Are Hard Drive Enclosures Airtight?

Contrary to popular belief, the enclosure of a hard drive does not create a perfect seal (on most hard drives). One look at a flood-damaged hard drive will make that clear — we frequently receive hard drives that have been...
August 20, 2021

Converting Analog Video to Digital: Questions to Ask Service Providers

The VCRs of the world are breaking down. Functioning film projectors are increasingly hard to find. Tapes and film degrade with every viewing. To preserve your analog video collection — and to share it in digital channels, from Facebook to...
August 18, 2021

“Vinegar Syndrome” and Other Signs of Analog Film Damage

If your family recorded home videos between the 1930s and the 1970s, odds are they captured that vacation or piano recital on 8 mm film. (Super 8, Kodak’s hugely popular take on the original amateur film format, debuted in 1965...
August 16, 2021

How Long Do Analog Film Reels Last Before Degrading in Quality?

You’ve got a big box of VHS tapes, Super 8 reels, or other analog video films sitting in your attic. Are they still playable? How long can you store them safely? And if they’re showing clear signs of damage, what...
August 13, 2021

Hard Drive Data Recovery FAQ

This page addresses some of the most common customer questions regarding hard drive data recovery. If your question isn’t listed, you can get immediate assistance from a customer service representative by clicking here. Hard Drive Data Recovery: Frequently Asked...
August 11, 2021

Recovering VHS Tapes to Digital Video Formats

Converting VHS tapes to modern formats can be risky, but the right video conversion team can help — even when your media is degraded or damaged.
August 6, 2021

Does Hard Drive RPM Affect Lifespan?

A hard drive’s RPM does not affect its lifespan directly, but faster drives offer better performance overall. Here’s an overview.
August 3, 2021

Solid-State Drive (SSD) Data Recovery: Are My Files Lost Forever?

Solid-state drives offer significantly faster read/write speeds than hard drives, and they’re less susceptible to physical damage. Dropping a hard drive can cause extensive damage to the read/write heads and other moving parts, but a solid-state drive has much fewer...
July 30, 2021

SSD Lifespans: How Long Can You Trust Your Solid-State Drive?

One of the most common misconceptions about solid-state drives (SSDs) is that they’re capable of storing data indefinitely. All storage devices eventually fail, and unfortunately, SSDs are no exception. That doesn’t mean that they’re unreliable — SSDs offer much faster...
July 27, 2021

The Pros and Cons of SSDs as External Hard Drives

As our lives become increasingly mobile, it’s only natural for people to seek portable storage options that can function on the go, as well. For years now, this need for portable storage has manifested itself in the form of floppy...
July 7, 2021