How much does data recovery from an HDD hard drive cost?

For logical faults (deletion, formatting, an unbootable system) from 2,900 CZK. For a mechanical fault requiring a head replacement in the clean chamber, typically 9,900–18,900 CZK. We tell you the exact price after the initial diagnostics — free for HDDs and SSDs. If the recovery fails, you pay nothing apart from any shipping costs.

How long does data recovery take?

For logical faults 1–3 working days. For mechanical faults 5–14 days depending on complexity and the availability of spare parts (donor drives of the same model). For RAID reconstruction 7–21 days depending on the number and condition of the member drives.

My drive is clicking. What should I do?

Disconnect it from power immediately. Every further power-on damages the platters and lowers the chance of recovery. Clicking is almost certainly a mechanical fault of the heads — no software will help; the drive needs to be opened in a clean chamber and the read mechanism replaced. Call us on +420 775 556 063 and we will diagnose it within 24 hours.

Can I use a data-recovery program from the internet?

Only if the drive is physically healthy and it is a logical fault (deletion, formatting). In other cases such programs harm the drive — they repeatedly try to access it, which worsens its mechanical condition. For serious cases, bring the drive straight to us instead; initial HDD and SSD diagnostics are free.

What about confidentiality? What happens to my data?

Before opening the device we sign a written non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Only we process your data; nothing is sent abroad. After we hand over the recovered data, we guaranteed wipe every copy from our stage storage (DoD 5220.22-M wipe).

Can you recover data from an encrypted drive (BitLocker, FileVault)?

Yes, provided you have the recovery key or password. Without the key, encrypted data is mathematically unrecoverable. That is why it is important to store the recovery key off the drive (a printout, a Microsoft account, a USB stick). Without it we can recover the structure, but not the contents of the files.

Can you handle a RAID 5 where two drives have failed?

Yes, in many cases. A RAID 5 with two failed drives is not reconstructable in the traditional way, but if the second drive has not died completely, some data can be recovered from it and the array rebuilt. Success depends on which sectors are readable on each drive. Contact us as soon as possible — do not clone the array yourself, as that complicates matters.

Where should I send or bring the drive?

Our premises at Viniční 3587/216, 615 00 Brno-Židenice. Open Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00. If you send it by post, use good packaging (the original box + bubble wrap + a cardboard box). We accept Zásilkovna and PPL.

What if I'm in a hurry and need it within 48 hours?

We have an express mode with a 50–100% surcharge. Tell us your deadline up front in the enquiry and we will say whether it is technically feasible to make it (for mechanical faults it often is not, because of the wait for a donor drive).

How much does diagnostics of a phone or tablet cost?

Diagnostics of a mobile phone or tablet cost 1 210 Kč including VAT (1 000 Kč excluding VAT). If we then carry out a successful recovery, the diagnostics are included in the final price of the recovery. If you do not go ahead or recovery is not possible, the diagnostics performed are charged separately. Phones are generally more demanding for data recovery — we deal with chip-off, decryption and proprietary systems (Apple T2/M1/SE, Samsung Knox). Diagnostics include an initial assessment of whether your data can be recovered from the given model at all.

I need to find one specific file — how much does that cost?

If we are looking for a specific named file (e.g. 'presentation_final.pptx', 'tax return 2024.pdf', 'family holiday photo'), we charge 1 210 Kč including VAT (1 000 Kč excluding VAT) for targeted diagnostics and a targeted scan. On a successful recovery the amount is deducted from the total job price. If it is general data recovery from a deleted or formatted drive (without a specific file), the standard price list applies with no diagnostic fee and the no recovery — no fee principle. In both cases: write nothing further to the drive, as every write lowers the chances.

How to proceed with data recovery — first aid

The entire data recovery process takes place in six steps. We want you to know exactly what will happen — from the moment you contact us to the handover of your data.

1. Contact us

You can reach us anytime at +420 775 556 063 or visit us in person in Brno. For urgent cases, we are available 24/7. You can also fill in the order form on this website.

2. Transport of the damaged medium — FREE OF CHARGE

For data recovery, the damaged medium needs to be brought to our state-of-the-art laboratory in Brno. Options:

In person — bring the job to our laboratory in Brno-Židenice and our assistant will handle all the formalities with you
Send it yourself — fill in the handover protocol (online or printed and enclosed with the medium) and send it by post to our address
Via Zásilkovna — in the order form, select „I want to order a pickup"; you will receive a label by email to attach to the parcel
Courier pickup by arrangement — free throughout the Czech Republic; after filling in the form, select „I want to order a pickup"

For express jobs and exceptional cases (large companies where discretion and speed are critical), we offer recovery directly at the customer’s site using our mobile laboratory. This is used by insurance companies, banks, accounting firms, hospitals, and public authorities. Arrangements at +420 775 556 063 — 24 hours a day.

3. Initial diagnostics

Initial HDD and SSD diagnostics are free; for RAID/NAS, USB and memory cards they may be free depending on complexity. Phone/tablet diagnostics and targeted search for a specific deleted file are paid, as explained below. After diagnostics, we will tell you:

Extent of the damage
Recovery options
Estimated processing time
Maximum price

Data recovery begins only after your approval. Depending on the mode, processing takes from 48 hours to 21 working days. We also offer an express mode, if technically feasible.

When we charge a diagnostic fee of 1 210 Kč incl. VAT (1 000 Kč excl. VAT)

Paid diagnostics require significantly more specialised work. In non-standard cases (the drive was opened by another service, overwriting/formatting, complex analysis) diagnostics cost 1 210 Kč including VAT (1 000 Kč excluding VAT) — we tell you in advance. It also applies in these cases:

Mobile devices (phone / tablet) — 1 210 Kč including VAT (1 000 Kč excluding VAT). Diagnostics are an initial assessment of the model, fault, encryption and available routes to the data; they need not include physical chip reading. On modern encrypted phones, reading a chip outside the original board cannot be promised as a recovery method. If we then carry out a successful recovery, the diagnostics are included in the final price of the recovery; if the customer does not go ahead or recovery is not possible, the diagnostics performed are charged separately.
Targeted search for a specific file — flat fee of 1 000 Kč. This applies when you request recovery of a specifically named file (e.g., „tax_return_2024.pdf„, „presentation_final.pptx", „that one holiday photo"). It requires a targeted scan and manual verification. Upon successful recovery, the fee is deducted from the total job price. If recovery is not technically possible, it remains as payment for the work carried out.

General data recovery (entire disk, ransomware, formatted disk without file specification, „recover whatever is possible") is performed at standard rates without a diagnostic fee — no recovery, no fee applies.

Deleted / formatted files — what to do immediately

DO NOT WRITE to the disk. Not even „just one document". Any write operation can overwrite sectors that still contain the content of deleted files.
Turn off the computer — especially if it is the system disk, which would write temp files in the background.
Remove the disk and deliver it to us separately (in person, via Zásilkovna, or PPL).
Do not install recovery programs directly onto the affected disk — you will install them over your data.
Call +420 775 556 063 — we can often advise over the phone whether it makes sense to continue on your own or to bring the disk directly to us.

See details in the data recovery price list.

4. Data recovery

Once you approve the price and mode, we begin work. We guarantee the pre-agreed price, which you pay only in the event of successful recovery. In the case of hardware damage to the disk, we prioritise recovering the most important data first.

5. Verification of recovered data

Upon completion of the recovery, we send a report listing the recovered data. At the customer’s request, we provide photo previews or sample files. When collecting in person, you can inspect the data before taking it. We keep a copy of the data on secure storage for 14 days (longer by arrangement), after which we securely erase it.

6. Data handover, payment

We hand over the recovered data:

On a new disk supplied by you
Or on a new disk purchased through us
Or we upload it to an FTP server (up to approx. 50 GB)

Payment can be made in cash upon collection, by bank transfer, or by invoice for regular customers.

For more information, contact us or call directly in Brno at +420 775 556 063. For more on how to send a disk, see the guides on how to pack and send a disk and how to pack a memory card/USB.

How to proceed with data recovery