Before we start talking about diagnostic, let's clarify the difference between estimation and diagnostic.

• The estimation process is based on the obvious facts and symptoms of the failed device to give you an idea of an approximate service cost, ballpark if you will, or some range of fixed cost-boundaries from minimum to maximum (why the latter is more preferred will be explained a bit later below). The estimates are free and can be obtained online or over the phone.
• Conversely, the diagnostic is always in-lab professional service for finding not only the exact failure issue, but also the solution to fix it.

Diagnostic

The hard drive diagnostic is the first and necessary step of data recovery process.

Diagnostic starts with visual inspection to look for any issues, as even the smallest of defects could potentially be the cause of total data obliteration, especially when the drive had failed in the aftermath of accidental drop or other forceful impact.

The mechanics of a hard drive must be checked before running any test. It is critical to ensure that every component is safe to use or must be replaced. Running tests on a powered up/spinning hard drive with bent or deformed Writing/Reading heads (moving inside while spindle with disks rotates) is absolutely unacceptable practice and must be avoided by any means.

Diagnostic must be done by qualified specialist in the lab with clean room equipped with all data recovery tools and instruments required to inspect and test data medium safely for data on it.

When diagnostic is finalized, a diagnostic report must be issued for a customer. Usually, the report includes the data recovery prognosis based on physical condition of disk platters and service cost based on data recovery complexity, cost of spare parts, and turnaround.

Cost of 'Free Diagnostic'

As mentioned above, in order to be sure the internal mechanics is operational and will not add any extra new scratches to data layers on disk platters, the expert has to open the cover and check every internal component.

Free diagnostic offers sound about right in the beginning. However, the price quote could go high and beyond in the aftermath of free diagnostic when you are unaware about the possible cost boundaries.

Let's look more closely at this problem. Such kind of popular Free Diagnostic offers may mislead the unsuspecting customer that is facing the confusing dilemma "Should I stay (with this company and pay ridiculously high cost) or should I go (to look for something less expensive)".

Let's say one sends the failed drive for that free diagnostic with the unsuspicious thought "I have nothing to lose, yet I'll get an idea of what the cost is to recover the files".

When the service cost is revealed - usually in 4-digit number - one decides not to proceed and look for something more attainable in terms of service cost. BUT! What they don't know that the drive had been opened during the diagnostic and now - they got the OPENED failed drive.

Generally, the top label that was broken over the central screw is covered with the "cute" sticker saying that the drive was opened/inspected in the dust-free environment by professional data recovery.

The truth is that that "cute" sticker doesn't not mean anything to any other data recovery place, it only means that the failed drive was taken to some company before for a free diagnostic/estimation and now has the evidence of the physical intrusion to it.

Basically, the opened drive means the second recovery attempt for the next company, as once the seal is broken the recovery becomes more complex, not to mentions that it comes with an extra charge, i.e. tampered drive fee.

All in all, the first attempt to recover data is most successful. Every other attempt after has a reduced chance to successful result.

Do your due diligence in the order who to trust the failed drive. Please don't be fooled by promising offers of free service - always weigh out all pros and cons before making your final decision to move forward.

If you look for the cost-effective data recovery, at first - you should pay attention to guaranteed and accurate quote before agreeing to any diagnostic. The after-diagnostic price must comply with quote accordingly - otherwise keep looking for more trusted data recovery place.

Characteristically, a simple opening manipulation when applied to the external device like this Seagate Backup Plus will not damage the sticker on internal slim drive. Unless it’s done purposely in repairing attempt, the sticker would seal the metal cover with no wrinkle or crimp.

This example illustrates a punched hole (made by Torx-screwdriver) in the label on the top of Seagate Hard drive that was opened previously in some repair shop.

About Stickers

These are the kind of stickers you may find attached to the top cover of your hard drive when you get it back from the free evaluation/diagnostic. Many customers like you who find themselves in such situation will prefer to start over the recovery with us, Data Lab 247.

When such drive is in our Lab - those stickers will be removed to open drive again for diagnostic and recovery, yet unlike other places we guarantee that our diagnostic comes together with the guaranteed successful recovery result - as part of firm and fair deal.

The curling edges of unglued label (marked on the pictures with red arrows) clearly say that SSHD was open by a person who has no experience in hard drive mechanics.

Even entry-level HDD technician knows how and where penetrate the label to reach screw heads without tearing off or removing the label from top cover.

This Seagate Barracuda 4Tb came to our lab from New York where it was opened by local data recovery.

This WD Blue laptop-type HDD (from My Passport external USB) was also open in some place.