Data Recovery Companies

[Lyrima]

My external H/D failed as I was using it to put my data back onto my newly reformatted computer hard drives.

Heh.

So, I've gone to the website of the maker of my h/d (Western Digital) and they had a list of preferred data recovery folks, but choosing between them is hard.

Does anyone know on what I should base my decision?

I have quotes from them all, and they are really quite similar in pricing, so no help there.

Most say they have a 'clean' room onsite.

How can I check the effectiveness of a given company ?

I'm terrified to send off my --life-- to just anyone to recover. How do I choose the right company?

[Namae Nai]

Having never used a Data Recovery Service, I dunno what I can tell you that you don't already know.

It sounds like what you're shopping for is Computer Forensics. These folks have a lot of information on their website about how things work. Granted, it's all slanted at making you want to choose them but it is informative.

Sorry you have to deal with this. I miss my Lyrima, Zhappy and Lady Kiaria. 

[Lyrima]

Thank you Namae

The companies under consideration are:

Flashback Data:  http://www.flashbackdata.com/data-recovery/


Drive Savers http://www.drivesavers.com/about-us/


and

Salvage Data http://www.salvagedata.com/

All are approved by Western Digital, the maker of my failed external h/d.

The article you linked said I should look for companies that offer software as well as services.  I was leaning toward making sure all of them have onsite 'clean' rooms.

The website/guy you linked said nothing about having a 'clean room' onsite.  Not sure what to make of that.  Every website, their only area of business is data recovery.

Any other advice?