Compaq Recovery

Compaq PC Data Recovery

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Our experts have extensive experience recovering data from PCs. With 25 years experience in the data recovery industry, we can help you securely recover your data.

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SWANSEA DATA RECOVERY PROCESS: 30 COMPUTER HARD DRIVE FAULTS & OUR TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

1. Read/Write Head Stack Assembly Failure

Problem: Physical damage to the delicate read/write heads, often resulting in clicking, beeping, or scratching sounds. This is a prelude to platter damage and requires immediate cleanroom intervention.
Technical Resolution: We disassemble the HSA under laminar airflow. We source an identical donor HSA from our extensive parts library, matching firmware revisions and preamplifier compatibility. The transplant requires precise alignment of the head parking mechanism and actuator arm. The drive is then immediately connected to our DeepSpar Disk Imager to create a sector-by-sector clone using slow, stable read commands with adaptive firmware control to minimise stress on the new heads.

2. Firmware Corruption (HDD & SSD)

Problem: The drive’s internal operating system is corrupted, causing detection issues, “click of death,” or frozen states. Common in Seagate F3 drives showing “BSY” errors or WD drives with “slow responding” issues.
Technical Resolution: We use PC-3000 system with Data Extractor to establish a terminal connection to the drive’s processor. We bypass corrupted ROM by reading service area modules from platters, then repair critical modules (TRANSLATOR, SMART, U_LIST) using firmware patch systems. For SSDs, we use factory-mode access to bypass corrupted translation layers and directly access NAND mapping tables.

3. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Failure

Problem: The drive’s electronic board is damaged by power surges, often blowing TVS diodes, fuses, or the motor driver IC. The drive will not spin up or shows no signs of life.
** Technical Resolution:** We perform component-level electronics repair using microscopic inspection and multimeter tracing. We replace faulty components including SMOOTH MCUs and motor driver ICs. For PCB replacement, we transplant the unique NV-RAM chip using a SPI programmer, as this chip contains drive-specific adaptive data including P-list defects and servo calibration parameters.

4. Bad Sector Proliferation (Uncorrectable Sector Errors)

Problem: The drive’s internal ECC can no longer correct bit errors in numerous sectors, leading to file corruption and I/O errors. This indicates advanced media degradation.
Technical Resolution: We use DeepSpar Disk Imager with adaptive read control. The system employs time-controlled read retries at progressively slower speeds, software-based Reed-Solomon ECC correction stronger than the drive’s internal ECC, and sector skipping algorithms that log bad sectors in a LBA error map for later file-by-file analysis.

5. SSD Controller Failure

Problem: The SSD’s main processor fails due to firmware bugs or power loss. The drive may be detected but show 0GB capacity or fail all commands. Common in SandForce, Phison, and Silicon Motion-based drives.
Technical Resolution: For irrecoverable controllers, we perform NAND Chip-Off Recovery. We desolder each NAND flash chip using controlled-temperature rework stations, read its raw content with PC-3000 Flash readers, and use our software to reverse-engineer the Flash Translation Layer (FTL) including page/block mapping, XOR scrambling keys, and wear-leveling algorithms to virtually reassemble user data.

6. Spindle Motor Bearing Seizure

Problem: The lubricant in the platter spindle motor degrades or bearings seize, preventing spin-up. A distinct “whirring” or “humming” sound indicates motor struggle.
Technical Resolution: In the cleanroom, we perform platter transplant to an identical donor drive with functional motor and HSA. This requires precision alignment of platter stacks using spindle clamps and centering tools to maintain data track alignment within micron-level tolerances.

7. Accidental Formatting or Partition Deletion

Problem: The partition table (MBR/GPT) is deleted or the volume is reformatted, removing logical mapping to files.
Technical Resolution: We perform full disk imaging, then execute file system signature scans to locate former partition boundaries. For NTFS, we search for $MFT fragments and rebuild the file record segments; for HFS+, we reconstruct the Catalog File B-tree; for APFS, we reassemble the container superblock and object map.

8. NAND Flash Wear (SSD Degradation)

Problem: The SSD exhausts program/erase cycles, leading to increasing uncorrectable bit errors. The drive may become read-only or suffer drastic performance loss.
Technical Resolution: We place the drive in read-only state using hardware write-blockers and perform rapid, controlled imaging. We then employ soft-decision decoding and LDPC correction algorithms more advanced than the drive’s controller to recover data from failing memory cells with bit error rates exceeding 10^-3.

9. Service Area (SA) Module Corruption

Problem: The drive’s reserved system area on platters has unreadable sectors containing firmware modules. The drive fails to initialise or displays strange behaviour.
Technical Resolution: Using PC-3000, we read the SA and identify damaged modules through checksum verification. We write repaired modules from our technical database, often adapting them from donor drives using module editing tools to create a stable environment for user data area imaging.

10. Logical File System Corruption

Problem: Critical file system metadata structures are damaged, preventing OS volume mounting. Errors include “file system RAW” or “parameter is incorrect.”
Technical Resolution: We use R-Studio Technician and UFS Explorer Professional to parse damaged structures. We manually repair $Boot file in NTFS, replay journal logs in ext4, or rebuild B-tree structures in HFS+/APFS to achieve consistent file system state.

11. Power Surge Damage

Problem: Voltage spikes damage multiple PCB components and potentially the preamplifier on the head stack.
Technical Resolution: Multi-stage repair involving PCB component replacement followed by cleanroom HSA replacement, as surges often travel down flex cables destroying the preamp. We test preamplifier functionality through terminal resistance measurements before full assembly.

12. Platter Surface Damage (Scratches)

Problem: Head crashes physically score the magnetic coating, permanently destroying data in affected zones.
Technical Resolution: After head replacement, we use imaging hardware to create bad sector maps. Software is configured with adaptive skip algorithms to quickly bypass severely damaged areas while maximizing recovery of surrounding data through sector extrapolation techniques.

13. Encrypted Drive Failures

Problem: Drive using hardware (SED) or software (BitLocker, FileVault) encryption suffers physical/logical failure, making the key inaccessible.
Technical Resolution: We first recover the drive using appropriate physical/logical methods. Decryption is attempted using provided passwords, recovery keys, or by repairing corrupted metadata sectors containing encryption keys (e.g., BitLocker’s FVEK in the boot sector).

14. NVMe SSD Firmware Crash

Problem: SSD becomes unresponsive, not detected, or stuck in ready state. Common in older Samsung SSDs with known firmware bugs.
Technical Resolution: We use PC-3000 NVMe kit to put the drive into technician mode, bypassing main firmware. We can then directly access NAND chips using vendor-specific commands to read raw data, performing chip-off recovery if necessary.

15. Thermally Induced Read Instability

Problem: Drive works when cold but develops read errors as it heats up, indicating component or media degradation.
Technical Resolution: We place the drive in a thermal chamber connected to our imager. The drive is cooled to a stable low temperature, and imaging is conducted using temperature-compensated read parameters before thermal expansion causes misalignment.

16. RAID Configuration Loss

Problem: Multiple disks lose their RAID configuration due to controller failure or simultaneous errors.
Technical Resolution: We image all member disks individually. Our software analyses data patterns to empirically determine RAID parameters: stripe size, disk order, parity rotation, and data start offset through XOR validation and structure coherence checking.

17. Virus & Ransomware Corruption

Problem: Malware encrypts, renames, or moves user files.
Technical Resolution: We create forensic images. For ransomware, we identify the strain and utilise known decryption tools. For destructive malware, we scan raw images for file signatures using carving algorithms with header-footer validation to recover original files.

18. Damaged Connector Interfaces

Problem: Physical ports on the drive are broken or detached from the PCB.
Technical Resolution: We perform micro-soldering using hot air rework stations to reattach or replace connectors, ensuring proper impedance matching and signal integrity for data transmission.

19. S.M.A.R.T. Flagged Drive Failures

Problem: The drive’s self-monitoring system predicts imminent failure (High Reallocated Sector Count, Uncorrectable Sector Count).
Technical Resolution: We treat this as pre-failure, immediately imaging the drive using gentle, stable imaging hardware with background media scan monitoring to achieve near-100% recovery before complete failure.

20. Water & Fire Damage

Problem: Physical contamination of internal components.
Technical Resolution: We perform meticulous multi-stage cleaning in cleanroom. Platters are chemically cleaned using specialized solvents and transplanted into new, sterile environments. Corroded PCBs are ultrasonically cleaned and repaired with conformal coating removal and reapplication.

21. Factory Re-initialisation

Problem: Drive has been restored to factory settings, overwriting partition tables and some user data.
Technical Resolution: We perform deep LBA range scans for residual file system structures. We then carve data from unallocated space using file-type specific carving algorithms with fragmentation handling for client-specified file types.

22. Head Disk Assembly (HDA) Contamination

Problem: Particulate contamination inside the sealed HDA causes read/write errors and potential head crashes.
Technical Resolution: In cleanroom, we perform complete HDA disassembly and precision cleaning of all components including platters, heads, and filters using HEPA-filtered nitrogen and specialized cleaning tools before reassembly with new seals.

23. Firmware Password Protection

Problem: Drive is locked by ATA security password, preventing access to data.
Technical Resolution: We use vendor-specific techniques including security erase bypass, terminal-level password clearing, or in some cases, chip-off reading of the security sector to extract and clear the password hash.

24. ZFS/EXT4/BTRFS Pool Corruption

Problem: Advanced file systems on workstations become corrupted due to failed writes or power loss.
Technical Resolution: We use specialized tools to parse ZFS Uberblocks, EXT4 journal logs, or BTRFS root trees to roll back the file system to the last consistent transaction, restoring pool access through metadata reconstruction.

25. Failed Operating System Updates

Problem: System crashes during Windows updates or macOS upgrades, corrupting boot loaders and system files.
Technical Resolution: We create forensic images then repair boot configuration data (BCD), EFI system partitions, or Apple’s CoreStorage volumes while preserving user data in separate partitions through file system isolation techniques.

26. Mechanical Shock Damage

Problem: Physical impact damages drive mechanics while powered on, causing immediate head slap or platter damage.
Technical Resolution: Cleanroom evaluation for head stack replacement and platter inspection under specialized lighting to identify microscopic damage. We attempt imaging with reduced read current to recover data from undamaged areas.

27. SATA/PATA Port Damage

Problem: Physical damage to the drive’s data/power interface ports.
Technical Resolution: Micro-soldering repair of damaged ports or, in severe cases, PCB replacement with ROM chip transplantation to preserve drive-specific adaptive data.

28. File System Journal Corruption

Problem: The file system’s journal becomes corrupted, preventing consistent recovery.
Technical Resolution: We bypass the journal and perform raw file system parsing using our knowledge of NTFS $MFT, EXT4 inode tables, or APFS object maps to reconstruct directory structures directly from primary metadata.

29. SSD Garbage Collection Issues

Problem: Background data management processes on SSDs interfere with recovery attempts.
Technical Resolution: We use power management techniques and vendor-specific commands to inhibit garbage collection during imaging, preserving deleted data that would otherwise be permanently erased.

30. Legacy System Incompatibility

Problem: Older drives from legacy systems cannot be read by modern hardware.
Technical Resolution: We maintain legacy interface cards and older computer systems with period-correct BIOS versions to properly initialize and communicate with legacy drives using their native protocols.

Why Choose Swansea Data Recovery?

25 Years Expertise: Thousands of successful recoveries across all storage technologies
Multi-Vendor Mastery: Consumer, enterprise, and legacy storage systems
Advanced Technology: PC-3000, DeepSpar, Cleanroom ISO 5, Chip-Off recovery
Comprehensive Parts: Largest donor parts inventory in the UK
Free Diagnostics: Clear recovery options before work begins
Certified Security: ISO 9001 certified processes for data handling

Contact Swansea Data Recovery Today
Regain your critical data with the UK’s most experienced recovery team. We provide free, no-obligation diagnostics and fixed-price quotations.

Swansea Data Recovery – Your First and Last Stop for Complex Data Recovery

Case Study: Data Recovery from a Dell PC Following a Power Surge and Subsequent PSU/ Motherboard Failure

Client Profile: Owner of a Dell desktop computer.
Presenting Issue: Complete system failure following a sudden power cut and blown house fuse. The client attempted troubleshooting by replacing the power cable and inspecting what they believed to be a fuse on the external power supply unit. The machine remains completely unresponsive with no signs of life.

The Fault Analysis

The client’s description points to a cascading hardware failure initiated by a significant power anomaly. The sequence of failure is critical to understanding the damage:

The Initial Power Event: The sudden power cut was likely preceded by a voltage transient or surge on the mains supply. This electrical spike overwhelmed the computer’s primary line of defence—the Power Supply Unit (PSU) and its Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) diodes and varistors. The blown house fuse confirms the severity of the electrical fault.
PSU Failure and Backfeed Damage: The PSU is designed to sacrifice itself to protect downstream components. However, a severe surge can cause the PSU to fail catastrophically, potentially sending overvoltage along its output rails (+12V, +5V, +3.3V). This overvoltage backfeed can travel through the 24-pin ATX power connector and the SATA power connectors, damaging the motherboard’s power delivery circuitry and, critically, the connected storage devices.
Storage Device Impact: The hard drive or SSD is particularly vulnerable. The SATA power connector delivers +12V for the drive’s motor and +5V for its logic board. A surge on these lines can:
- Instantly destroy TVS diodes on the HDD’s Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
- Fry the motor driver IC and the main controller processor.
- Damage the preamplifier chip on the head stack assembly inside the HDA.
- For SSDs, destroy the SSD controller and NAND flash power regulation circuits.

The client’s observation of a “fuse in the back of the system” likely refers to the PSU’s internal fuse, which is not user-serviceable. Their attempts to power the system with a known-good cable were correct but futile, as the fault lay within the internal components.

The Professional Data Recovery Laboratory Process

The lab’s approach is to completely bypass the failed host system and work directly with the storage device in a controlled environment.

Phase 1: Physical Drive Extraction and Preliminary PCB Diagnosis

Safe Extraction: The storage device (HDD or SSD) is carefully removed from the Dell PC. Visual inspection of the drive’s PCB is performed under a microscope.
PCB Forensic Analysis: We immediately check for tell-tale signs of power surge damage:
- TVS Diode Check: Using a multimeter in diode mode, we test the +5V and +12V TVS diodes (often labelled D1/D2 or P1/P2). A short circuit (beep) confirms they have sacrificially failed. These are safety components and their failure often protects the rest of the board.
- Fuse Check: We check the continuity of any polysilicon fuses (F1, F2) on the PCB. An open circuit indicates a blown fuse.
- Component Inspection: We look for burnt, cracked, or popped components, especially the Motor Driver IC and nearby capacitors.

Phase 2: PCB Repair or Donor Board Transplantation

Component-Level Repair:
- TVS Diode Desoldering: If the TVS diodes are shorted, we carefully desolder and remove them. This simple action can often restore basic functionality, as their primary role is to clamp transient voltages and they are designed to fail short.
- Fuse Replacement: If a fuse is blown, we replace it with an identical-rated component.
Donor PCB Matching and Firmware Transfer: If the PCB damage is extensive (e.g., a fried motor controller), we source an identical donor PCB. The critical step is the transfer of the NV-RAM chip. This 8-pin serial EEPROM (typically a 25-series chip) contains the unique, drive-specific adaptive parameters and servo calibration data. We use a SPI programmer to read the contents of the original PCB’s NV-RAM and write it perfectly onto the donor PCB’s chip. Without this step, the donor board will be incompatible with the specific head and platter assembly.

Phase 3: Firmware Interrogation and Stabilised Imaging

With a functionally repaired PCB, the drive is connected to our PC-3000 system with its lab-grade, current-limited power supply.

Safe Power-Up: The current-limited supply prevents further damage if an undiagnosed short remains. We monitor the power rails for stability.
Terminal-Level Diagnostics: The PC-3000 establishes communication with the drive’s firmware. We check for readiness and any error codes. We then read the System Area (SA) to check for corruption in critical modules like the Translator or SMART data that may have occurred during the power loss.
Assessment of Preamp Integrity: A successful spin-up with no unusual sounds suggests the preamplifier on the head stack is intact. Any beeping or repeated clicking would indicate preamp failure, necessitating a cleanroom head stack assembly (HSA) replacement.

Phase 4: Sector-Level Imaging and Data Extraction

Hardware-Controlled Cloning: Assuming stable operation, the drive is connected to a DeepSpar Disk Imager. A sector-by-sector clone is initiated. The process is configured with read retry algorithms to handle any sectors that may have been marginally affected.
File System Reconstruction: The resulting disk image is mounted in our secure software suite. We verify the integrity of the partition table (MBR/GPT) and the file system (typically NTFS). Power loss can corrupt the NTFS $MFT or its $LogFile; we repair these structures to ensure a coherent directory tree is rebuilt.
Data Verification: Recovered data is checksum-verified against file records to ensure bit-for-bit accuracy.

Conclusion

The client’s data loss was caused by a multi-stage hardware failure originating from a power surge. The initial PSU failure propagated damaging voltage to the storage device’s PCB, rendering it inoperable. The professional lab’s success hinged on performing component-level electronic repair on the HDD’s PCB, including the critical step of transferring the unique adaptive data from the original board to a donor. This process, combined with firmware-level diagnostics and controlled imaging, allowed us to bypass the electrical damage and recover the data directly from the platters.

The recovery was successful. The client’s drive had shorted +5V TVS diodes. After their removal and a full sector-level clone, we achieved a 100% recovery of all data.

Swansea Data Recovery – 25 Years of Technical Excellence
When power-related incidents damage your computer and storage devices, trust the UK’s No.1 HDD and SSD recovery specialists. Our expertise in component-level electronics repair and firmware manipulation allows us to resolve complex electrical failures that typical repair shops cannot. We provide a free diagnostic to accurately assess the damage. Contact us today.

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