Losing important files is a horrible feeling — whether it's a accidental deletion, a crashed hard drive, or a ransomware attack. The most important thing is what you do (and don't do) next.
This is the single most important rule. When a file is deleted, the data often still exists on the drive — it's just been marked as available for overwriting. Every time you save new data to that drive, you risk permanently overwriting the deleted files. If you've lost important data, stop using the computer and call us.
Check the Recycle Bin / Trash. Deleted files often end up here first and can be restored with a right-click.
Check cloud sync. If you use OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, check the version history or trash folder in the cloud service — files synced to the cloud often have a recovery window of 30-90 days.
Check your backups. If you have a backup system (Time Machine, Windows Backup, NAS, cloud backup), now is when it pays off.
Clicking, grinding, or beeping sounds: These indicate a mechanical failure inside the drive. Do NOT keep trying to start it — every spin risks further damage to the platters. Power off and call a professional.
Drive not recognised by computer: Could be a logical failure (corrupted file system) or an electronic failure. Don't try to format or initialise the drive when prompted — this will overwrite your data.
SSD suddenly empty or not detected: SSDs fail differently to traditional drives. Data recovery from failed SSDs is possible but requires specialist tools.
If your files have been encrypted by ransomware, do NOT pay the ransom — there's no guarantee you'll get your data back. Disconnect the computer from the network immediately, then call us. We can assess the situation, identify the ransomware variant, and determine if decryption is possible. Your best protection against ransomware is a solid backup strategy — talk to us about setting one up.
We recover data from failed hard drives, corrupted SSDs, damaged USB drives, and ransomware-affected systems. We'll give you an honest assessment of what's recoverable before you commit to any costs. For critical business data, we also work with specialist labs for severe physical damage cases.