Data on a PC is stored on a hard drive. Basically, this is a mechanical spinning platter with a read/write head above it. In appearance its rather like a record deck and stylus arm, all in a metal enclosure about 6” x 4” x 1”.

They are normally very reliable, and a hard drive failure is rare. If you do suffer a hard drive failure, chances are the machine wont even start up properly, giving you a doom laden message about data being irretrievably lost.

Viruses can also cause files to be deleted, and some can even delete system files or even erase the drive completely.

Then there's user error. If a manufacturers recovery software has been used to correct a computer problem, this can also overwrite vital saved data.

We can very often recover such apparently lost data. We would need the machine in our workshop as this is not a job that can be done on site. We can then arrange to have the PC restored to its former glory with the data recovered to it, or simply recover the data to a CD, DVD or another hard drive.

Even in the event of total mechanical breakdown, all is not necessarily lost. Hard drive mechanical repairs need to carried out under cleanroom conditions, as even a tiny spec of dust can be devastating if it got into a spinning drive. In such circumstances we are agents for one of the countries leading data recover companies—Vogon, and can arrange for them to carry out the necessary work.

Data recover can be time consuming and expensive, so we can minimize the risk of this happening again, or at all, by advising on a variety of back up solutions.