frequently asked questions

What is data recovery?

Data recovery is a process of restoration of lost / inaccessible files from storage media caused by various factors that may lead to different types of damages.

How much will I pay if I order data recovery with Exalab?

Each case is evaluated individually, the price is determined by the type of damage, by the difficulty & time required for the recovery, by the priority the customer chooses (express, etc.), by the level of partnership (discount policies), etc. The diagnostics is always free & after we have the results, we give customers the exact price for the service. This amount is paid only in case of successful recovery. To get a general idea about the price ranges, please consult our price list.

How do I determine whether data has been lost?

 In most cases data is considered to be lost when such data appear as suddenly inaccessible. That means that data that has been previously stored, is no longer visible or is corrupted and therefore unusable.

How long does it take to recover data?

 The time needed for successful recovery depends on various factors such as storage media, size of damaged data, used file system, etc. The actual recovery phase takes no longer than 2 working days but the time required for the entire process might be longer, e.g. spare parts need to be sourced. The required time is announced to the customer together with the fixed price right after the diagnostics phase. Generally, we complete more than 90% of all orders within 3 working days.

Do I have to bring the media to the Exalab office personally?

 No, you do not have to, you can choose how you want to deliver the media with lost data to us. You can follow this link to get more information about how to proceed.

What is the process of data recovery, how is my media handled?

 The step-by-step process is described here. Briefly, there are 2 most important steps: diagnostics & recovery phases. Diagnostics is always free; the recovery is paid service only in case of successful recovery.

Will the recovered data be stored back on the original media?

 We never store the data back on the original media as there is high risk of repeated data loss or it is impossible all together. When the data is recovered, we copy the data to any media type that the customer chooses. We can store the data to a media that customer delivers or to one that the customer purchases from us.

Do you always recover 100% of the data?

 Although Exalab has high success rate (around 92%) of data recovery, we still cannot guarantee recovery of 100 % of the data. The success is determined by many factors such as the type and extent of the damage. When unprofessional attempts were made prior to the time when we received the media, the chances decrease rapidly. In general, when the data is present on the media, it can be recovered. The customer only pays in case we recover the data in the extent that was communicated to the customer after the diagnostics phase.

What if the data is lost from a media covered by warranty? Does the warranty become void?

 No, in most cases the media is still covered by the warranty given by the manufacturer or seller. There are exceptions to this but from our experience the data is of much higher importance to the customers than the media itself.

Do you offer data liquidation service?

 Yes, Logically, data liquidation is closely related to data recovery itself & is among additional services that Exalab offers. We can guarantee that the data will be safely disposed so that nobody can ever recover it again. We can dispose data from all available media - hard drives, CDs/DVDs, floppies, magnetic tapes, flash memories, etc. We use proven procedures to achieve our goal. After the data disposal we give customers certificate about the fact that data has been liquidated. If you are interested in using our services, please feel free to contact us.

I have additional question(s)

If you feel that the list should be extended or if you simply want answer to your question, please feel free to contact us. We may also consider publishing your question in the FAQ section.