Data Recovery Edinburgh Expert – 25 Years of Proven Excellence
For over 25 years, we have been Edinburgh’s leading data recovery experts, offering professional recovery solutions for all types of external hard drives and complex faults. Whether you’re an individual or a business, we specialise in recovering data quickly and securely.
Brands of External Hard Drives We Recover Data From
We recover data from all major external hard drive brands, including:
1. Seagate
- Overview: Seagate is one of the leading names in external storage, offering affordable and high-capacity drives.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- Seagate Backup Plus – Portable drives for personal backups and everyday use.
- Seagate Expansion – Simple plug-and-play external HDDs for home users.
- Seagate One Touch – Stylish and compact portable drives with fast transfer speeds.
- LaCie Rugged Series (owned by Seagate) – Shockproof and water-resistant drives for professionals and travelers.
2. Western Digital (WD)
- Overview: Western Digital is synonymous with reliability, offering external drives for all user categories.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- WD My Passport – Popular portable external drives for personal storage.
- WD Elements – Budget-friendly desktop and portable external HDDs.
- WD My Book – High-capacity desktop drives ideal for backups.
- WD_BLACK P10 – External HDDs specifically designed for gamers.
- WD My Passport SSD – Compact and fast SSDs for professionals.
3. Toshiba
- Overview: Toshiba’s external drives are known for their affordability and durability.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- Canvio Basics – Budget-friendly and lightweight portable drives.
- Canvio Advance – Stylish external HDDs with optional password protection.
- Canvio Premium – Premium metal-finish drives for professionals needing extra security and durability.
4. LaCie (Seagate Company)
- Overview: A premium external drive brand targeting creative professionals, photographers, and video editors.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- LaCie Rugged – Durable, shockproof, and water-resistant drives for on-the-go use.
- LaCie d2 Professional – High-capacity desktop drives ideal for video editing and backups.
- LaCie Mobile Drive – Stylish and high-speed drives for creatives.
5. Samsung
- Overview: Samsung is a leader in solid-state storage, offering ultra-fast external SSDs.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- Samsung T7 Portable SSD – Compact, fast, and secure SSDs with speeds up to 1,050 MB/s.
- Samsung T5 SSD – Reliable and lightweight SSDs for professionals and travelers.
- Samsung X5 SSD – Thunderbolt 3 SSDs with extreme performance for video professionals.
6. SanDisk (A Western Digital Company)
- Overview: Known for portable and high-speed SSDs, SanDisk excels in external storage solutions.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD – Rugged, water-resistant SSDs with fast read/write speeds.
- SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD – High-performance SSDs ideal for professionals working with large files.
7. G-Technology (G-Drive)
- Overview: A Western Digital brand offering premium drives tailored for creative professionals.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- G-DRIVE Mobile SSD – Rugged SSDs designed for speed and portability.
- G-RAID – Dual-drive RAID systems for high-performance workflows.
- G-DRIVE Pro SSD – Ultra-fast drives for video editing and creative production.
8. ADATA
- Overview: ADATA focuses on providing affordable yet durable external storage solutions.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- ADATA HD710 Pro – Rugged, waterproof external HDD for outdoor use.
- ADATA HV620S – Slim and budget-friendly HDDs for personal storage.
- ADATA SE800 – Portable SSDs with fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds.
9. Crucial (Micron Technology)
- Overview: Crucial offers high-speed SSDs for portable external storage solutions.
- Drives we have recovered from
- Crucial X8 – Portable SSDs with speeds up to 1,050 MB/s.
- Crucial X6 – Affordable and compact SSDs for personal storage.
10. Buffalo Technology
- Overview: Buffalo specialises in robust external drives for personal and small business use.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- Buffalo MiniStation – Portable HDDs with backup and security features.
- Buffalo DriveStation – Desktop external drives for large-scale backups.
11. Kingston
- Overview: Kingston delivers reliable external SSD solutions for performance-driven tasks.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- Kingston XS2000 – Portable SSDs with USB-C connectivity and extreme speed.
- Kingston DataTraveler Vault – Encrypted USB drives for secure storage.
12. iStorage
- Overview: A UK-based leader in encrypted external drives for ultimate data security.
- Drives we have recovered from:
- diskAshur PRO2 – Hardware-encrypted portable HDDs and SSDs.
- diskAshur DT2 – High-capacity, secure desktop drives.
Supported External Hard Drive Interfaces
We support all interface types for external drives, including:
- USB 2.0 – Universal but slower interface.
- USB 3.0 – Fast, commonly used for HDDs and SSDs.
- USB 3.1 (Gen 1 and Gen 2) – Faster data transfers (up to 10 Gbps).
- USB 3.2 – Next-level speeds for high-performance drives.
- USB-C (Type-C) – Reversible, versatile, and widely used.
- Thunderbolt 3 – Ultra-fast speeds of up to 40 Gbps.
- Thunderbolt 4 – Latest technology with improved reliability.
- eSATA (External SATA) – High-speed interface for legacy systems.
- FireWire (IEEE 1394) – Used in older video editing and audio systems.
- NAS (Network Attached Storage) – Ethernet Interface – External drives for shared storage.
- Wireless (Wi-Fi Enabled External Drives) – Cable-free external storage.
- U.2 Interface – Enterprise-grade NVMe SSDs for extreme performance.
External Hard Drive Faults We Recover From
Our expert team can recover data from any fault, including:
Physical Damage
- Description: External drives are often portable, making them prone to drops, bumps, or knocks.
- Causes:
- Mishandling, dropping the drive, or accidental impact.
- Exposure to physical elements like dust or debris.
- Signs: Clicking sounds, grinding noises, or failure to spin up.
- Impact: Damage to the internal read/write heads, platters, or spindle motor.
2. Mechanical Failure
- Description: Occurs in traditional HDDs when moving parts fail.
- Causes:
- Wear and tear over time.
- Malfunctioning read/write heads or motor.
- Signs: Repeated clicking noises, drive not spinning up, or unresponsive behaviour.
- Impact: Prevents data access; requires drives to be opened to repair or replace parts.
3. Bad Sectors
- Description: Portions of the drive become damaged or unreadable, causing file inaccessibility.
- Causes:
- Aging drive.
- Power surges or improper ejection.
- Signs: Files take a long time to open, error messages, or corrupted data.
- Impact: Gradual data loss as bad sectors spread.
4. Firmware Corruption
- Description: Corruption of the drive’s internal firmware, which controls its operation.
- Causes:
- Failed firmware updates.
- Power interruptions.
- Signs: Drive not recognised or incorrect capacity displayed.
- Impact: Prevents the system from detecting or accessing the drive.
5. Logical Corruption
- Description: Errors in the file system or drive structure prevent access to files.
- Causes:
- Improper ejection of the drive.
- Virus/malware attacks.
- File system corruption (NTFS, FAT32, HFS+, etc.).
- Signs: Drive prompts to format, inaccessible files, or error messages.
6. Power Surges or Electrical Failure
- Description: Sudden voltage spikes can damage the drive’s PCB (Printed Circuit Board).
- Causes:
- Power surges, faulty power adapters, or USB ports.
- Signs: Drive fails to spin, no response, or burning smell.
- Impact: Requires PCB repair or replacement for recovery.
7. Accidental Deletion or Formatting
- Description: Files are accidentally deleted or the drive is formatted.
- Causes:
- User error (e.g., formatting the wrong drive).
- Accidental file deletions.
- Signs: Drive works normally but files or folders are missing.
- Impact: Data is recoverable if no new files are overwritten.
8. Water or Liquid Damage
- Description: Exposure to water or other liquids can damage the drive’s electronics or internal components.
- Causes:
- Spills, floods, or humidity exposure.
- Signs: Drive fails to power on or makes unusual noises.
- Impact: Immediate professional intervention required to prevent further corrosion.
9. Overheating
- Description: Excessive heat damages internal components, leading to failure.
- Causes:
- Prolonged usage without ventilation.
- Faulty power supplies.
- Signs: Drive becomes too hot to touch, slows down, or disconnects frequently.
10. Head Crash
- Description: The drive’s read/write heads make physical contact with spinning platters.
- Causes:
- Shocks, drops, or excessive movement while the drive is powered on.
- Signs: Clicking noises, inaccessible data, or system errors.
- Impact: Platters may sustain scratches, leading to data loss.
11. Platter Damage
- Description: Scratches, dents, or contamination on the magnetic platters of HDDs.
- Causes:
- Head crashes.
- Physical mishandling or exposure to debris.
- Signs: Drive failure, unusual noises, and corrupted files.
12. USB Port or Connector Issues
- Description: The USB interface or cable malfunctions, preventing communication with the system.
- Causes:
- Damaged USB cables, ports, or connectors.
- Faulty soldering on the external drive’s circuit board.
- Signs: Drive not detected, intermittent disconnections, or error messages.
13. SSD Controller Failure
- Description: Failure of the SSD’s controller, which manages data flow.
- Causes:
- Electrical failure.
- Poor-quality components.
- Signs: SSD not recognised, slow response, or frozen operations.
- Impact: Data recovery requires specialized tools.
14. NAND Flash Degradation (SSD Wear)
- Description: SSD memory cells wear out due to a limited number of write/erase cycles.
- Causes:
- Excessive writes.
- Aging SSDs.
- Signs: Gradual data loss, slow performance, or unresponsive drive.
Our Data Recovery Process
- Free Diagnostics: We perform a no-obligation assessment of the fault.
- Recovery Plan: A transparent report outlining the recovery process and costs.
- Data Recovery: Using advanced tools to recover the data.
- Verification: Ensuring recovered data is intact and usable.
- Delivery: Securely return your data via a preferred medium.
Why Choose Us?
- 25 Years of Expertise: Trusted by thousands of individuals and businesses.
- Advanced Tools: Cutting-edge equipment for all drive types.
- High Success Rate: Proven recovery from the most complex faults.
- Secure Process: Ensuring your data remains confidential and protected.
- Free Diagnostics: Understand the issue before committing to recovery.
Symptoms of External Hard Drive Failure
If you notice any of these signs, contact us immediately to prevent permanent data loss:
- Clicking or grinding noises.
- Drive fails to mount or show up on the system.
- Files become corrupted or disappear.
- Drive prompts for formatting.
- Extremely slow file access or frequent freezing.
FAQs About External Hard Drive Data Recovery
- Can you recover data from physically damaged drives?
Yes, we have specialised tools to recover data from physically damaged external drives. - How long does data recovery take?
Recovery times vary but typically range from 2 to 4 days, depending on the issue. - Is data recovery possible after formatting the drive?
Yes, we can recover data even from formatted or initialised drives. - Do you recover data from encrypted external drives?
Absolutely. We handle BitLocker, VeraCrypt, and other encryption issues. - What if my drive isn’t detected by the system?
Drives that fail to show up can still be recovered with our advanced methods.