Data recovery in Birmingham is expertly handled by Dr IT Services, your trusted specialist for retrieving lost files from HDDs, SSDs, RAID arrays, USB flash drives, SD/microSD cards, smartphones, and servers. With over 25 years’ experience and CompTIA A+ certification, we ensure secure, GDPR-compliant handling from start to finish. No data, no fee.
After-hours emergency triage available by arrangement.
Data Recovery – What To Do Immediately
- Shut down the device – do not run CHKDSK, fsck, or First Aid
- Do not attempt to open the drive; internal exposure can destroy data
- Label RAID/NAS drives in order and bag them separately
- For urgent issues, see Emergency IT Repair
- Record the symptoms (e.g., clicking, not detected) and call 07405 149750
Data Recovery Scenarios We Handle Daily
- Deleted file recovery after accidental Recycle Bin emptying
- Formatted drives, RAW partitions, lost MBR/GPT layout
- Clicking hard drives, motor failures, damaged PCBs
- SSD & NVMe failures: 0 MB, firmware lock, power loss
- RAID & NAS rebuild failures (SHR, mdadm, ZFS, LVM)
- USB and SD cards: RAW mode, controller issues, monolithic recovery
- Phone recovery from water damage, boot loops, photo/WhatsApp retrieval
- Encrypted drives: BitLocker, FileVault, VeraCrypt (with access keys)
Our Proven Data Recovery Process
- Free diagnostics: logical and hardware-level assessment; cleanroom referrals if needed
- Scope & pricing upfront: no surprises, clear timelines, full GDPR chain-of-custody
- Imaging-first policy: forensic imaging with write blockers; RAID reconstruction & file carving
- Secure return: verified files on encrypted media; return shipping options available
Advanced Recovery Methods
- Firmware repair: write-blocked imaging, ISO Class 5 cleanroom referrals
- JTAG/ISP: mobile device motherboard access for data extraction
- RAID virtual reassembly: reconstruct arrays without original controllers
- Chip-off recovery: direct NAND access when SSD controllers fail completely
Real User Experiences From Community Research
“Seagate Barracuda 3TB drive died with no warning whatsoever!” – Sudden HDD failures require immediate professional assessment.
“Data recovery service did not recover most of the desired videos… probably over 75% of our home videos were not recovered despite paying the highest price” – Dr IT Services provides transparent success estimates upfront.
“DO NOT OPEN A HARD DRIVE UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO LOSE THE DATA” – Community wisdom confirms our imaging-first approach.
Devices We Recover Data From
- HDDs: Seagate, WD, Toshiba, Samsung – SMART, heads, firmware issues
- SSDs: Samsung, Kingston, SanDisk, Crucial – NAND/controller, firmware, chip-off
- RAID/NAS/Servers: Dell PERC, HP Smart Array, LSI HBA; logical & physical recovery
- Virtual Machines: VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox – VMDK, VHDX, recovery & mount
- Phones & tablets: iPhone, iPad, Android – APFS/ext4 targeted extraction
File Systems and Data Types We Support
| Platform | File Systems | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS | Documents, PST/OST, SQL |
| macOS | APFS, HFS+, Time Machine | Photo libraries, iTunes, backups |
| Linux | ext4, XFS, Btrfs, ZFS | VMs, databases, containers |
| NAS Protocols | SMB, NFS, CIFS | Shared drives, user homes |
Business-Critical Recovery
- Exchange, SQL, QuickBooks, CAD
- Recovery methods: firmware repair, write-blocked imaging, ISO Class 5 cleanroom, JTAG/ISP (where supported), RAID virtual reassembly
- Supported backups: Time Machine, Backblaze, Acronis, Veeam, OneDrive, Google Drive
- Nationwide logistics: Royal Mail Tracked or courier; encrypted return drives optional
Data Recovery Pricing – No Data, No Fee
| Service | From (£) | Typical Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Deleted File Recovery | 50 | Same day |
| Formatted Drive Recovery | 100 | 1–2 days |
| SSD & NVMe Recovery | 100 | 2–4 days |
| RAID/NAS Recovery | 200 | 3–7 days |
| Phone/Tablet Recovery | 100 | 1–3 days |
Payment: cash or bank transfer (cards via website only)
Mail-in: UK-wide, encrypted return media available
Why Dr IT Services for Data Recovery?
- 25+ years of experience with Birmingham clients and UK mail-ins
- Class 5 cleanroom partners for mechanical recovery and chip-level work
- Honest success rates and transparent estimates
- Encryption, NDAs, and consent-led process for sensitive data
- We image first and never work directly from your original storage
Data Recovery FAQs
Can you recover a clicking HDD?
Yes. Power it down. Mechanical recovery may be possible in a cleanroom via partners.
Do you recover encrypted drives?
Yes, with the recovery key or credentials for BitLocker, FileVault, or VeraCrypt.
Can you recover water-damaged phones?
Often, if internal memory is intact. Specialist tools are required.
Do you work on RAID failures?
Yes – RAID 0/1/5/6/10, NAS/SAN systems, controllers like Dell PERC, HP Smart Array, and LSI.
What about TRIM’d SSDs?
TRIM commands mark deleted data for erasure, making recovery challenging but not impossible through specialised techniques.
Areas We Cover in Birmingham
We serve home users and businesses in: Harborne, Edgbaston, Selly Oak, Moseley, Kings Heath, Erdington, Bearwood, Quinton, Smethwick, West Bromwich, Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull – and more
Learn More
Explore core terms: RAID, NTFS, APFS, ext4, GDPR.
Dr IT Services – Data Recovery Birmingham
415 Court Oak Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B32 2DX
Tel: 07405 149750 • Email: contact@dr-it.co.uk
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 08:00–20:00 • Saturday 10:00–17:00
