So you're working on an important document, and bam! Your Mac goes down. The hard drive appears, for all intents and purposes, to be inaccessible. Whe...
So you're working on an important document,
and bam! Your Mac goes down. The hard drive appears, for all intents and purposes, to be inaccessible. When this is the case, it may be likely you've encountered a catastrophic mechanical hard drive failure. Basically, no data recovery software around is going to help you. So what to do now?
Unless you have your own clean room and lots of experience with the inner workings of hard drives (if you do, it's doubtful you're reading this article, frankly), you're going to need the help of a professional Mac Hard Drive Recovery Provider. Here are some things to look at when weighing your options:
1. Importance Of Data - First off, how important is the data on your drive? If you can afford to lose your data, and simply get a new drive, this is probably the cheapest alternative out there. It's easy as pie to install Mac OS X on a clean drive, so if you didn't have many important files anyway, this is your best route. If, on the other hand, your Mac contains important business or personal data, a professional will be necessary.
2. Mac Experience - The fact is, there are a number of shops that claim to do Windows-based hard drive recovery. Mac data recovery is a very different scenario. While the main ideas are typically the same, the equipment and familiarity with the Mac file system is critical when choosing your vendor. Don't just settle on anyone, ask them for recent examples.
3. Testimonials - In a similar vein, if the data recovery provider you call upon says that they offer Mac data recovery, ask them for some references. While many companies will not provide actual names and phone numbers due to security concerns, they will at least have a good selection of customer testimonials on hand. It never hurts to get references, especially when it comes to your critical data.
4. On Phone Consultation - Beware always of companies that urge you to ship your Mac hard drive before they've asked any questions. Data recovery sales people can be very aggressive, and look to take advantage of people having a data emergency. A good technician should be able to diagnose your problem while on the phone. Hold them to this.
5. Quote First, Then Ship - It's simply an industry standard to get a data recovery quote before service is provided. If you're talking to someone that won't quote or even guarantee a price on your hard drive recovery, time to call someone else. Smaller shops will often charge more than you might have imagined, particularly if you don't have a guaranteed price. Get them to put pen to paper on a price, and then consider sending your hard drive. You'll be thankful you did.
Mac data recovery is for emergency situations only. And these situations do occur. Ensuring you find the best possible data recovery service will not only save you time and money, but your important data.
