What services does Dr IT Services provide?

I provide a wide range of services including computer repair, laptop repair, and data recovery. My aim is to solve your tech problems efficiently and effectively.

How long have you been providing these services?

I, Vlad Tabaranu, have been providing these services since 2000. With over two decades of experience, I have the expertise to handle a wide range of tech issues.

What types of computers can you repair?

I can repair a wide range of computers, from desktops to laptops, and across different operating systems including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

What does your laptop repair service include?

My laptop repair services cover everything from hardware issues like broken screens or faulty keyboards, to software issues such as virus removal, system upgrades, and much more.

What should I do if I've lost my data?

If you've lost your data, don't panic. I offer professional data recovery services and will do my utmost to recover your lost files.

How successful is your data recovery service?

While no data recovery can be guaranteed 100%, my extensive experience and the advanced tools I use give me a high success rate.

Are your services available in all of Birmingham?

Yes, I offer my computer and laptop repair services across the entire Birmingham region.

How long does a typical repair take?

The duration of a repair can vary depending on the issue. However, I always aim to provide a fast and efficient service.

Do you provide any guarantees on your repairs?

Yes, I stand behind the quality of my work and offer a guarantee on all of my repair services.

How can I contact Dr IT Services for a repair?

You can contact me by phone or email, or visit my shop in Birmingham. I'll be more than happy to assist you with your tech issues.

How much does it cost to repair your PC?

The cost varies depending on the problem and the service provider. On average, in the UK, it might cost around £50-£150.

Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old PC?

It depends on the cost of the repair and the performance of the PC. If the repair cost is high and the PC is significantly slower than newer models, it might be more cost-effective to replace it.

What is the average life of a PC?

The average lifespan of a PC tends to be around 5-7 years. However, with regular maintenance and upgrades, some can last for 10 years or more.

Is it cheaper to upgrade an old PC or buy a new one?

This depends on the upgrades needed. For minor upgrades like adding RAM or a new hard drive, it may be cheaper to upgrade. However, for significant upgrades like a new processor or motherboard, it might be more cost-effective to buy a new PC.

Can a PC last 12 years?

Yes, with proper maintenance and occasional upgrades, a PC can last 12 years or more. However, it might not be able to run newer software and applications that require more advanced hardware.

What is the lifespan of a motherboard?

A motherboard could last for 10 years or more with proper care. However, they can fail earlier due to factors like power surges, dust buildup, or manufacturing defects.

What is the average life of TVs?

On average, TVs can last between 5-10 years or more based on the usage and technology. Some higher-end models may last even longer.

How long does a PC take to repair?

The repair time can vary widely depending on the problem. Some repairs might be done in a few hours, while others could take several days.

How much does a motherboard repair cost?

The cost of a motherboard repair can vary widely. If the motherboard needs to be replaced, it can be quite costly, often making it more cost-effective to buy a new PC.

How much does it cost to fix a slow computer?

The cost can vary depending on the cause of the slowness. If it's due to software issues, it might be relatively inexpensive. If it's due to hardware issues, it might cost more.

How much does a hard drive repair cost?

Hard drive repair costs can vary widely, depending on the nature of the problem. If the hard drive needs to be replaced, the cost will include the price of the new hard drive and the labor to install it.

Can a computer last 20 years?

While it's technically possible for a laptop to last 20 years, it's quite unlikely due to the rapid advancement of technology and potential wear and tear. The average lifespan of a laptop is usually around 3-5 years, although with proper maintenance and upgrades, it can last longer.

Can a 10-year-old computer run Windows 10?

Yes, a 10-year-old computer can run Windows 10, but it depends on the specific hardware of the computer. The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 10 are a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit, 16 GB hard drive space for 32-bit OS or 20 GB for 64-bit OS, and a DirectX 9 or later graphics card.

Can a laptop last 20 years?

While it's technically possible for a laptop to last 20 years, it's quite unlikely due to the rapid advancement of technology and potential wear and tear. The average lifespan of a laptop is usually around 3-5 years, although with proper maintenance and upgrades, it can last longer.

How do I bring my old laptop back to life?

To bring your old laptop back to life, you might want to consider upgrading the hardware (like RAM or storage), cleaning it physically and digitally (removing dust, unnecessary files, and malware), and reinstalling the operating system.

How much does PC repair cost UK?

The cost of PC repair in the UK can vary greatly depending on the nature of the problem, the cost of any necessary parts, and the rates of the service provider. On average, it could range from £50 to £150.

How much does a PC cost per hour UK?

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you could provide more context, I would be able to give a more accurate answer.

How much does it cost to replace a hard drive UK?

The cost of a new hard drive in the UK can range from £30 to £100 depending on the capacity and type (HDD or SSD). The cost of professional installation can be an additional £50 to £100.

Will my PC break if it falls?

If a PC falls, there's a high probability that it could be damaged. The extent of the damage would depend on the height of the fall and the surface it falls onto. Components like the hard drive, screen, and motherboard can be particularly vulnerable.

How do you tell if a PC is damaged?

Symptoms of a damaged PC can include not starting up, frequent crashes or blue screens, unusual noises, slow performance, and distorted graphics.

How much does it cost to fix a computer that doesn't turn on?

The cost to repair a computer that doesn't turn on can vary greatly depending on the cause. It might be a simple fix like replacing a power cable, or more complex and expensive like replacing the power supply or motherboard. It could range from £50 to over £200.

Is it OK to leave my PC on 24/7?

While it's technically okay to leave your PC on 24/7, it can lead to increased electricity usage and potential wear on components. It's generally recommended to put your PC in sleep mode or turn it off when not in use for extended periods.

How much does it cost to leave a PC on 24/7?

The cost of leaving a PC on 24/7 depends on the power consumption of the PC and the electricity rate. On average, it could cost around £100 to £200 per year in the UK.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

In most homes, the biggest electricity users are heating and cooling systems, water heaters, and large appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.

Can an old hard drive be repaired?

Yes, an old hard drive can often be repaired, although it depends on the nature of the problem. Some issues like bad sectors or a corrupted file system can be fixed with software, while others like mechanical failures might require professional data recovery services.

Are old hard drives worth keeping?

Old hard drives can be worth keeping for backup or archival purposes, or to recover old files. However, they should be properly maintained and stored to prevent data loss.

Is it expensive to fix a hard drive?

The cost to repair a hard drive can vary greatly depending on the nature of the problem and whether professional data recovery is needed. It can range from free (for software fixes) to several hundred pounds for professional recovery.

What to do before bringing PC to repair?

Before bringing your PC for repair, back up any important data, remove any sensitive information or passwords, and provide the repair shop with any necessary passwords to access the system.

Can computer repair shops steal your data without a password?

While it's technically possible for a repair shop to access some data without a password, reputable repair shops should have policies in place to protect customer data. However, it's always a good idea to remove any sensitive data before a repair.

Should I give the computer repair my password?

If the repair shop needs to access your system to perform the repair, you might need to provide your password. However, you should only do this if you trust the repair shop, and you should change your password before and after the repair.

Is it safe to take my computer to a repair shop?

It's generally safe to take your computer to a reputable repair shop. However, you should always back up your data and remove any sensitive information before a repair.

Should I wipe my computer before repair?

If you're concerned about privacy, it can be a good idea to wipe your computer or at least remove any sensitive data before a repair. However, make sure to back up any important data first, as wiping the computer will erase everything.

Can computer technicians see your history?

Technically, yes, computer technicians could access your browsing history if they needed to. However, reputable technicians should respect your privacy and not access personal data unless necessary for the repair.

Can a laptop repair steal your data?

While it's technically possible for a dishonest repair person to steal data, reputable repair shops should have policies in place to prevent this. Always choose a trustworthy repair service, back up your data, and remove sensitive information before a repair.

How To Recover A Crashed External Hard Drive 2023 November

What’s an Inexpensive Data Recovery Service?

February 24, 2023

How Much Can a Computer Repair Cost?

February 25, 2023

When your external hard drive crashes, you must find a way to recover the data from it. Knowing what steps to take can be especially crucial if you have lost many important files.

There are two methods for doing this. Backing up your data with a backup tool or using data recovery software to scan the drive for lost information is one option.

Table of Contents

1. Use Disk Drill

If your external hard drive has crashed and you can’t access it without formatting, a data recovery program like Disk Drill is recommended to recover lost files. It’s an user-friendly and powerful application that works with almost all major file systems such as FAT, NTFS, EXT3 and HFS to locate and recover deleted documents.

Disk Drill’s free version allows for up to 500 MB of recovery, but if you need more space it is recommended that you upgrade to either Pro or Enterprise editions for optimal results.

Once the software has been downloaded and installed, it will prompt you to set a few basic preferences. After that, source selection can be done which displays all connected storage devices with their partitions organized by date, type and size. You have the ability to filter these results according to various criteria such as priority of access or file size.

Disk Drill will then perform an intensive scan of your selected drive to recover files. It runs all its scanning processes in the optimal order for optimal results, but you have the option to manually select which ones you wish to run.

It also features a Drive Backup feature that creates byte-to-byte backups of both the entire disk and individual partitions. This can be extremely beneficial when trying to recover data from a damaged external hard drive, giving you peace of mind knowing your backup is secure.

The program supports recovering data from all types of media, such as USB drives, memory cards, cameras and other portable devices. It works with file systems such as NTFS, FAT/FAT32/exFAT and EXT3/EXT4. Furthermore, it can restore photos, videos and other files stored in raw format – a vital requirement for many photographers.

2. Use Diskpart

A crashed external hard drive can be caused by a variety of reasons. It could have been damaged due to virus attack or physical or logical malfunctioning. If this is the case, data can still be recovered using Diskpart and other software programs.

To begin, connect the external hard drive to your computer via USB cable and port. Next, launch a Command Prompt window and type diskpart into it.

After a few seconds, you should see a list of all drives connected to your computer. From here, you can run various commands to perform various operations on the drive.

One of the best ways to accomplish this task is through Diskpart, a Windows utility that enables you to manage disks, partitions and volumes within Windows directly from the Command Prompt.

Diskpart can be used to modify volume sizes, create new ones, and manage unallocated space on a disk. Furthermore, it has the capacity to delete volumes or recover lost partitions.

It is essential to exercise caution when performing these steps. Make sure you select the correct disk or partition and file system.

By doing this, you will ensure all data is saved safely and correctly. Furthermore, it will save you time and energy to recover data from a crashed external hard drive.

To save you time, you can also try using a reliable data recovery software to scan the damaged or corrupted external hard drive. It will scan all files and folders on the device and then restore them onto your computer.

Alternately, you can reformat your disk using Diskpart to get rid of damaged data on it. Unfortunately, reformatting will erase all information on it so it’s recommended to back up any important files before beginning this process.

3. Use CheckDisk

A crash on your external hard drive can be a devastating issue, leading to data loss. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to recover those irreplaceable files.

Before anything else, try to diagnose the issue and identify its source. If you can’t figure out what’s wrong with your external hard drive, data recovery software may be necessary.

Check Disk is a free utility included with Windows that can help recover deleted files from an external hard drive. It scans the entire surface for bad sectors and fixes them if possible, so that your lost items can be restored.

If the command fails, you can also use the chkdsk /r flag to scan the disk for errors and repair them manually. It may take some time, but once completed, you should be able to recover all of your files.

Another option is running the system file checker, which can help fix any corrupted files on your system. Generally, this process takes an hour but should allow you to access your files again after that.

You can also use the check disk command if you believe your computer has become infected with malware. Viruses often exhibit unusual behaviors in a computer’s system, such as freezing and refusing to open its hard drive.

4. Use Microsoft Defender Offline Scan

Microsoft Defender Offline Scan is an effective tool that can help recover a crashed external hard drive. It operates within a secure environment, eliminating malware without impacting the operating system. It’s ideal for clearing infections left behind by other antivirus software and should only be used when regular full scans have failed to eliminate it completely.

Microsoft Defender Offline can be downloaded from the Windows Store and used to create a bootable USB drive, CD, or DVD for use on your PC. Before beginning to boot up the drive, make sure it’s clean and free of malware as any programs running in the background may interfere with media creation.

Once you’re ready to run the scan, boot from a USB drive, CD or DVD. If your computer doesn’t automatically boot from the device, press a key or modify your UEFI firmware or BIOS settings accordingly.

Once the scan is complete, your computer will restart and all of your files should have been restored. Please remember to save any open documents or folders before beginning an offline scan for security purposes.

The offline scan takes around 15 minutes to complete and may be interrupted if any active antivirus applications are running. Once complete, restart your endpoint and the normal Windows user interface will be restored.

Windows Defender Offline Scan is not the only way to recover deleted files from a crashed drive. Disk Drill or CheckDisk are other tools available which may repair bad sectors and restore deleted files from an affected drive; however, these solutions have their limitations and should only be used for minor or simple data loss cases. For more complex cases, data recovery services with experienced specialists who possess special equipment for recovering lost or deleted data should be considered instead.

5. Use CheckDisk / ScanNow

If your external hard drive stops working or is not visible in Windows, you may need to recover data from it. Fortunately, there are several methods available for getting back your files.

First, use Windows repair tools to correct the errors that caused your issue. Start this PC, right-click on the drive with bad sectors, and choose Properties from the menu.

Next, you can utilize Windows System File Checker (SFC) to recover files and folders damaged due to corruption. This powerful tool helps fix corrupted system files quickly and efficiently.

You can also use the CHKDSK command to run a scan on your external hard drive in order to check for errors and fix them. Please be aware that this scan may take some time depending on the size of your external drive.

To run CHKDSK on Windows, you must launch the command prompt as an administrator (usually found as the first option in your search bar).

Once you launch the command prompt, type in “chkdsk c:” and hit Enter. You should see the results of your scan within a few minutes.

Fixing disk errors on an external hard drive allows for access without formatting it, though formatting it is recommended if recovering data from it; doing so ensures that no data is accidentally erased during the process.

Vlad Tabaranu

Vlad Tabaranu is a highly experienced computer and laptop repair engineer with over 20 years of expertise in the IT industry. Vlad's dedication to top-quality IT services has earned him significant recognition. He has been ranked among the top 3 computer repair services in Birmingham since 2018. He's also been awarded the Corporate LiveWire's Birmingham Prestige Awards 2019 for Best in Independent Computer Repair Services and the Central England Prestige Awards 2021/2022 for Computer Repair Service of the Year.