Data loss usually occurs at the most inopportune time. One minute everything is fine and then you are suddenly faced with an emergency as you deal with a failed hard drive or an accidentally formatted micro SD card. We are going to show you how to restore your missing or unsaved data with the assistance of a local professional data recovery service.
The experts at a data recovery service can resolve a wide range of data loss scenarios. A qualified recovery center can retrieve lost or missing data on your computer, iPhone, Android device, and virtually any type of peripheral storage media.
The most effective action you can take to minimize the effects of data loss is to stop using the device as soon as you discover you have lost data. Continued use of the device risks corrupting or overwriting the files you want to restore.
How to Work with a Data Recovery Service
Here are some certified data recovery companies in your area that should be able to help you recover data from a broken or corrupted storage device.

Columbus, OH 43215
Monday - Friday: Open 24h
Saturday: Open 24h
Sunday: Open 24h

Columbus, OH 43229
Monday - Friday: 10AM–7PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Columbus, OH 43235
Monday - Friday: 9AM–5PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Columbus, OH 43219
Monday - Friday: 10AM–8PM
Saturday: 10AM–8PM
Sunday: 10AM–8PM

Columbus, OH 43221
Monday - Friday: 8AM–7PM
Saturday: 9AM–5PM
Sunday: Closed

Columbus, OH 43204
Monday - Friday: 8AM–5:30PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Columbus, OH 43215
Monday - Friday: 9AM–5PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Columbus, OH 43220
Monday - Friday: 9:30AM–7PM
Saturday: 10AM–4PM
Sunday: Closed

Columbus, OH 43212
Monday - Friday: 9AM–5PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Here is what a customer should expect when engaging a data recovery service to restore their lost information.
- Perform an online search to find a data recovery service near you. If you are in the Columbus area, our list provides an excellent starting point.
- Get in touch with the recovery center to receive an initial consultation and to obtain details on shipping or delivering the storage device to them.
- When the technicians receive your device, they will perform an assessment to determine the extent of the damage and the chances of recovering its data. You should be able to get an estimate of the recovery cost at this point.
- After you have agreed to the recovery price, work will begin to clone the device and recover its data. Certified centers perform recoveries in environmentally-controlled labs to eliminate any potential contamination when a storage device is opened. Recovery can be a labor and time-intensive proposition so you may need to be patient.
- Recovered data will be returned to the customer on secure media while the original device is destroyed to protect its contents from unauthorized access.
Consider the following points when deciding on the recovery center you choose to restore your lost data.
- 🪙 Reliable data recovery companies will not advertise a per-gigabyte restoration price. Each recovery is unique and should be priced according to the time and effort required to restore the missing information.
- 💸 If the recovery service cannot restore your data, there should be no charge.
- 🔐 Working with a recovery service requires you to cede control of the storage device to the technicians at the center. This can be problematic if sensitive data is involved so make sure you work with a company that guarantees the security of your information while it processes your device.
Restore Lost Data with a Software Solution
In situations where there is no physical damage to the affected storage device, you may be able to use data recovery software to restore your lost files and folders. As long as the device can be made available to the operating system, you can attempt a recovery from your computer.
Recovery software repairs or restores the damaged or missing links that make data accessible to the operating system and applications. The application scans the target disk and identifies data physically resident in the device that can be recovered and made available for use.
We are going to demonstrate how to use data recovery software using a tool called Disk Drill. We like this app for its recovery capabilities, user-friendly interface, and reasonable price point.
- Download and install Disk Drill on your Mac or Windows machine. You can download a trial version for free that enables you to see what can be recovered before making a financial investment in the app. Don’t download the software on the device that lost data to avoid overwriting recoverable files.
- If necessary, attach the peripheral device that stored the missing data.
- Start Disk Drill and choose the drive to be scanned from the app’s device list.
- Click Search for lost data to begin scanning the device. The scan can take a long time based on the size of the device. You can pause the scan and resume it at a later time if you wish.
- Select the files you want to restore and click the Recover button.
- You will be prompted to supply a new location at which to store the recovered data that is not on the original disk.
- Click the OK button to finish the recovery.
Disk Drill enables you to recover files in hundreds of different file formats and is compatible with any disk-based storage device. The free version of the tool lets you completely scan your drive to see if the tool can get your lost data back. If you’re not happy with the results, you don’t owe a cent.
Conclusion
A data recovery service will be able to handle just about any type of data loss scenario. If the affected device has experienced physical damage, a recovery center is probably your only option if you want your data back. They have the skills necessary to resolve your problem efficiently.
In cases where there is no physical damage and the device is recognizable by the operating system, you can try retrieving your lost information with data recovery software. A software solution enables users with general computer knowledge to perform the recovery themselves while maintaining control of the storage device and its contents.