Attempting Data Recovery Yourself

A few hours have gone by, and you're getting frustrated. You've been unplugging and reconnecting your hard drive continuously, even trying other computers. Still doesn't work. You've moved on to the next trick you read online, the freezer option. The drive powered on this time, but died about 5 seconds later. Now it won't even turn on. You're getting more bold in your technical prowess, and attempt another fix you read on a few technical sites, may have even seen a recovery expert talking about it on Youtube - the system board swap. At this point you're starting to invest money into it. However, the drive just sits there, unchanged, well, it didn't power up as before but there was the small black smoke that appeared after the board swap.

At this point you've tried all the common fixes that many people are aware of. You admit defeat, and contact us. 
Hello, this is Jim from XYZ Computer Services, I've got a customer's hard drive that we're unable to get the data off, can you help?

Believe me when I tell you this, we receive calls just like this often! They come from individuals as well as computer service companies. People try to save money, while otherwise qualified repair companies try to earn a living - we understand. The biggest flaw in this way of thinking when it comes to data recovery is this: all these attempts cause more harm to the device and significantly reduce the likelyhood of a successful data recovery.

Let's face it, if you need data recovery service, it's because you have no backup of your data. Your only copy is on a non-functioning device. Take heed in that statement, Your ONLY COPY is on a non-functioning device.

The other actuality of attempting to save money on your data recovery is that IF the data can be recovered after all the half-hazard attempts you or a local computer service company has done, the costs will now be higher than if you brought it in in the first place. More damage will have occurred, and will hopefully be able to be reversed.

So if you're the customer, avoid the common fixes discussed above. If you're the local computer repair shop, think twice before you risk your customer's valuable data.