As one of the top vendors for personal computers (especially notebooks), Dell produces an excellent range of high-quality products including computers in the Latitude, Inspiron, Vostro, Precision Mobile, and XPS series. In our experience, Dell machines use extremely dependable media, and many newer computers have safeguards to prevent data loss.
When Dell media fails, Datarecovery.com is ready to help. We recover most hard drives within days, and all of our services are performed on site in Class 5 clean rooms. We operate several laboratories around the United States for easy access. Every location is completely outfitted for Dell data recovery.
Factors in Dell Hard Drive Data Recovery
Many factors can influence a failure, including your hard drive’s manufacturer and model number. Older Dell laptops often used IBM or Hitachi hard drives, especially the Travelstar series. Toshiba and Fujitsu drives are also common. Newer Dell computers often use hard drives that carry Dell branding.
When a drive is physically failing, these symptoms often occur:
- Loud Noises or Detectable Vibrations
- Frequent Error Messages
- Computer Will Not Boot Windows (or Other Operating Systems)
- File Processes Take Longer Than Usual
Dell offers a series of diagnostic tools for their hard drives. You can access these tools through this link.
These tools work by analyzing your hardware and detecting errors. Some Dell computers also ship with a pre-boot system assessment (PSA) tool, which may notify users of media issues before the operating system loads.
However, if your drive shows any signs of damage – especially unexplained noises or extremely slow operation – diagnostic tools of any kind could cause damage. Don’t run a failed hard drive for any reason.
Dell Laptop Data Recovery Tips
These Dell laptop data recovery tips will help you avoid permanent damage:
- If you notice any strange sounds, turn the computer off. We can’t stress this enough — clicking noises and other sounds can indicate serious damage.
- If a single file or folder appears corrupt, you may be able to successfully use data recovery software, but don’t attempt to run software if you’re not sure of what you’re doing.
- Never install software directly to the device that holds a corrupt or otherwise inaccessible file (especially your hard drive). Install the software to a secondary device to prevent permanent overwrites.
- Some types of file corruption can be indicators of impending hard drive failure. If your computer has slowed down significantly and files are starting to appear corrupted, the best practice is to shut the PC down entirely.
- Dell diagnostic tools can be helpful for finding driver and hardware issues, and the Dell PC Health Check is an especially effective utility. However, these tools are not designed for data recovery.
- We do not recommend the RecoverBot software offered by Dell. It is our opinion that this tool is insufficient for some failure scenarios, and it can be prohibitively expensive for home users.Instead, we would recommend a utility such as R-Studio. Free utilities such as Recuva are also an excellent option. Once again, we strongly discourage the use of any software tool if your drive shows signs of physical damage.
Datarecovery.com offers free evaluations for all Dell hard drives; refer to this page when setting up your case to have our standard evaluation fees waived. You must have a Dell laptop or a hard drive from a Dell laptop to take advantage of this offer. We also offer flat-rate pricing for some types of failure, and all of our laboratories are fully equipped to perform any necessary procedure (including hard drive repairs in a Class 5 clean room).
To limit the cost of your case, we recommend starting a case as soon as possible. This can prevent platter damage and other permanent issues from affecting your media.
Call 1.800.237.4200 for Dell laptop data recovery services.
*Latitude, Inspiron, Vostro, Precision Mobile, XPS are registered trademarks of Dell, Inc.
