Data Recovery · LanCologne

Your external hard drive from Intenso, Verbatim or other budget brands has failed – what now?

External hard drives usually consist of a drive, a USB bridge board and a casing. If the drive fails, it is not always the drive itself that is faulty – often it is the bridge, the USB socket or the power supply.

Free enquiry

Technical background

On some models, the USB port is soldered directly onto the drive circuit board, meaning the drive cannot simply be fitted into a different enclosure. Other bridges encrypt the data at the hardware level; in such cases, the drive cannot be read without the correct bridge. Dropping the drive whilst it is in operation, on the other hand, typically results in head damage.

What you should – and shouldn’t – do now

  • Do not continue to plug in whilst clicking or grinding.
  • Do not break open the casing if it is unclear whether the bridge is encrypted.
  • Just try a different USB cable and a different port – that’s all.

Here’s how we do it

  • Separate testing of the bridge, power supply and drive.
  • In the event of a bridge fault: repair or read out using a suitable bridge or key transfer, if encrypted.
  • In the event of drive failure: follow the same procedure as for internal hard drives.

Borders

  • If hardware encryption is enabled and the bridge cannot be repaired, access may be significantly more difficult or impossible.
  • Soldered USB sockets require a circuit board modification.

Possible results

Recovered data or a clear indication of which component was faulty.

How we carry out data recovery

Every data storage device is first diagnosed in our own laboratory in Cologne; the diagnosis is free of charge. You will then receive a written quote and can decide whether to accept it. If you decline, you can collect the data storage device from the laboratory by appointment – there are no postage costs involved – or we will post it back to you; in which case postage and packaging costs may apply. Data is recovered from copies, not from the original – using professional data recovery hardware such as the PC-3000. If a drive needs to be opened, this is carried out on a HEPA H14-filtered clean bench. We do not offer a guarantee of success prior to diagnosis, as this is simply not possible in a professional context. Your storage device and your data will remain confidential and will not be passed on to third parties.

1Enquiries and submission by post or in person at the laboratory by prior appointment
2Free diagnosis of the cause of the damage
3Written quotation – we will only proceed once you have approved it; if you decline, you may collect the item from the laboratory or we will return it to you (postage and packaging costs may apply)
4Recovery, data verification and confidential handover

Request a diagnosis   Find out more about the process, costs and confidentiality →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the fault down to the brand?+
We do not have any reliable data on this. The decisive factor is the cause in each individual case – for example, a USB bridge, the power supply, a fall or wear and tear on the drive.
Can I fit the drive into a new case?+
Only if there is no soldered connection and no bridge encryption. If in doubt, have it checked beforehand.
The disc has fallen out and is making a clicking sound – what should I do?+
Do not connect it again. It is likely that the head is damaged.

Related topics

🔗 Related topics