Digital Data Rescue

If you're in a position to need data recovery, you may feel you're not in a position to negotiate a good deal for the service. Unfortunately, many of the companies that are in the data recovery business play on the desperation of those in need of their services. Here are some tips to negotiate the best possible deal for your data recovery.

Take a deep breath and a step back. The bottom line - at least at this precise moment - is that your computer is down. Take a minute to consider what's on that computer that you can't do without. Are there duplicate files somewhere? While you may not function well without that computer, consider whether you can function with some other computer for a few hours or even a few days. It may not be convenient, but it may give you time to find someone reputable to do the work without taking you for a financial marathon.

Check references, but not just any references. Anyone can post bogus recommendations from fictitious clients on their websites. Asking to speak to some of those customers by phone is at least a little better, but talk to coworkers, family and friends. You may find that someone else has been in the same position, and that they know who is (or isn't) a pro that knows the business. Friends and colleagues will typically be brutally honest about their own experience with a particular company.

Ask about the company's history. While it's true that many of the most brilliant computer pros and data recovery experts are young, a very new company may not be able to perform the work you expect. The fledgling company may have staffing and cash flow problems.

Get pricing up front. While there may be a range, the company performing the data recovery should be able to at least give you an expected price range. Remember that you're handing over your hard drive or even your entire computer. If the data on the machine is worth anything to you, you may find yourself paying what amounts to a ransom for the return of your data.

Find out how the data recovered will be returned to you. If you're forced to use an older machine until you can afford to replace the computer that just bit the dust, having the data returned to you in a format that you can't read on the machine you're currently using may not help you at all.