Seagate Data Recovery Services

Seagate data recovery services with a no data, no charge guarantee.

Since the late 1990s, Datarecovery.com has performed recovery procedures on tens of thousands of Seagate desktop and laptop drives. Seagate introduced many modern innovations in data storage technology, and while their drives are reliable overall, our knowledge of some recurring issues allows for an easier data recovery process.

Early Seagate drives (including models introduced from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s) frequently encountered spindle issues – a problem that has been largely corrected in recent generations. Spindle seizures could suddenly prevent drives from operating, and our engineers perform full platter replacement procedures to recover data from these early models.

Call 1.800.237.4200 for a free evaluation.

Basic Seagate Hard Drive Failure Modes

The basic failure modes of a Seagate are listed below. We recommend contacting a qualified Seagate data recovery company if any of these issues are present:

• Bad Heads – Seagate drives with bad heads will spin up and click several times, then power down. This issue is often caused by physical damage.The data recovery procedure will include replacing the heads in an ISO 5 cleanroom environment, turning off auto reallocation and media cache if applicable so that the drive can be cloned. We will often need to use firmware repair equipment to complete this type of recovery.
  
• Service Track Damage – Seagate drives with service track damage will spin up and will likely sound healthy. The spindle operates properly and will continue to spin, but the drive may not be recognized by the system BIOS (or equivalent). If it is recognized, it may display an incorrect model number, serial number, or size attribute.Service track issues are fairly common in the Seagate drives that we receive. The data recovery process will vary depending on the drive family. For example, a Seagate 7200.11 service track issue would require an entirely different fix from a 7200.12.In our experience, 7200.11 drives generally had problems with the defect lists and the translator, while drives from the 7200.12 family can get hung up on sections of the microcode. These issues can usually be fixed by turning off auto reallocation and media cache with special equipment. In any case, we would perform a free evaluation to provide a quote before deciding on an appropriate data recovery technique.
• PCB Failure – Seagate drives with electronic/PCB issues may not spin (the spindle does not engage when the drive is connected to a power source). The data recovery process will often require the removal of damaged diodes. Our engineers may also need to swap the ROM to a new printed circuit board. This process requires extremely specialized equipment, including firmware repair tools, and should never be attempted outside of a data recovery laboratory.
• Stuck Write Heads – The drive will not spin and will emit a repetitive low pitch buzzing noise. Ideally, this will be fixed by opening the drive in a cleanroom and moving the heads back to the landing zone/ramp. If the heads are damaged, they will need to be replaced with an adequate donor.
  
• Seized Hard Drive Spindle – The hard drive will not spin and will emit a repetitive low-pitch buzzing noise. This is rare on newer Seagate drives. The data recovery process will include a full repair of the spindle or a complete platter swap to an adequate donor. This type of failure is normally caused by physical abuse/dropping.

Other issues may occur, and we highly recommend seeking a professional Seagate data recovery company if you notice any of the failure modes listed above. Never attempt to open a Seagate hard drive outside of a cleanroom, as this may permanently damage the drive.

Seagate Hard Drive Data Recovery Technology

We offer data recovery services for all Seagate models including these popular lines:

• Barracuda Series
• Backup Plus External Hard Drives
• Enterprise Performance Hard Drives and Solid-State Drives
• Seagate Desktop SSHD and HDD
• Seagate Ultra Mobile HDD and Ultrathin HDD
• 7200 Series and More

This is not a complete list, and we currently support all Seagate media.

Datarecovery.com laboratories are equipped with advanced microcode repair tools, which allow our engineers to quickly recover data from most Seagate drives. In many instances, we also need to repair failed read/write heads and other components in a Class 5 clean room in order to get a full copy of all of the files on the disk. We offer high success rates for all Seagate models, and all of our laboratories are equipped to handle these cases.

Signs of Failure for Seagate Hard Drives

Seagate hard drives can present a wide number of failure symptoms, and some drives might display a few different symptoms simultaneously. To completely diagnose the damage, you need a professional data recovery evaluation.

Many Seagate data recovery cases require PCB repair.

The following symptoms can accompany physical failures:

• Clicking Noises
• Drive Doesn’t Spin
• Extensive File Corruption
• Hard Drive Displays Inaccurate Specifications (Free Space, Total Size, Etc.)
• Hard Drive is Excessively Hot to the Touch
• Computer Cannot Detect Drive

If you notice any signs of media issues, turn your computer off and refrain from operating your hard drive. Don’t run firmware utilities, data recovery software, or any other applications. Call 1.800.237.4200 to speak with a Seagate hard drive data recovery expert.