data recovery FAQ
answers to common data recovery questions from our San Jose lab
Have a failed hard drive, SSD, RAID system, Mac, smartphone, memory card, or other storage device and need clear answers?
Below are answers to common questions about data recovery, pricing, evaluation, turnaround time, shipping, security, recovery options, and what to do after data loss.
Kotar Data Recovery has specialized in professional data recovery since 1999 and performs all recovery work in-house at our San Jose lab for clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
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Power off the device and stop using it if it is clicking, not detected, overheating, repeatedly disconnecting, or showing other signs of failure.
Avoid running recovery software, CHKDSK, formatting, initializing, reinstalling the operating system, rebuilding a RAID array, or making additional changes that could overwrite recoverable data or worsen an existing hardware problem.
If the data is important, preserve the original device and contact a professional data recovery lab before making additional recovery attempts.
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Request a free evaluation or call (408) 455-4310to speak with a data recovery expert.
We will guide you through the next steps, including device drop-off by appointment, free secure courier pickup across the Bay Area, or shipping with a free shipping label.
Once your device arrives at our San Jose lab, we evaluate it, explain the recovery options, and provide a fixed quote before any work begins.
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Yes. We provide a free evaluation of your storage device.
Your device is examined within 2 hours after it arrives at our San Jose lab. After the evaluation, we explain the available recovery options and provide a fixed quote before you decide whether to proceed.
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Yes. If another company has already evaluated your device or said the data cannot be recovered, we can provide a free second opinion.
We evaluate the device independently and review the available recovery options before determining whether recovery is possible.
If another company has already worked on the device, let us know what was done so we can account for previous recovery attempts during the evaluation.
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The cost of data recovery depends on the type of storage device, failure, file system, encryption, required parts, technical work, and whether previous recovery attempts have already been made.
We evaluate the individual device to determine what is wrong with it, whether the data is recoverable, and what recovery method offers the safest path to the data.
Our pricing is all-inclusive, including labor and required spare parts. There are no hidden recovery fees.
After the free evaluation, we provide a fixed quote before recovery begins.
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No. The price is not based on the number of files or the amount of data recovered.
Data recovery pricing is based primarily on the type of storage device, the failure, and the technical work required to safely recover the data.
In most cases, the same recovery process is required whether you need one important file or all accessible files. Our goal is to recover all accessible data, not just selected files.
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Yes. If the agreed recoverable data cannot be recovered, there is no recovery fee.
You do not pay for unsuccessful recovery work, and the guarantee is explained before you approve the recovery.
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Our data recovery process has three main stages:
Free evaluation and fixed quote - the device is examined within 2 hours after it arrives at our San Jose lab, and the recovery options and a fixed quote are provided before work begins
Safe imaging and recovery - the original storage is protected and the safest available recovery method is used based on the device, failure type, and physical condition
File reconstruction and verification - accessible files, folders, partitions, databases, and other recoverable data are reconstructed and checked before delivery
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Recovery time depends on the device, failure type, physical condition, amount of readable storage, and complexity of the recovery.
We offer three service levels:
standard service - recovery during regular business hours
express service - completed in up to 72 hours
24/7 emergency service - round-the-clock recovery on request
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Yes. For urgent and business-critical cases, expedited recovery options are available.
Express service is completed in up to 72 hours.
24/7 emergency service provides round-the-clock recovery on request.
Same-day completion depends on the device and failure, so it cannot be guaranteed in every case.
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Yes. All diagnostics, imaging, recovery, file reconstruction, and verification are performed in-house at our San Jose lab.
We never outsource your device or data to third-party data recovery companies.
Our lab uses specialized data recovery tools, cleanroom capability for physically damaged hard drives, and in-house recovery procedures developed through 26+ years of experience.
Your device and recovered data remain under our control throughout the recovery process.
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Our data recovery lab is located in San Jose, California.
Kotar Data Recovery
325 Piercy Road
San Jose, CA 95138Lab visits are available by appointment. Free secure courier pickup is available across the Bay Area, and a free shipping label is available when shipping is more convenient.
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We have specialized in professional data recovery since 1999, giving us 26+ years of experience with hard drives, SSDs, RAID systems, servers, Macs, smartphones, flash storage, virtual machines, and other storage technologies.
Throughout that time, our focus has remained the same: use specialized recovery tools, careful recovery procedures, and hands-on experience to help clients recover important data as safely as possible.
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We combine 26+ years of experience, in-house recovery at our San Jose lab, specialized recovery tools, cleanroom capability for physically damaged hard drives, clear fixed pricing, and secure handling from evaluation through data return.
All diagnostics, imaging, recovery, file reconstruction, and verification are performed in-house.
We never outsource your device or data to third-party data recovery companies.
Our in-house R&D work includes developing proprietary tools, custom recovery methods, and specialized data recovery solutions for complex storage failures.
We also provide a free evaluation, a fixed quote before recovery begins, and a no data, no fee guarantee.
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We recover data from a wide range of storage devices and systems, including hard drives, SSDs, NVMe and M.2 storage, external drives, RAID arrays, NAS systems, SAN storage, servers, Macs, smartphones, USB flash drives, memory cards, virtual machines, helium hard drives, and supported cloud-connected storage environments.
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We handle common data-loss situations including accidental deletion, formatting, file-system corruption, mechanical failure, electronic failure, firmware problems, water or fire damage, malware, ransomware, failed RAID rebuilds, and other storage-related failures.
The available recovery method depends on the device, the cause of the data loss, and the condition of the original storage.
All recovery work is performed in-house at our San Jose lab.
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Often, yes. Deleted or formatted files may remain recoverable if the original data has not been overwritten or otherwise removed by the storage device.
Recovery depends on the device, file system, type of deletion or formatting, and whether new data has been written afterward.
Stop using the affected device as soon as possible to reduce the risk of overwriting recoverable data.
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Often, yes. Clicking, buzzing, repeated spin-up, or other unusual sounds can indicate read/write head or other mechanical problems. Data may still be recoverable if the platter surfaces remain sufficiently intact.
Power the drive off and avoid additional recovery attempts. Recovery software, repeated restarts, or DIY repairs can increase the damage.
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Often, yes. A dropped external hard drive may have damaged read/write heads, the motor, platters, internal alignment, electronics, or the enclosure itself.
Power the drive off and avoid restarting it, running recovery software, or attempting repeated connections.
You can bring the drive to our San Jose lab by appointment, use free secure courier pickup across the Bay Area, or request a free shipping label for evaluation.
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Often, yes. SSD failures can involve controller problems, firmware corruption, NAND flash memory issues, electrical or liquid damage, file-system corruption, or drives that are no longer detected.
The recovery method depends on the SSD type, failure, encryption, controller, and condition of the flash memory.
If the SSD contains important data, stop using it and avoid formatting, initializing, or repeated recovery attempts.
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Yes, depending on the condition of the drives, storage configuration, controller, file system, and extent of the failure.
We recover data from failed RAID arrays, NAS systems, SAN storage, and servers affected by degraded arrays, multiple-drive failures, failed rebuilds, controller problems, damaged volumes, corrupted file systems, and other storage failures.
Our engineers evaluate the individual drives and original configuration before determining the safest reconstruction and recovery method.
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IOften, yes. We recover data from supported VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, VMDK, VHD, VHDX, QCOW2, damaged snapshots, inaccessible datastores, and virtual machines affected by underlying storage failure.
Recovery may involve reconstructing the complete virtual machine or extracting accessible files directly from the virtual disk.
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Yes, depending on the device, failure type, encryption method, and availability of the correct credentials.
In many cases, the underlying storage can be recovered first, but access to the recovered files may still require the original password, recovery key, hardware token, or other authorization.
We work with encrypted storage such as BitLocker, FileVault, and other supported encryption systems when the required access information is available.
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Often, yes. We recover data from supported iPhone and Android devices affected by physical damage, liquid exposure, boot problems, failed updates, storage errors, and other hardware or software failures.
Depending on the device and condition, recoverable data may include photos, videos, contacts, messages, documents, and other accessible files.
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Often, yes. We recover data from supported MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPhone, iPad, external Mac storage, Time Machine backups, APFS volumes, HFS+ volumes, and FileVault-encrypted storage.
For Macs and Apple computer storage, see our Mac data recovery service.
For iPhone and iPad cases, see our smartphone data recovery service.
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Often, yes. We recover photos, videos, and other files from supported SD cards, microSD cards, CompactFlash, CFexpress, and other professional camera media affected by deletion, formatting, corruption, read errors, controller failure, or physical damage.
If important photos are missing, stop using the card immediately to reduce the risk of overwriting recoverable data.
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Often, yes. A USB flash drive may ask to be formatted because of file-system corruption, controller problems, damaged memory, or other storage errors.
Do not format, initialize, or continue writing new data to the USB drive.
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Yes. We offer free secure courier pickup across the Bay Area and a free shipping label when shipping is more convenient.
If you are outside the local courier area, you can request a shipping label and send your device to our San Jose lab for evaluation.
For shipping, place the device in a sturdy box with protective padding on all sides. Avoid padded envelopes for hard drives or other fragile storage devices.
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Get your data back on your own drive, a new drive, or a loaner drive.
If you are not picking up the recovered data at our San Jose lab, we can arrange return shipping or Bay Area courier delivery.
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Yes. Your device and recovered data are handled as confidential customer information throughout the recovery process.
All diagnostics, imaging, recovery, file reconstruction, and verification are performed in-house at our San Jose lab.
We never outsource your device or data to third-party data recovery companies.
We use secure handling procedures for personal, business, legal, healthcare, financial, research, creative, and other confidential data.
Confidentiality agreements can also be arranged when required.
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Yes. We serve clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, including San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Fremont, Oakland, and surrounding communities.
Free secure courier pickup is available across the Bay Area.
Clients outside the local courier area can request a free shipping label and send their device to our San Jose lab for evaluation.
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No. Clients who are not located near San Jose can ship their storage device to our lab for evaluation.
We offer a free shipping label, so you can send your device securely to our San Jose lab without needing to visit in person.
Once the device arrives, the same in-house evaluation, recovery, verification, and secure data-return process applies.
still have questions?
call (408) 455-4310 to speak with a data recovery expert
or
send us email at restore@kotar.us
or