When you lose important photos or files, the first question is usually "can I get it back?" and the second is "what will it cost?" The honest answer to both is: it depends on why the data is gone. Here is what drives the price.
Logical vs. physical failure
Logical problems (usually less)
Sometimes the drive hardware is fine but the data is inaccessible — an accidental delete, a corrupted file system, a failed update, or a formatted drive. These recoveries are typically the more affordable end because no physical repair is needed.
Physical failure (usually more)
If a drive has failed mechanically — it clicks, grinds, or is not detected at all — recovery is more involved and costs more. Severely damaged drives sometimes need specialized cleanroom work, which is the high end of the range.
What else affects the price
- Drive type: traditional hard drives, SSDs, phones and memory cards each behave differently.
- Severity of the failure: a single corrupted folder is very different from a drive that won't spin.
- How much data and how it is organized: targeted recovery of key files vs. a full drive.
What to do the moment you suspect data loss
- Stop using the device. Don't keep saving, installing, or "trying things."
- Don't run random recovery tools on a physically failing drive — it can make things worse.
- Power it down if it's making unusual clicking or grinding noises.
- Bring it in for a proper diagnosis.
An honest note on guarantees
No reputable shop can guarantee recovery before seeing the device — and you should be cautious of anyone who does. At MidlandPCS in Columbia we diagnose the drive, tell you honestly what is possible, and give you a price before any work begins.