// DATA RECOVERY
Data recovery in Bournemouth & Poole
Lost your photos, documents or business files? Whether a hard drive has failed, a file was deleted by mistake, or a drive has suddenly become unreadable, we'll calmly assess what's recoverable and get back what we can. Honest, plain-English help for Windows and Android from a local team in Bournemouth — covering Christchurch, Poole and the rest of Dorset. Rated 4.9 on Google.
Rated 4.9 on GoogleFamily-run since 1995 · real people, no call centreLosing your data is one of the most stressful things that can happen with a computer — a lifetime of family photos, your accounts, your coursework or a customer database, all seemingly gone in a moment. Take a breath. In many cases the data is still there and can be recovered, but the most important thing is to stop using the device straight away so nothing gets overwritten.
Data recovery is the job of getting back files you can no longer reach — whether the drive has physically failed, become corrupted or unreadable, or the files were deleted, formatted or lost past the point the Recycle Bin can help. It's different from setting up backups (which prevents the problem) or planning whole-business disaster recovery (which gets a whole organisation running again). This page is about the here-and-now: I've lost something important and I need it back. We'll tell you honestly what's likely recoverable, what it involves, and when a specialist clean-room lab is the right next step — before you spend a penny on the recovery itself.
Two checks we make before anyone touches your drive
1. Did it click, grind or get dropped? If so, it stays switched off. A drive with a physical fault only has so many spin-ups left, and every one spent “just checking” can turn a recoverable drive into a lost one. We send those to a specialist clean-room lab unpowered.
2. Is it encrypted? Many Windows 11 laptops encrypt their drive automatically (BitLocker or device encryption), and some external drives encrypt inside the case. Without the recovery key nobody can read the data — not us, not a lab — and an encrypted drive can look exactly like a blank or corrupted one. So we check first, and help you find the key, which is often saved in your Microsoft account.
Local to Bournemouth and Poole
We’re a family-run team based in Bournemouth. We can collect your computer or drive from home or work anywhere in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and across Dorset. Simple jobs on a computer that still works — files deleted by mistake, say — can often be done remotely: remote jobs start from £20 and are agreed before we start. Bigger recoveries are quoted per job, and we’re not VAT registered, so there’s nothing to add.
// WHAT WE COVER
Data Recovery that just works
Failed & clicking hard drives
Drives that won't spin up, click or beep, or that Windows no longer sees. We diagnose whether it's a logical fault we can recover from, or a physical/electronic failure that needs a clean-room lab — and tell you which, honestly.
Dead & failing SSDs
Solid-state drives that have stopped being detected, dropped to read-only, or show 0 bytes. SSD recovery is specialist work; we run safe checks and arrange the right route rather than risk making it worse.
Corrupted & RAW drives
Disks that suddenly ask to be formatted, show as RAW, or throw "the file or directory is corrupted" errors. Often the data is intact and the file system is the problem — frequently recoverable without a backup.
Deleted, formatted & lost files
Files emptied from the Recycle Bin, a drive formatted by mistake, or a partition that's vanished. The sooner you stop using the device, the better the chance — every save risks overwriting what we're trying to rescue.
Memory cards, USB sticks & SD
Camera and phone SD cards, USB pen drives and external drives that have corrupted or won't open. Common for photos and important documents — book a collection and we'll assess it.
Ransomware-encrypted files
Files locked or renamed by ransomware. We help you isolate the device, identify the strain and recover from clean backups where they exist. Never pay first — talk to us, and report it to Report Fraud and the NCSC.
// HOW IT WORKS
Simple, honest, sorted
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01
Stop & tell us what happened
Power the device off and don't keep using it — every minute it runs, or every file you save, can overwrite recoverable data. Call us on 01202 775566 or book online and describe what's lost and what the drive is doing (clicking, not detected, asking to format). We'll give you first-aid advice the same day.
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02
Honest assessment first
We examine the drive safely and tell you what we can see: is this a logical fault we can recover from in-house, or a physical failure that needs a specialist clean-room lab? You get a clear picture and a quote for the job before any recovery work — and an honest answer if the chances are slim.
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03
Recover, verify & protect
We recover what we can to fresh, safe storage, check the files actually open, and hand them back to you. Then — only if you'd like — we set up proper automatic backups so you never face this again. Recovery is quoted per job; there's no fix, no fee for the assessment.
// THE DETAIL
What we’ll do for you
Friendly, plain-English help from a real local team — no jargon, no pressure, and a clear quote before any chargeable work.
- Recover deleted, formatted and accidentally-lost files from Windows PCs, laptops and external drives — often even when there was no backup
- Rescue data from corrupted, unreadable or "RAW" drives where the file system is damaged but the data is still intact
- Diagnose failed, clicking or undetected hard drives and SSDs, and arrange specialist clean-room recovery when a drive has physically failed
- Pull files off dead or won't-boot laptops and PCs, and from water- or drop-damaged devices, so a broken computer doesn't mean lost data
- Recover photos and documents from corrupted SD cards, USB sticks and memory cards — a common cause of lost holiday and family photos
- Help with ransomware-encrypted files — isolate the device, recover from clean backups, and guide you on reporting it the right way
Related: Backup & Recovery · Disaster Recovery · Computer Repairs
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Can you get the photos off a deceased relative’s laptop?
Yes — gently, privately and entirely at your own pace. We recover photos and documents from a loved one’s Windows laptop even without the password (unless the drive is encrypted with BitLocker, which needs its recovery key — we check that first), and can wipe the machine afterwards if you wish. See getting photos off a deceased relative’s laptop.
My hard drive is clicking or won't show up — what should I do right now?
Turn it off and stop using it immediately. A clicking or beeping drive usually means a physical fault, and every extra minute it runs risks turning a recoverable problem into a permanent loss. Don't try repeated reboots, "repair" tools or freezer tricks from the internet — these often make things worse. Ring us on 01202 775566 and we'll advise straight away. If it’s the laptop itself clicking and refusing to start, see laptop making a clicking noise.
Can you recover files if I don't have a backup?
Often, yes. When files are deleted, a drive is formatted, or a disk becomes corrupted or RAW, the underlying data frequently remains until it's overwritten — so it can be recovered without a backup, provided you stop using the device quickly. Physically failed drives are harder and may need a specialist lab, but we'll always tell you honestly what the realistic chances are before you commit to anything.
How much does data recovery cost?
It depends entirely on what's wrong — a deleted file is a very different job from a drive with a failed head assembly. Because of that we never quote a one-size price. We assess your device first and give you a clear quote for the recovery before any work begins, and our initial assessment is no fix, no fee. Remote jobs on a computer that still works start from £20. For physical failures that need a clean-room lab, we'll get you a price from our specialist partner so you can decide.
Do you do data recovery in Bournemouth and Poole?
Yes. We’re based in Bournemouth and help homes and businesses across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset. We can collect the computer or drive, or help remotely when the computer still works. If the drive is clicking or has been dropped, keep it switched off and call 01202 775566 first.
Do you do clean-room recovery yourselves?
We carry out logical and software-based recovery in-house — deleted files, corruption, formatted drives, RAW disks and most accidental-loss situations. Drives that have suffered physical or electronic failure (clicking heads, motor faults, fire or flood damage) need a certified clean-room, so we work with a trusted specialist lab and manage the whole process for you. We'll always be straight about which route your drive needs.
Can you recover data from a dead laptop or a phone?
Usually we can recover data from a Windows laptop or PC that won't switch on or won't boot, as long as the drive itself is healthy — a broken screen, dead motherboard or failed power doesn't mean your files are gone. For Android phones and tablets we can often help too. We support Windows and Android devices (not Apple Mac, iPhone or iPad).
Lost something important? Let's see what we can get back.
Power the device off and call us on 01202 775566, or book online. We'll give you honest first-aid advice the same day and a clear quote before any recovery work — across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM