Hard Drive Recovery: Ontrack is Your Best Bet for Data Recovery!

This is a true story.  I’m sharing this recommendation to help those creators desperate to recover data from their failed hard drive.

All hell broke loose last October when my precious SSD (Solid State Drives) decided to die on me out of nowhere.

I was in the middle of editing a very important video for Japan when all of a sudden my SSD, a modern device more reliable than a standard HDD (hard disk drive), crashed and refused to boot.

For some reason, my SSD of 2 years decided to die on me while I was working on an important project. I was shocked and I didn’t know what to do. All my work and personal files were inside and I have never backed them up EVER. When it crashed, I immediately searched the internet for information and directions.

At that point, I knew that my SSD was pretty much unresponsive and that it definitely needed to be looked at by professionals. So the next day I brought it to a highly rated data recovery center in Manila.

Stage 3

Stage 3 in Mandaluyong is a data recovery center that specializes in repairing and recovering files from traditional HDDs but has had little luck with SSDs. But I still wanted them to try anyway.

Stage 3 Data Recover Manila: https://www.facebook.com/stage3repaircenter/

In general, SSDs are far better and more reliable in every way compared to old disc HDD so failures in SSDs are very rare. BUT once an SSD fails, only a select few with the proper equipment can handle and recover them.

Anyway, I gave Stage 3 a chance to recover my files, and they told me in advance that they’ve only recovered files from an SSD once out of a handful of cases. I paid ₱500 for the diagnostics fee and I was told to wait for 2-3 weeks just to get the result on whether or not they could or could not recover my files.

And true enough, it took them 4 grueling weeks to finally tell me that my SSD was dead and the files were unrecoverable…

Or at least as far as they were concerned.

 

---

Ontrack

Finally, there came Ontrack, a world-class data recovery company based in the UK with offices in Singapore and Hong Kong.

OnTrack Data Recovery Singapore: https://www.ontrack.com/sg/

Like Stage 3, they also specialize in data recovery but with the right tools and “clean rooms” to diagnose and recover SSDs.

I contacted them via email, filled up some forms and was told to send my drive over. I was also told that I need to shoulder the initial shipment but the diagnostics would be free. Basically, no data recovered meant no cash-out.

Luckily, I had a trip going back to Singapore in the same week so I personally brought the SSD to their office in Jurong International Business Park, Singapore.

After filling out some forms and handing over my SSD to them, I was told to wait for the results for up to 4-7 days and that, once recovered, I was to pay a whopping $1,000 up to $2,000 SGD if I wished to proceed with the recovery.

I agreed, but I didn’t pay any diagnostics fee unlike in Stage 3.

Surprisingly, on the 5th day, they emailed me that 90% of my files were good and that they had already been recovered.

They sent me a link in order for me to view the file breakdown by names and folders, and I was happy with the results.

---

Resolution

My work project folder was finally within reach!

In total, I paid $2,033 SGD inclusive of an external drive with all the recovered files inside.

There were some missing and damaged files which couldn’t be helped but they still saved the day.

Yes, it was very pricey, but it was well worth it. No hassle, and best of all it worked. So, always remember to back up your files regularly.

Thank you, Ontrack!

 

Live an Awesome Life,

Disclosure: This post is not sponsored. We paid for everything by ourselves, and we highly recommend their services.

P.S. Thank you to Charles Paw for the tip!