Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about data recovery, pricing, mail-in, and how we actually do the work. No fluff.
General & Data Recovery
Click a question to expand. If you don’t see your answer, ask us directly.
Do you charge a diagnostic or estimate fee?
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No. Spoken-word estimates are free. If a case requires deep lab work to determine feasibility, we’ll tell you up front before any paid work begins.
What does “No Data = No Fee” really mean?
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If we accept your data recovery job under our No Data = No Fee policy and cannot recover the agreed-upon target data, you owe $0 for recovery labor.
Exclusions: devices heavily tampered with by other shops, donor parts you ask us to buy specifically for your case, and shipping/return media. We’ll disclose any exclusions before you approve the job.
How long does recovery usually take?
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Simple cases: 3-5 business days.
Complex cases (head swaps, RAID/NAS, severe SSD controller damage): 1-2+ weeks depending on parts availability and drive stability.
Rush service may be available. Ask when you submit your case.
Can I mail in from outside Austin?
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Yes, mail-in is common. Pack the device in an anti-static bag with padding, include your contact info, and ship to our Austin lab with tracking and signature. We’ll evaluate it and send a firm quote before work.
Do you outsource jobs?
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No. All work is performed in-house by our team in Austin. This keeps chain-of-custody tight and timelines predictable.
Do you really need a cleanroom for hard drive recovery?
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You need clean, particle-free air over the open drive. We use a professional laminar-flow clean bench that achieves cleanroom-level conditions without the theater or unnecessary overhead.
Will opening my drive or trying software hurt my chances?
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Often, yes. Opening a drive outside proper airflow can cause irreversible head/media damage. Repeated power-ons after a crash can worsen failures. If your data matters, stop using the device and let us evaluate it.
Can you recover encrypted drives?
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Usually, if decryption keys or credentials are available, or if we can restore the original controller/firmware so the device can decrypt as designed. Without keys and with destroyed secure elements, recovery may be impossible.
What will it cost?
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We provide a free evaluation and a firm quote before paid work. Typical ranges:
• Logical / minor firmware: ~$100-$600
• Board-level / electronics repair: ~$400-$1,200
• Complex (HDD head swap, chip-off SSD, RAID/NAS): ~$900-$2,000+
You only pay for approved work. If it’s easier than expected, you pay less.
What’s your warranty policy?
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Most repairs include a 1-year warranty; certain services carry 3 months. We’ll note exceptions on your quote. We’re reasonable. If something isn’t right, talk to us.
Watch how we actually work
Real recoveries from our lab. No stock footage, no theater.
Ready to start?
Free estimate. Mail-in from anywhere in the U.S. No Data = No Fee on qualifying jobs.