recovery.
  • Based upon the completed submission form and our current observations the hard drive(s) will be tested for functionality, using our latest equipment. The recovery technician will determine whether the problems are physical (hardware), logical (file structure) or both.
  • If the determination is physical, we will retrieve any necessary parts from our extensive inventory. If necessary, we may source them from our vendors. Parts may be needed if an attempt is made to temporarily repair the drive to a working condition.
  • Once the evaluation is complete, you will be contacted with the results, an approximate time for completion and the total recovery cost. At this time, you will be asked for your approval to proceed.
  • The Analysis report along with the quotation is sent to you through email, telephone or fax.
+ Step 2: Data Recovery

Step 2:  Recovery of your data from the media

  • Upon receiving your approval to proceed, the job will be re-queued for the actual Data Recovery Process.
  • Any necessary mechanical repairs are completed and an exact mirror image (clone) of each hard drive is completed.
  • The integrity of your data is never placed in jeopardy. All recovery procedures are performed on an exact sector by sector duplicate of your original drive, never on the original.
  • Using special equipment, recovery technicians evaluate the condition of the data structure and repair any logical (file structure) damage. Then the recovered data is transitioned to our secure storage servers in preparation for data return.
+ Step 3: Data Delivery

Step 3:  Handing over the data to you

  • Your recovered data can be returned in a variety of ways. Data can be transferred to a new hard drive, external drive, or saved to writeable DVD’s or CD’s.
  • All recovered data orders are shipped USPS Priority Mail, unless otherwise specified.
  • A copy of the data will be stored in our secure facility for 10 business days to allow time for customer restoration of data. After 10 business days, the data is wiped.

If you suspect that you are in need of Hard Drive Data Recovery, taking certain precautions can dramatically increase the chances of a successful recovery. Continuing to power up a failing hard drive can cause irreversible damage and may result in an unrecoverable hard drive. If your device shows symptoms of failure, discontinue use immediately.

Over time hard drives are bound to fail. There are two main types of hard drive failures. The most common is a logical failure. The second type of failure is a mechanical or physical failure.


The hard drive’s internal components are functional, but other complications make the data inaccessible. The integrity of the data is compromised and the stored data is damaged in some way. Common causes of logical hard drive failures include accidental formatting or deletion of files, corrupt or missing partitions, operating system errors, a corrupt file system, or a computer virus.

Hard drives contain internal moving parts. When a mechanical or physical failure occurs, one or more of the internal components has malfunctioned. The drive may be experiencing difficulty spinning or, in some cases, it may not spin at all. This will result in data that cannot be accessed unless the drive is opened.  This requires a clean room environment where the hard drive can be rebuilt mechanically. Common causes of mechanical hard drive failures include head crashes, alignment issues, a broken motor, or spindle problems.

The initial evaluation usually takes between 1-3 business days depending on the extent of the damage. Upon completion of the evaluation, you will receive an exact quote for the recovery.  We will also provide you with the estimated time to completion and probable success rate. You can stop by anytime.  An appointment is not required.


Level one Hard Drive Data Recovery is when your hard drive is working properly but there is other damage to the computer.  This prevents you from accessing your data. For example, you spilled liquid on the computer and it no longer turns on. As long as the drive wasn’t damaged by the liquid, this would qualify as a level one recovery.

Level one recoveries are usually completed within 2 business days. This often requires complete disassembly of your machine in order to gain access to the drive. Once the drive is removed, it will be tested to confirm that a level one recovery is possible. If so, we will transfer all of the data to either an external hard drive or to another computer. The more data there is on the drive, the longer the transfer will take.

Level two Hard Drive Data Recovery is where about 80% of our clients fall.  In this case, the drive has started to fail but has not yet suffered a catastrophic failure. If the computer powers on but does not boot, hangs, or flashes a folder icon then it may qualify for a level two recovery. However, not all drives with these symptoms will be recoverable using these techniques.

We are usually able to extract the data from the failing drives using specialized level two recovery tools. Failing drives are very delicate and must be handled properly. A level 2 recovery attempts to recover as much data as possible before the drive suffers a complete failure. Upon completion, you will be able to review the recovered data and confirm that it has been recovered to your complete satisfaction. If you are not satisfied, there is no charge for the attempt.

About 15% of our customers have no other option aside from a level three Hard Drive Data Recovery. This is the last resort when dealing with severely damaged drives. It can also be used as a safer alternative to level two methods. At this level, the drive is sent into our clean room laboratory for extensive reconstructive work. The parts inside of a hard drive are incredibly delicate and can be easily destroyed with one wrong move.  These recoveries can be considered the equivalent to open heart surgery.  They are very complex and require great skill and precision.

Before files can be restored, the drive must be disassembled and repaired.  This must be done in a special environment in order to prevent damage to the data. A Class 100 clean room is necessary to safely complete a level 3 repair. Exact matching donor drives must be used to restore the patient drive.  Once the data can be read properly, the file system reconstruction can begin. Depending on the extent of the damage, we can often recover all or most of the data.


Although many factors determine the cost of data recovery, it is based primarily on the level of damage to the hard drive.  Detailed reconstruction is often required to get the drive back to a point where the data can be read properly. Once the drive has been rebuilt, successfully extracting the data is the easiest part! Whether its one file or a million files, the work required to get a drive operational is the same. As such, the amount of data usually doesn’t affect the price.

Mass Data Recovery uses a Class 100 clean room for hard drive data recovery.
A Class 100 rating means that the company has followed federal standards for air quality control. For more information on our clean room, click here.

For more information about Hard Drive Data Recovery & pricing

just give us a call.

For directions and service center hours, click here.

BEGIN YOUR DATA RECOVERY