Milton Keynes No. 1 External Hard Disk Data Recovery and SSD Drive Data Recovery Specialist – 25 Years of Excellence
At Milton Keynes Data Recovery, we are proud to be the leading specialists in External Hard Disk data recovery. With over 25 years of experience, we provide professional recovery services for all types of external hard disks, whether they use traditional SATA/IDE drives or the latest SSD and M.2 drives enclosed in casings.
Supported External Hard Disk Brands
We recover data from all major external hard disk and SSD brands, including:
- Samsung
- Western Digital (WD)
- SanDisk
- LaCie
- ADATA
- Sabrent
- Lexar
- Seagate
- Crucial
Supported External Hard Disk Interfaces
Our recovery services cover all types of modern and legacy interfaces:
- SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
- PATA (Parallel ATA) – IDE
- NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express)
- SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
- SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
- PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)
- M.2 Interface
- U.2 Interface
- eSATA (External SATA)
External Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Faults Requiring Data Recovery
External HDDs are widely used for data storage and portability, but they are susceptible to numerous faults that can lead to data loss. Here are the top 20 common external HDD issues requiring professional recovery services:
1. Accidental File Deletion
- Description: Files are mistakenly deleted by the user.
- Impact: Deleted files may still be recoverable unless overwritten.
2. Accidental Formatting
- Description: The drive is unintentionally formatted, erasing all stored data.
- Impact: Data can often be recovered unless new data is written to the drive.
3. Logical Corruption
- Description: Errors in the file system prevent access to stored data.
- Impact: The operating system cannot read or display files, even though they exist.
4. Bad Sectors
- Description: Physical or logical damage to specific areas of the drive makes them unreadable.
- Impact: Files stored in damaged sectors may be corrupted or lost.
5. USB Connector Damage
- Description: The USB port or cable is damaged, preventing a connection between the drive and the computer.
- Impact: The drive becomes undetectable by the system.
6. Power Surges or Electrical Damage
- Description: Voltage spikes or irregular power supply damages internal components.
- Impact: The drive may not power on or function properly.
7. Mechanical Failure
- Description: Moving parts like the spindle motor, actuator arm, or read/write head fail.
- Impact: The drive becomes unresponsive, and data is inaccessible.
8. Water or Liquid Damage
- Description: Exposure to moisture causes internal short circuits or physical damage.
- Impact: The drive may completely fail or partially function with corrupted data.
9. Firmware Corruption
- Description: The drive’s internal software becomes corrupted, preventing normal operation.
- Impact: The drive is undetectable or unusable.
10. Overheating
- Description: Prolonged exposure to high temperatures damages the drive’s internal components.
- Impact: The drive may fail entirely or exhibit performance issues.
11. Read/Write Errors
- Description: The drive encounters issues when attempting to read or write data.
- Impact: Files become corrupted or inaccessible.
12. Partition Loss
- Description: The drive’s partition table is deleted or corrupted, making data appear missing.
- Impact: Entire partitions of files become inaccessible.
13. Malware or Ransomware Attacks
- Description: Malicious software deletes, encrypts, or corrupts files on the drive.
- Impact: Data loss occurs until recovery or decryption is performed.
14. Platter Damage
- Description: Physical damage to the platters, such as scratches, affects data storage.
- Impact: Data stored in affected areas is lost or corrupted.
15. Head Crash
- Description: The read/write head contacts the platters, causing physical damage.
- Impact: Severe data loss requiring specialized recovery techniques.
16. Drive Not Recognised
- Description: The computer fails to detect the external HDD.
- Impact: Data becomes inaccessible without recovery tools.
17. PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Failure
- Description: Electrical failure damages the PCB, preventing the drive from powering on.
- Impact: The drive becomes unresponsive.
18. Accidental Initialization
- Description: The drive is initialized, erasing existing partition tables and metadata.
- Impact: The drive appears empty, but data may still be recoverable.
19. Excessive Vibrations
- Description: Repeated vibrations or shocks cause internal misalignment or damage.
- Impact: The drive malfunctions, and data becomes inaccessible.
20. Aging Components
- Description: Wear and tear from prolonged usage lead to hardware degradation.
- Impact: Reduced performance, bad sectors, or complete drive failure.
External Hard Disk Drives Containing SSD and M.2 Drives – Faults Requiring Data Recovery
External hard drives with SSD and M.2 technology offer high speed and performance, but they are also prone to certain issues that can lead to data loss. Below are the top 20 faults that require professional data recovery services:
1. Accidental Deletion of Files
- Description: Files are mistakenly deleted by the user.
- Impact: Data is inaccessible but can often be recovered unless overwritten.
2. Accidental Formatting
- Description: The drive is formatted unintentionally, erasing all stored files.
- Impact: Data can typically be recovered unless overwritten with new data.
3. Logical Corruption
- Description: File system errors render data inaccessible.
- Impact: The drive appears as unformatted or unreadable to the operating system.
4. Physical Damage
- Description: External casing or internal components are damaged by impacts or drops.
- Impact: The drive may fail to function or produce errors when accessed.
5. Bad Sectors
- Description: Defective memory cells in the SSD or sectors in the hard drive cause data loss.
- Impact: Files stored in damaged sectors or cells may become corrupted or lost.
6. Controller Chip Failure
- Description: The controller responsible for managing data transfer fails.
- Impact: The drive is undetectable, and data cannot be accessed.
7. Firmware Corruption
- Description: Errors in the firmware prevent the drive from functioning normally.
- Impact: The drive may not initialize or be detected by the computer.
8. Power Surges or Electrical Damage
- Description: Voltage spikes damage internal components, including the SSD or M.2 drive.
- Impact: The drive becomes unresponsive or inaccessible.
9. Overheating
- Description: Excessive heat damages the internal components, including NAND cells or controllers.
- Impact: Performance degrades, and the drive may fail entirely.
10. Encrypted Drive Issues
- Description: Lost passwords or corrupted encryption software prevent access.
- Impact: Data remains locked until professional decryption or recovery is performed.
11. USB or Thunderbolt Port Damage
- Description: Broken or bent ports make it impossible to connect the drive to a system.
- Impact: The drive cannot be accessed without hardware repair.
12. SSD Wear-Out
- Description: Excessive read/write cycles degrade the NAND flash memory over time.
- Impact: Data stored in worn-out cells becomes corrupted or inaccessible.
13. Drive Not Recognised by System
- Description: The operating system or BIOS fails to detect the external drive.
- Impact: Data recovery tools are needed to access the drive.
14. Partition Table Corruption
- Description: The partition table is damaged or deleted, causing the drive to appear empty.
- Impact: Entire data partitions become inaccessible.
15. Water or Liquid Damage
- Description: Exposure to moisture causes internal short circuits.
- Impact: The drive may fail entirely, requiring cleanroom recovery.
16. Ransomware or Malware Infections
- Description: Malicious software encrypts or deletes data stored on the drive.
- Impact: Data recovery and decryption may be required.
17. Broken M.2 or SSD Modules
- Description: Physical damage to the M.2 or SSD module inside the external enclosure.
- Impact: The internal drive must be removed and accessed separately for recovery.
18. File Transfer Interruptions
- Description: Sudden disconnection during file transfers results in incomplete or corrupted files.
- Impact: Files may become unreadable or partially accessible.
19. Manufacturing Defects
- Description: Defective drives fail prematurely, causing unexpected data loss.
- Impact: Warranty claims may cover hardware but not data recovery.
20. Operating System Incompatibility
- Description: Older operating systems may not recognize newer external drives with SSD or M.2 modules.
- Impact: Data recovery tools are needed to access the drive.
Why Choose Milton Keynes Data Recovery?
- Expertise: Over 25 years of successful data recovery experience.
- Advanced Technology: Cutting-edge tools to handle modern SSDs and legacy drives alike.
- Comprehensive Services: Recovery support for all interfaces, brands, and fault types.
- No Recovery, No Fee: You only pay if we successfully recover your data.
- Fast Turnaround: Efficient processes to minimize your downtime.
Contact Us for a Free Diagnostics Today!
Don’t let data loss disrupt your work or personal life. Contact Milton Keynes Data Recovery to restore your valuable data quickly and securely.