data recovery FAQ
Have a failed hard drive, SSD, or phone and need straight answers fast?
Below are the most common data recovery questions we get in San Jose -
including what to do immediately after data loss, how much recovery costs,
and how our Bay Area lab can help you get your data back safely.
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Power off the device and do not run any recovery software. Every additional use can make recovery harder.
Contact our San Jose data recovery experts right away for a free evaluation and next steps. -
The price of a data recovery case depends on many factors: type of storage device, failure type, file system type, encryption, age of device, material and spare parts used during the process, utilization of equipment and licenses, hours spent, solutions used, and previous data recovery attempts.
We always need to examine the individual storage device in order to see:
what exactly is the damage to the device
whether the data is still recoverable or not
what needs to be done in order to get the data back in the safest way and with the best possible success rate
We are committed to fair and competitive pricing.
Our prices are all-inclusive: all labor and spare parts are included.
There are no hidden or additional fees.
After a free in-lab evaluation at our San Jose data recovery lab, you’ll receive a firm quote before work begins. “No data – no fee.”
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No, the price is determined solely by the problem and not by the amount of missing data.
The work that has to be done to recover any data from a damaged storage device is very complex. The effort and amount of time the engineers spend on the job is the same if you need one file or all files, therefore we aim to recover all data.
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Our data recovery process is simple:
You bring in or send us your device.
We thoroughly check your device and give you a free professional estimate within 2 hours.
Learn more about our data recovery process.
We start the data recovery process only after your order confirmation.
You can choose between the Regular or Express data recovery option.
You choose where we put your recovered data.
You can pick-up the recovered data in person or we can ship your data via UPS or our free door-to-door courier service.
You review and confirm the recovered data.
We delete your recovered data from our servers for safety and security purposes.
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We offer two options:
Regular: average 10-15 business days during standard hours.
Express: up to 72 hours; starts immediately and runs 24/7 until complete.
Choose between Regular and Express options depending on urgency.
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Yes, our Express Data Recovery service operates 24/7 and begins immediately upon receiving your device.
It’s ideal for business-critical or time-sensitive cases where downtime is not an option. -
Yes, after a detailed examination, we provide a free estimate which includes:
the final exact cost of the data recovery (we have no hidden fees and we never change the price even if extra time or materials are needed)
an estimated time for completion (ETA)
Start your recovery today with a free evaluation request.
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Yes, our free second opinion comes with an exact price estimate.
We examine all possibilities before deeming data unrecoverable and regularly succeed in recovering severely damaged hard drives that others declared lost.
Our engineers often recover drives deemed unrecoverable by other companies. See more about our hard drive recovery services.
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Simply request a free evaluation or call (408) 455-4310.
We’ll guide you through the data recovery process - including shipping or courier options, evaluation, and recovery - in a few easy steps.
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Yes. If the data is not recoverable, you pay absolutely nothing - we cover all labor and parts costs.
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Yes, all data recovery work is performed 100% in-house in San Jose, CA.
Our lab is equipped with the latest data recovery tools from the world’s leading manufacturers and a Class 100 Clean Room Environment, along with custom in-house built and developed tools and proprietary solutions.
We never outsource our data recovery work or send your hardware to another company. Your data always stays safe and secure in our lab.
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Yes, you can call us at 408-455-4310 to talk to an experienced data recovery expert 24/7.
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We have specialized in data recovery since 1999.
Through good and challenging times, our ongoing goal has always been to use our expertise and technology to help people recover their valuable data.
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We combine cutting‑edge data recovery technology and expertise with genuine passion for restoring people’s precious data.
Our R&D team continuously develops new, safe, and effective solutions and techniques, giving us a competitive advantage in providing fast, reliable, and secure recovery.
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We can recover data from virtually any device:
HDDs, SSDs, laptops, desktops, servers, external drives, mobile phones, SD cards, NAS, RAID, and more - from all brands, operating systems, and data‑loss types (deletion, reformatting, failure, malware, or physical damage).
See the full list of supported devices on our data recovery services page.
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We work with individuals, small businesses, corporations, and government agencies, offering secure and confidential recovery for both personal and enterprise data.
Learn more about our data recovery services for home and business users. -
We can recover data lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, physical damage, mechanical failure, water or fire damage, and malware or ransomware attacks.
Each case is handled in-house by our engineers using specialized tools in our San Jose data recovery lab. -
Yes, most likely.
We can recover data from drives with damaged heads (clicking), seized spindle motors (buzzing), damaged PCBs (not spinning), firmware/system‑area problems, or bad sectors/read errors.
Important: power off the drive. Stop using the device and contact our hard drive recovery team immediately. Avoid DIY or recovery software to maximize your success rate.
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Yes, most likely we can.
We specialize in SSD data recovery using advanced tools and proprietary techniques.
Whether your SSD became inaccessible, suffered liquid or power damage, firmware corruption, or sudden failure, our lab has the latest technology to recover data from complex memory chips and translator algorithms.
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Yes, most likely.
Power off the device and do not restart it. Every attempt can worsen damage and reduce recovery chances.
Bring or ship your device to our San Jose data recovery lab for a free evaluation.
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Yes, most likely we can.
Encryption adds complexity, but in most cases, we can recover your data if you provide the correct password or key.
We handle encrypted data recovery cases with confidentiality and expertise.
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Yes, most likely.
These systems are complex and require advanced recovery expertise. Our engineers analyze and reconstruct arrays for individuals, small businesses, and enterprises.
Learn more about our RAID data recovery services for individuals and businesses.
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Yes, most likely.
We perform smartphone data recovery for all major brands and models, recovering photos, videos, contacts, and messages safely and efficiently.
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Yes, most likely.
We specialize in Apple data recovery across all devices. Our work does not void Apple warranties.
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Yes, most likely.
We offer fast, secure data recovery for all camera cards and file systems, handling even severe data loss cases with attention to privacy and safety.
Visit our photo recovery page for more on memory card and photo recovery.
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Yes, most likely.
Stop using the card and see our photo recovery page for tips. If no new data has been saved, the deleted photos can often be fully recovered.
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Yes, most likely.
We specialize in USB drive recovery.
Do not format the USB key or use recovery software. If the device hasn’t been altered since failure, our success rate is very high.
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Yes, we offer free door-to-door courier pickup or free UPS shipping labels.
If you can’t come to our lab, you can order a free courier service or a free UPS shipping label by emailing restore@kotar.us or filling out the form on our website.
After we receive your order, we'll send you a confirmation and detailed instructions for free door-to-door shipping. If you choose UPS, we'll send a label attachment that you can print out (on plain paper if needed), stick on the package, and drop off at your nearest UPS Store. We recommend placing the drive in a sturdy cardboard box with heavy foam padding completely surrounding it (avoid padded envelopes).
Order a free door-to-door courier or UPS label directly through our form.
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Once your data has been successfully recovered, you can:
bring/send us your own hard drive,
buy a new hard drive from us, or
borrow a loaner external drive free for 15 days (deposit refunded upon return).
If you can’t pick up in person, we can ship your data via UPS or our free door-to-door courier service.
Learn about our data return process for secure delivery.
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Yes. Your data stays safe and secure in our San Jose lab at all times.
We are committed to total client confidentiality. We handle data for Fortune 500 companies, health, educational, and government institutions under strict NDAs. We can also sign customer‑specific confidentiality agreements.
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Yes. We serve clients across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, including Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Fremont, and beyond.
You can also ship devices from anywhere in the U.S. using our free shipping or courier service.
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Contact Kotar or call (408) 455-4310 for a free in-lab evaluation and speak directly with a recovery expert.