Professional Data Recovery
At MAITIM d.o.o., we specialize in laboratory-based data recovery from various storage devices, including hard drives, SSDs, and USB sticks. We have been the number one provider of these services in Slovenia for over 32 years.
When Your Data Matters, Trust the Experts
With over three decades of experience, MAITIM d.o.o. is a pioneer and innovator in the field of specialized data recovery. We’ve invested extensively in knowledge, equipment, and state-of-the-art laboratories. Hundreds of grateful public institutions, companies, and individuals have turned to us in their time of need, making us one of Slovenia’s top data recovery providers.
Different media failures require different recovery processes, but all demand professional-grade equipment, in-depth knowledge of the technology, and continual updates in line with technological advancements. At MAITIM, we ensure all of this and more.
If your disk or other media fails, don’t try to fix it yourself. Contact us immediately to avoid permanent damage and losing any chance of recovering your data.
Serious disk failures must be handled by professionals in a lab environment.
Our Recovery Lab: We have developed a cutting-edge data recovery lab equipped with technology largely designed in-house. Our lab is a Class 100 Room, a sterile environment where we replace damaged disk components, clone disks, and reconstruct media logic.
In many cases, recovering data involves replacing damaged parts of the disk, where a sterile environment is crucial due to the delicate nature of internal disk components. After the lab work is done, we create a perfect clone of your data. Then, we test the accessibility of the recovered data and, finally, transfer it to a storage medium of your choice—usually a USB stick or a new hard drive, depending on the volume of data.
Most hard drive failures are not necessarily fatal to your data. In fact, we successfully recover data in about 95% of cases. But it’s crucial that you act quickly and follow our advice—bring your damaged disk to our experts as soon as possible to increase the chances of recovery.
Hard drives operate in an incredibly sensitive environment. Even the smallest disturbances, like a speck of dust or a fingerprint, can cause irreparable damage. Inside a functioning hard drive, the distance between the platter and the heads is just a few nanometers, meaning that even a tiny dust particle can scratch the data surface. That’s why data recovery must be performed in an ultra-clean, controlled environment like our Head Disk Assembly (HDA) chamber, which shields disks from contamination.
Our lab is equipped with specialized tools designed specifically for handling data recovery tasks, including custom mechanical tools, vacuum grippers, and devices for reading data from disk platters. This precision machinery allows us to perform complex tasks like replacing disk platters, heads, and motors, or regenerating the surface of data carriers.
Each data recovery case is unique, and pricing depends on factors such as the type of media, the severity of the damage, the volume of data, and the amount of lab work required. Recovery costs for minor issues range from €60 to €180, while more serious damage may cost between €350 and €550. For the most complex cases involving severe physical damage, there may be an additional charge of €350.
We estimate it at EUR 250,000 without additional special software. Yes, investments are so demanding. A computer is very cheap compared to the value of the data that is stored on the media in A particle that hits the disk head causes a jerky oscillation, so that the head literally abrades the surface of the disk and with it all the data on that part. If we don’t stop the disk in time, the heads can destroy the entire surface, and there is no solution for the data. Even in smaller companies, the value of data exceeds several tens of thousands of euros, and in larger companies it is much more.
We offer data recovery from various damaged data carriers:
- built-in hard drives from personal and laptop computers
- external, portable hard drives of all types
- Solid State Drive (SSD), M2
- hard disks from server systems (RAID, SAN, NAS servers)
- portable media: USB sticks, memory cards, SIM cards ...
- older: floppy disks, tape drives (cassettes, DLT, DAT...), SQL, Oracle and RDBMS databases ...
Professional and holistic treatment
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Since data loss isn’t always caused by hardware issues, we also offer data recovery services for the following cases:
Software or system errors in the disk’s organizational structure or operating system: These issues can prevent your computer from responding properly, leaving you unable to access your stored data.
Formatted drives and deleted partitions: Accidental formatting of a hard drive can lead to the unintentional deletion of data from one or more disk partitions. If this happens to you, we are here to help.
Partially corrupted files: Sometimes, files like Word or Excel documents become inaccessible due to errors. Your computer might report that the file is unavailable due to a problem.
Accidentally deleted emails: It's not uncommon to delete an important email by mistake. With the right approach, we can often recover these lost messages.
Forgotten or lost passwords: If you've forgotten or lost the password protecting your data, we are the experts who can help you regain access.
Also check if you need:
- forensic data analysis
- secure destruction of confidential data (encryption): demagnetization, physical destruction of the medium and multiple random encrypted records
- analysis of the reliability of the media and the reliability of the data record
- burn-in test for magnetic carriers
- regeneration of records
- free advice on choosing and purchasing a suitable data archiving method
If You’ve Lost Data, There’s Hope! Contact us as soon as possible, and we will do everything in our power to recover your valuable data. With a success rate of 90-95%, MAITIM d.o.o. is your trusted partner for data recovery.
Satisfied customers are the greatest reflection of our dedication and commitment.
Do you have a faulty media and can’t access your data? For a faster processing, you can first fill out the ACCEPTANCE FORM, which you can obtain by clicking on the button below.
GOOD TO KNOW:
- Your computer doesn’t recognize the disk.
- The disk is detected, but files cannot be accessed.
- The disk won’t spin.
- You hear unusual noises (e.g., clicking or whirring).
If any of these symptoms occur, do not attempt further action on your own. Instead, reach out to our experts immediately for professional assistance.
While it’s true that a skilled computer technician may be able to recover data from a mildly damaged drive, it’s often difficult to determine the extent of the problem in advance. If initial amateur attempts are made and it turns out to be a more serious issue, it might already be too late to save your data. Even minor unprofessional interference with a severely damaged drive can result in further damage, making it impossible for even an expert to recover the data.
If you suspect a hard drive failure, we advise you:
- Do not attempt to boot up your system.
- Do not run a SCAN of the disk in Windows.
- Do not defragment the drive or partition.
- Do not attempt a system restore.
- Do not copy the contents of the disk.
- Do not open the disk or attempt to replace any electronics or mechanics yourself.
- Do not freeze the disk or heat it in a microwave.
- Avoid trying to recover the data on your own.
Contact a professional right away.
Once a storage device fails, there is no 100% guarantee that the data can be recovered. However, if you contact us immediately after detecting the issue, you significantly increase the chances of success, with a recovery rate between 90% and 95%.
Data Recovery Process
At MAITIM, the initial diagnostic assessment, where we identify the type of failure, estimate the possibility of recovery, outline the necessary procedures, and provide a cost estimate, is completely free of charge. Upon receiving the faulty drive, we conduct a thorough diagnostic process using specialized tools that do not cause further data damage. This process also provides a rough timeline for the recovery. Typically, the evaluation takes one to several days.
Serious Failure
If the initial diagnosis reveals a severe issue, a laboratory analysis is necessary to accurately determine the recovery procedures. The client is informed in advance. The cost for the lab analysis is €50 + VAT, and this fee is included in the final service price if the data recovery is successful. The lab examination is conducted professionally in controlled conditions using specialized equipment, ensuring no further damage to the data occurs.
After completing the diagnostic phase, we provide the client with information on the reliability of recovery, the estimated amount of recoverable data, the expected recovery time, and the associated costs. At this point, you can decide whether to proceed with the recovery process or abandon it, depending on the importance of the data and the outlined costs and timeline.
There is no 100% guarantee that the data will be successfully recovered.
After Recovery
Once the recovery process is completed, we transfer the restored data to a new or used storage device (external hard drive, USB stick, etc., depending on your preferences and the data volume). We also offer a wide range of memory storage devices available for purchase. Before permanently deleting your data from our systems, we store it for an additional 14 days, allowing you ample time to verify that the desired files have been successfully transferred.
We guarantee complete confidentiality of all data recovered from your storage media.
Frequently asked questions:
We always strive to recover data as quickly as possible. However, different types of disk failures require varying amounts of time. Accurately estimating the time needed during the initial assessment can sometimes be challenging, as additional issues may arise during later lab work that were not apparent at first. In minor cases, data recovery can take from one to five days, while in more severe cases, it can take up to a month or even longer.
Every data recovery case is unique. The estimated cost, provided during the initial assessment, depends on several factors:
- a) Type of media (disks, USB drives, SD cards, etc.)
- b) The severity of the issue (minor, major, or critical)
- c) The amount of data stored on the damaged media
- d) The number of lab hours required to retrieve the data
- e) The cost of component replacement (if needed)
For minor failures, the price range is from €60 to €180. These typically include issues like:
- Damaged logical boards
- Manually deleted data
- Partition errors
- Data loss due to weakened recording
- Issues with specific sectors, and similar problems
For more severe cases, the cost ranges from €350 to €550. This includes issues that require physically opening the drive in a specialized lab, such as:
- Replacing read/write heads
- Motor replacement
- Minor physical damage to the data storage surface
Critical data loss cases incur an additional €350 on top of the severe failure rates. These involve significant physical damage to the storage media. Prices include VAT.
For RAID systems, recovery costs are calculated based on the number of damaged drives and the total disk capacity.
No storage device is entirely reliable, which is why you should back up important data regularly, either online or at least daily. It’s advisable to periodically save data to an additional backup device. Additionally, you should check the archives you’ve created from time to time, ideally by refreshing the data. The environmental conditions in which you store your media are also crucial. Pay attention to temperature and humidity, and ensure your media is protected against electromagnetic, static, and fire hazards. It’s recommended to store them in a fireproof location. For hard drives, utilizing the S.M.A.R.T. monitoring functionality is highly effective, as it can warn you in advance about the drive’s health or potential reliability issues.
As user demands have increased over the years, the reliability and capacity of hard drives have significantly improved. However, more intensive usage also leads to greater strain on the drives, causing them to heat up more and wear out faster, reducing their lifespan. The three most common reasons for data loss are:
- Errors in the operating system
- Faults in the software that controls the hard drive
- Mechanical failure of the drive
In the case of a mechanical failure, do not attempt any further actions on the drive. Contact a data recovery specialist immediately to avoid causing additional damage with unprofessional handling.
Print THIS FORM for data recovery and send it together with the media or bring it to the headquarters of MAITIM d.o.o. to recovery. If you come to our headquarters, we will fill out the form together and you do not need to print it. In case of sending the hard disk by mail, carefully pack it in an antistatic bag and cover it well with soft foam! Don’t forget to attach the completed form and contact information! CONTACT: MAITIM d.o.o. (Bojan Ivančič), Phone: +386 1 830 33 60, Mobile: +386 41 618 253, E-mail: info@maitim.si
Interested in learning more about hard drives (HDD)?
All hard drives have the same basic structure, though they differ in the quality and technology of their components and the materials used in their construction.
Inside a hard drive’s casing are multiple circular metal platters, typically made from aluminum alloy. In newer technologies, these platters may also be made of glass or ceramic, which allows them to be thinner and more heat-resistant. Most hard drives contain at least two platters, but higher-capacity drives may have more. The larger the drive’s capacity, the more platters it contains. Each platter, spinning at high speed during operation, is coated with a thin layer of magnetic material (usually a ferrite compound). These magnetic surfaces have small magnetized regions used for storing data. Each platter is magnetized on both sides, allowing for two storage surfaces, and data is read and written to the platters via read/write heads. Typically, there are read/write heads on both sides of each platter, which means two heads per platter. Some older models even had multiple heads per surface for faster data access.
The platters in a hard drive are spaced slightly apart but are mounted on the same motor shaft, allowing them to rotate in sync. The spindle motor is directly attached to the shaft, spinning the platters at a constant speed. The speed varies across different drives, ranging from 3600 to 7200 RPM (revolutions per minute), with some reaching up to 10,800 RPM. In high-performance workstations or server hard drives, the speed can go up to 15,000 RPM. A microcontroller and a pulse signal encoder ensure the precise constant speed required for each specific drive model.
Each read/write head has its own arm. All arms are attached to a single axis that moves the heads in an arc across the platters. In older hard drives, a stepper motor moved the arms, operating based on incremental pulses. Each pulse would shift the head across the platter in preset steps. However, stepper motors were prone to misalignment and were sensitive to heat, so they are no longer used in modern drives. Instead, modern drives use a voice coil to move the arms, a system known as a servo, which operates on a feedback loop. The drive’s performance can be affected by even the smallest disturbance, such as a speck of dust, a fingerprint, a hair, or a smoke particle, as the distance between the platters and heads is extremely small. For this reason, these components must be assembled in an ultra-clean and pristine environment.
The read/write head both reads and writes data to the disk. It is a coil that either magnetizes the platter’s surface (writing) or detects the direction of magnetization (reading). Newer drives use MR (magnetoresistive) heads instead of coils. All heads are attached to the same arm, so they move in unison. However, each head operates independently and cannot read and write simultaneously. When in use, the spinning platters generate air pressure that lifts the head slightly above the platter surface, creating an “air cushion” that maintains a minimal distance between the head and the platter. This distance is only a few nanometers, and because it’s so small, even a tiny speck of dust or a fingerprint can irreparably damage the data surface. Any interventions on a hard drive must be performed in a clean environment. When the platters are not spinning, the heads rest in a designated “landing zone” away from the data area.
In today’s computer systems, hard drives are among the most stressed and physically sensitive components. Competition pushes manufacturers to develop faster and larger-capacity drives, but this often results in reduced reliability. Hard drives with cutting-edge technology often hit the market without sufficient testing, edging closer to the threshold of unreliability. Additionally, modern computer systems operate in hotter environments, further impacting the reliability and lifespan of hard drives.
Modern hard drives are surprisingly robust, often capable of withstanding shocks up to 300 G. However, a strong enough impact can jolt the heads or platters. If the head hits the platter, it can dislodge particles that cause a chain reaction, damaging the ferromagnetic coating and the stored data.
The success of data recovery depends on the specific type of drive, as each hard drive is optimized to function perfectly with its original heads, firmware, and “bad block” list. This means that replacing damaged parts with identical ones from another drive may not always work, even if the replacement parts have the same component number.
- Electronic: When one of the electronic components on the printed circuit board or head amplifier fails.
- Mechanical: Motor failure or physical damage to the heads, data surfaces, or head control mechanism.
- Logical: The drive is still operational, but the data stored on it is no longer accessible.
