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Data Recovery

Advanced Data Recovery in San Marcos, TX

Lost files can be stressful, especially when you don't know how much of your data can actually be recovered. At San Marcos Computers, we provide advanced data recovery for hard drives, SSDs, external drives, USB flash drives, memory cards and other supported storage media.

Our data recovery assessment is free. In most cases, we actually perform the recovery process first so we can determine exactly what is recoverable before we quote you for the recovery.

Recover First. See the Results. Then Decide.

We believe you should know what can actually be recovered before deciding whether to pay for the recovery.

In most cases, our process works like this:

1. Bring us your storage device. You do not necessarily need to bring us the entire computer.
2. We perform the data recovery. Using our dedicated recovery equipment, we work to recover the available data from the storage device.
3. We document the results. We determine how much data was recovered, what types of files were recovered, and which files could not be recovered or may be corrupted.
4. You can review the results. When applicable, we can provide a detailed HTML report showing the recovered file structure so you can see what was found.
5. We provide a recovery quote. The quote is based on the actual recovery results rather than an estimate of what might be recoverable.
6. You decide whether to proceed. If you accept the quote, we transfer the recovered data to an appropriate storage medium. If you decline, there is no recovery fee due.

This approach gives you much more information before you make a decision.

Free Data Recovery Assessment

There is no charge for our initial data recovery assessment. In most cases, we go beyond simply checking whether a drive is recognized. We perform the recovery process so we can determine what data is actually available.

That allows us to provide you with specific information about the recovery, including the amount and types of data recovered and, when applicable, files that were not successfully recovered.

Because we recover first in most cases, you can make your decision based on actual results rather than a guess.

Detailed Recovery Results

Data recovery is not always an all-or-nothing situation. A damaged or failing drive may contain thousands of files that are perfectly recoverable along with other files that are corrupted or inaccessible.

Our recovery process allows us to identify what was actually recovered.

When applicable, we can provide an interactive HTML recovery report that allows you to drill down through the recovered file and folder structure. The report can show the directory structure and identify files according to their recovery status, including files that were successfully recovered and files that are corrupted or could not be recovered.

This can be particularly useful when you need to determine whether the recovered information includes the files that are important to you before approving the final recovery.

Advanced Data Recovery Equipment

We use dedicated professional data recovery equipment rather than relying solely on ordinary computer software or the computer's normal operating system to access a failing drive.

Our recovery equipment includes RapidSpar and a RapidSpar USB Stabilizer. This equipment allows us to work with a variety of storage technologies and connection types.

Compatible SATA hard drives and typical 2.5-inch SATA SSDs can be connected directly to RapidSpar. Other supported storage configurations can be connected through the RapidSpar USB Stabilizer using appropriate adapters, including mSATA SSDs, NVMe storage, Mac storage and other compatible devices.

RapidSpar and RapidNebula

RapidSpar works with RapidNebula, a cloud-based recovery service that provides information about the connected storage device, including relevant characteristics and firmware information. This information helps determine appropriate recovery algorithms and techniques for the specific drive.

This combination gives us specialized tools designed specifically for controlled data recovery rather than treating a failing storage device like an ordinary working drive.

Controlled Recovery of Failing Drives

When a storage device is failing, repeatedly accessing it can increase the risk of further degradation. Our recovery process is designed to minimize unnecessary reads of the drive.

During controlled recovery, successfully read sectors are copied to a target drive and are not unnecessarily accessed again. Problem sectors can be skipped and addressed later through additional recovery passes.

This approach helps reduce unnecessary stress on a failing storage device while allowing the recovery process to concentrate on obtaining as much usable data as possible.

What Types of Storage Can We Work With?

Depending on the condition of the device and compatibility with our equipment, we can work with many types of storage media, including:

• 3.5-inch SATA hard drives
• 2.5-inch SATA hard drives
• 2.5-inch SATA SSDs
• mSATA SSDs
• NVMe storage
• External hard drives
• USB flash drives
• Memory cards
• Mac storage
• Other compatible storage devices

You May Not Need to Bring Us the Entire Computer

Data recovery does not necessarily require the entire computer.

If your computer has failed but the storage device itself is available, you may be able to bring us just the hard drive or SSD. Customers also regularly bring us storage media from external devices or computers that are no longer being used.

If you are unsure whether you need to bring the entire computer, contact us before removing anything.

What We Do In-House

Our in-house recovery capabilities allow us to work on many storage devices without sending them immediately to an outside laboratory.

We can perform controlled recovery and imaging using dedicated recovery equipment and then determine what data was successfully recovered.

In most cases, this allows us to establish the actual recovery results before asking the customer to decide whether to proceed.

What We Do Not Do In-House

We do not perform mechanical disassembly or internal component replacement on damaged mechanical hard drives. Opening a hard drive and performing internal repairs requires specialized clean-room facilities and equipment.

When a storage device requires physical laboratory work beyond what we can safely perform in-house, we work with a specialized professional data recovery facility.

A Specialized Recovery Partner When Needed

If a recovery requires clean-room work or other specialized physical procedures, we have a professional data recovery partner that can handle those situations.

This gives customers another recovery option when the condition of the storage device goes beyond what can be safely performed in our shop.

Data Recovery Is Not Guaranteed

Every data recovery case is different. The amount of recoverable information depends on the condition of the storage device, the type of failure and the condition of the data itself.

Some files may be completely recoverable while others may be partially damaged or unrecoverable. Our recovery process is designed to determine the actual results whenever possible rather than making unsupported assumptions about what is on the drive.

If Your Drive Is Failing, Stop Using It

If a storage device is making unusual noises, disappearing from the computer, repeatedly disconnecting, reporting errors or otherwise behaving abnormally, stop using it if possible.

Do not format, initialize or repeatedly attempt to repair a drive containing important data unless you understand the potential consequences. Continued use of a failing drive can make data recovery more difficult.

Data Recovery vs. Data Transfer

Data recovery is different from a normal data transfer.

If your old computer or drive is working normally and you simply want files moved to another computer or storage device, you may need our Data Services instead.

Data recovery is intended for situations where files are inaccessible because of drive failure, corruption, accidental deletion or other storage problems.

Local Data Recovery in San Marcos

San Marcos Computers provides advanced data recovery services locally in San Marcos, Texas. You can bring us the storage device itself, and in many cases we can determine exactly what is recoverable before you decide whether to purchase the recovery.

Free data recovery assessment. Recover first. See the results. Then decide.

Contact San Marcos Computers to discuss your data recovery situation or visit us at 2206 Old Ranch Road 12 in San Marcos, TX.

Learn more about the types of storage media we can work with or our data recovery process.