When you have a data recovery crisis, it's usually an emergency. You don't have time to make a choice, so invariably, you go to the closest data recovery service and run the risk of getting ripped off. It's rampant in the data recovery industry. People don't know what they're paying for; after all you can't see them doing the work. You can't even inspect it after they are done to see if they did what they said they would do. It's not like taking your mangled car into the shop and then seeing it back in pristine shape when it's done. So, how do select a reputable data recovery service?

Well, one of the first things to do is to plan ahead of time. It's not a question of if your hard drive will fail; it is a question of when. Figure that at some point, it will happen. Then, act accordingly. Talk to others who have had computer problems or needed data recovery. Who did they go to? Find the companies close to you and call them up, ask them questions. Find out if they charge clean room fees or expedite fees. Be prepared to pay the highest price they quote. If you are local and can carry in your media then observe their facility. Is it a hole in the wall? Is it a drop off point for an outside company? You may get a good sense about the company by just doing a little checking. The bottom line is that you can't trust yourself to fix a data recovery problem; its way too technical an issue, prone to lots of error.

More often than not do it yourself attempts cause more harm than good. You can't just read a book or manual and know how to fix a data recovery problem. Hard disk drives are very complex hardware and software devices. Also off the shelf data recovery software can cause more harm than good.

In addition, when you do go to the data recovery service that you have chosen, be wary of unsubstantiated claims such as 96% success rates or claims that they can take the platters out of your drive and put them in another drive. Be suspicious if they tell you they invented a magic box that can bypass the circuit board on your drive and go straight to your data. We are all a little more vulnerable when we need help fixing a problem.

Also pay attention to how long they have been in business. Do they have clean room support, sterilized facilities and/or a full service laboratory? They should. Be suspicious of companies who claim to have a multitude of labs across the country. Some larger companies have multiple facilities but most do not. What they have are drop off points in computer stores or mail box companies. It is a common marketing ploy. Also check to see if they have any complaints posted on the BBB website? Check them out. Do they seem salesy? Do they seem like concerned computer technicians who understand the problem and act from a consultative role? Also, a reputable data recovery firm should be proficient in any type of operating system and type of software.

Don't be afraid to send your hard disk drive or other media to a company out of state if you need to. Some of the best firms are located far from when where you live. No one wants to go to a data recovery service that's out of state to solve their data recovery problem but, remember, your data is important.

If you can't find someone that you feel comfortable with in your community, search elsewhere. Just make sure that when you do ship your drive that it is packaged properly. Many people make this fatal mistake. Don't trust your valued data and private information to someone who you think might rip you off or hold your data hostage. It's not worth it. Most reputable companies do long-distance work. Whatever you do, DON'T go with a one man show operating out of their house. Although there are some good mom and pop firms out there, many are not.

The bottom line is making sure you do your due diligence. Do some research. Call around. The good news is that once you are working with a great company, you can go to them again and again for years, and have the peace of mind that you deserve. I have one final piece of advice: Backup your data on a regular basis and you can avoid using a data recovery service altogether.