The Complete Guide to Laptop Data Recovery
Lost files, clicking drives, accidental deletion. Here is what actually works for data recovery and when to call a pro.
Time Is Critical
If your hard drive just failed or you accidentally deleted files, stop using the computer immediately. Every minute of continued use reduces recovery chances. Power it off and contact us.
Recovery Success Rates by Problem Type
Not all data loss is equal. Here is what we see at our data recovery lab in Reno:
DIY vs Professional vs Cleanroom
There are three tiers of data recovery, and knowing which you need saves time and money:
DIY Software
$0
Recuva, TestDisk. Only works for accidental deletion on a healthy drive. If the drive is failing, software can make things worse.
$89-250
What we do at LaptopReno. Specialized hardware, donor drives, firmware tools. Covers most failures including dead drives.
Cleanroom Lab
$500-2500
Platter swaps, head replacements in dust-free environment. Last resort for severe physical damage. We can refer you if needed.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule
Never need data recovery again:
3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy offsite (cloud). An external hard drive ($50-80) plus a cloud backup service ($5-10/month) protects everything. We can set this up for you as part of any repair visit.
What NOT to Do When Your Drive Fails
Do not put the drive in the freezer (old myth that causes condensation damage). Do not open the drive yourself (introduces dust particles that scratch platters). Do not run disk repair utilities on a clicking drive (can overwrite recoverable data). And do not keep trying to boot a laptop with a failing drive -- each attempt risks more data loss.
If your laptop is also having other issues -- maybe it overheated and that caused the drive failure, or you have a cracked screen too -- we can handle everything in one visit. Check our full service list and pricing page.
If the laptop itself is not worth fixing but you need the data off it, we can recover your files and then you can sell the broken laptop for cash through our buyback program.
Lost important files?
The sooner you bring it in, the better the chances. Free evaluation.
Book AppointmentNeed professional help?
Book an appointment or call us at (775) 203-1085