Call for 24/7 assistance 800-388-1266

Expert External Drive Recovery Services

Expert External Drive Recovery Services

Our team has provided reliable external hard drive data recovery to thousands of professionals, photographers, content creators, students, and more. We can recover deleted files and lost data from formatted, damaged, or unrecognized external drives. Our data recovery services can also address issues with external SSDs. Decades of experience and specialized tools have helped us maintain a 96% success rate and restore billions of files. Call the external drive experts today and take advantage of our free diagnostics and No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee.

Get Immediate Assistance Request Help

We Helped Thousands Get Their Lost Data Back

With over 6,404 satisfied customers and counting, we are proud to provide the service and results that exceed your expectations. Hear what they have to say.

View All

Professional Recovery Services for External Hard Drives

Since 2007, Secure Data Recovery has used cutting-edge hardware and software to deal with failed external drives from every brand. We have the Class 10 ISO 4 cleanroom, advanced tools and techniques, and collection of donor parts to handle any situation. We have resolved the most complex data loss cases involving external HDDs and portable drives. Our technicians have repaired disks that have been dropped and recovered data from drives that were formatted on accident. No matter the problem, we can recover data from your external device.

Request a free quote today

Learn More About Pricing >>
Get a Quote

Data Recovery Services for Every External Drive

Our experts have the specialized hardware and software to handle failed external hard drives from any brand. We have resolved all data loss scenarios involving these devices over the past 16 years and counting. Our technicians have addressed drives damaged in drops and erased on accident. That means we have the tools, replacement parts, and a Class 10 ISO 4 cleanroom to help repair the drive. If the disk works but files are missing, we can use advanced recovery methods to locate and restore deleted data. No matter the issue, we can recover data from your device, as evidenced by our 96% success rate.

We Partner With Many Manufacturers

We partner with many data storage companies, including the most popular external drive brands. As a preferred partner, we have proven our expertise across all external HDD and SSD lineups. In many cases, our service will not void your product warranty, either. The leading brands trust our secure process to deliver results in the most difficult conditions. No matter the media type, size, file system, or failure mode, we can help. Give us a call today if you need help with your external drive.

We Have Experience With External SSDs

Our extensive experience with NAND flash storage has prepared us as more users choose SSDs over HDDs for external devices. While SSDs offer better performance and resilience than hard disk drives, the data loss events are often more complex. However, SSDs do not deter us. We have a large library of SSD controllers and state-of-the-art soldering stations for cases with physical damage. We also have cutting-edge software that provides low-level access to the device’s firmware and stored data. These tools allow our engineers to perform a wide range of recoveries on external SSDs. This also contributes to our 96% success rate.

Reviews for External Drive Cases

Average rating 4.9
This service was rated 4.9 out of 5.0 based on 845 review(s)
Lisa Angell

Got years of footage back!

So thankful for William Strunk and the team at Secure Data Recovery! They were able to recover years worth of footage that I had thought was lost for good! Excellent service and customer service.

Verified
Jeannie Sanders

A Day of Jubilation

We recently experienced a data crisis when an external hard drive with 20 years of invaluable files failed, seemingly taking decades of work with it. After trying every possible solution on our end, I reached out to Secure Data and was promptly contacted by Elliot Fisher. From the beginning, Elliot demonstrated outstanding expertise and professionalism, walking me through the recovery process with... Read More

Verified
Michael Sheehy

Got my portable hard drive recovered

Jake Gambatese was very helpful with navigating the process of getting my failed portable hard drive recovered.

Verified
Josh Kubiak

Got my pictures back!!!

Had the bright idea years ago to put all my pictures on an external hard drive because who trust the cloud right? Well, the hard drive fell one day and lost the last 20 years of pictures. 80,000 pictures to be exact. Tried a local repair shop, had a friend replace two motherboards thinking it would work. Nothing, lost hope, but found Data Recovery, worked with Jake and was very happy with the ... Read More

Verified
Ron C

Flawless! ! !

The title of this review speaks for itself. My experience with SECURE DATA Recovery was just that.....flawless. Eric Fisher, was my account representative. He was very easy to talk to, very personable, professional and informative. Eric not only answered all of questions, but also assured me that the SECURE DATA Team would be able to recover all of my deleted or corrupted files. Not only were th... Read More

Verified
Tanira Wiggins

Fast & Communicative

Secure Data was efficient and communicative. Our representative Scott answered all questions and provided realistic timelines that fit our schedule and budget.

Verified

External HDD Data Recovery Process

1

Free
Consultation

Shut down the device as soon as you notice data loss. Contact us 24/7 for a free consultation.

2

Free
Diagnostics

Our experts diagnose the drive in a safe lab to preserve the original data.

3

Free
Quote

We give diagnostic details, an overview of recoverable data, and a precise quote. You can accept or reject the work.

4

Guaranteed
Results

Our team retrieves your files, backed by our No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee. Payment is due upon proof of recovery.

Common Failures for External Drives

External disk drives and SSDs share the same design principles as built-in devices. So, while external drives have similar failures to internal storage, some malfunctions occur more frequently. Our track record of retrieving files from failed devices speaks for itself. These are a few of the most common failures:

Logical:

  • Deletion
  • Reformatting
  • Encryption

Physical:

  • Platter Damage
  • PCB Damage
  • Firmware Damage

Mechanical:

  • Head Crash
  • Motor Failure
  • Actuator Failure

Unlike hard drives, SSDs do not have moving parts. Therefore, SSDs have a number of unique failures that require a different approach. Here are some reasons that SSDs can suffer data loss:

  1. Physical Damage: SSDs could stop working due to damaged or defective connectors, components, or solder joints. Solid-state drives also have a limited amount of program/erase cycles. The device could encounter problems while reading or writing data as cells degrade.
  2. Electrical Issues: SSDs are susceptible to power surges and dips. Unstable voltage can ruin critical electronics on the drive’s board and lead to sudden data loss.
  3. Logical Errors: SSDs are not immune to file corruption, deleted data, or software bugs. In addition, these devices have several algorithms and processes that contribute to their function but can complicate cases.

Whatever the problem on external HDDs or SSDs, we can help resolve it.

External Hard Drive Repair

An external hard drive can have a higher risk of data loss because it is a compact, portable device. This role exposes them to bumps, drops, spills, debris, dust, and extreme temperatures. As a result, a broken disk often requires repairs to recover data. We have restored thousands of drives with severe physical, mechanical, and electrical damage in our best-in-class cleanroom. Whether you have damaged media or a defective controller, we can fix it.

Success Stories

Our service has set new standards since our founding in 2007. In that time, we have created a secure, transparent process and developed groundbreaking methods to reverse data loss. You can see that commitment to excellence in some of these success stories for external drives:

WD Blue HDD Crash Threatens Years of Personal Images

WD Blue HDD Crash Threatens Years of Personal Images

Images Recovered from WD Scorpio Blue HDD after severe mechanical failure

Images Recovered from WD Scorpio Blue HDD after severe mechanical failure

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does data recovery cost for external drives?

    It varies. The cost of data recovery depends on the difficulty of the job. Our pricing considers factors like the failure type, storage media, and investment required to retrieve lost files. Each of these details differs from case to case. Because of this, we provide free diagnostics and quotes. We will not charge You only charge you once we get your data back. Call now to learn more.

  • Are your results guaranteed?

    Yes. Our service offers a No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee. You get your data back, or pay nothing.

  • Do you offer different service options?

    Yes. In addition to our standard option, we have expedited and emergency data recovery services. These options allow you to choose the plan that best fits your needs.

  • How long does the recovery process take?

    It depends. Emergency service is often less than 48 hours. An expedited case turns around between 4 and 6 days. Our standard plan averages between 7 and 12 days.

  • Are you certified?

    Yes. We are the service with the most industry-specific certifications. We partner with major manufacturers to achieve the best outcomes regardless of device or failure. However, we also undergo regular SSAE 18 SOC 1, 2, and 3 audits. These audits prove our security systems protect your personal and private data. Large companies, healthcare providers, government agencies, academic institutions, and home users trust us with their sensitive data. You can, too.

  • Do you have a cleanroom for invasive procedures?

    Yes. Our Class 10 ISO 4 cleanroom contains less than 10,000 nanoparticles per cubic meter. A cleanroom filters air and prevents harmful substances from contacting the platter of an HDD. Opening a drive outside a cleanroom increases the risk of permanent data loss.

  • How do you return my data?

    We transfer your data to an external drive of your choice and then safely ship your recovered files to you.

  • Can I recover my files with free data recovery software?

    Sometimes. However, software can also worsen the situation. None of these products can recover data from a damaged drive. Improper usage could cause permanent data loss. Consider a certified service if retrieving the data is essential. Your first attempt is your best shot.

Featured Insights