Windows PC · Data Recovery
Windows PC Data Recovery
When the drive holding your photos, work, or business records stops responding, the next few minutes matter. We recover data from failed laptops and desktops — clicking hard drives, dead SSDs, and PCs that won't boot — and we do the board-level work in-house instead of mailing it to a stranger.
11 years of microsoldering and board-level repair means we can do something most shops can't: revive a dead motherboard or soldered SSD just far enough to read your files off it. We're honest about what's recoverable, what isn't, and what belongs in a cleanroom — before you spend a dollar past the $65 diagnostic.
When you need a data recovery
- Hard drive clicking, beeping, or grinding — a mechanical sign; power it off now and stop using it
- SSD suddenly not detected — gone from BIOS overnight with no warning (controller or NAND failure)
- PC won't power on or boot, but the data on its drive is what you actually need back
- Files deleted, a drive formatted by mistake, or a partition that now shows as RAW or corrupt
- Blue screen loops or "No boot device found" / "Inaccessible boot device" on startup
- Water spill or power-surge damage to a laptop or desktop with important data inside
Honest by default
Every device starts with a $65 diagnostic and a written report — exact cost and timeline before we touch it. The fee applies toward your repair.
Cost depends on the failure, not the device. The $65 written diagnostic comes first and determines feasibility — and it applies toward the recovery. Logical jobs (deleted, formatted, corrupt partition) are the lightest. Physical recovery costs more, and a removable, undamaged drive is far cheaper than a soldered SSD or a dead motherboard that needs board-level revival. We're honest about the hard cases: if your drive has platter damage and needs a certified cleanroom with head transplants, that's specialized work we refer to a trusted partner — we'll tell you that before you commit, not after.
Our data recovery process
Stop, assess, protect
We start with a written $65 diagnostic. First we determine whether your loss is logical (deleted, formatted, corrupt) or physical (clicking drive, dead SSD, water damage). A clicking or grinding drive is mechanical — we keep it powered off so heads don't crash the platters and make recovery impossible.
Removable drive vs. soldered board
If the drive is removable and healthy but the PC is dead, recovery is often straightforward — we image it on dedicated hardware. If the SSD is soldered to a thin laptop or 2-in-1, or the motherboard is what failed, we go to the bench: power the board from a supply, trace the fault under the microscope, and revive it just enough to read the storage in place.
Recover and clone — safely
We pull a forensic image of the drive first and work from the copy, never the failing original. From that image we rebuild file systems, repair partitions, and extract your data. If the drive is BitLocker-encrypted, we'll need your 48-digit recovery key or password — find it in your Microsoft account before you bring it in.
Deliver and verify
We return your recovered files on a fresh drive you can keep, verify the important folders open correctly, and walk you through what failed and how to avoid it next time. You only pay for recovery if we get your data — the diagnostic tells us up front what's feasible.
My hard drive is clicking — what should I do right now?
Power it off and leave it off. Clicking or grinding is a mechanical fault, usually the read/write heads, and every minute it spins risks scratching the platters and destroying your data permanently. Don't run recovery software, don't tap or freeze it, and don't open it — those myths cause more harm. Bring it to us powered down and we'll diagnose it safely.
Is data recovery from a dead SSD even possible?
Often, yes. Most SSD failures are the controller or firmware, not the memory itself — the data is intact but locked behind a gatekeeper that quit. We can frequently recover it by repairing the controller path or reading the NAND directly. Some cases (destroyed controller silicon, severe corrosion) are much harder, and on encrypted soldered SSDs the keys are tied to that exact board. We'll tell you which case you're in at diagnostic.
My drive is BitLocker-encrypted — can you still recover it?
Yes, but you'll need the BitLocker recovery key or password — it's a 48-digit number, usually backed up to your Microsoft account, Entra ID, or printed when encryption was turned on. Encryption can't be bypassed, even by professionals, so without the key the data stays scrambled. Find it first; check account.microsoft.com/devices. With the key, we unlock and recover normally.
My laptop is dead and the SSD is soldered to the board — am I out of luck?
No. On thin laptops and 2-in-1s where storage is soldered down, you can't just pull the drive — but reviving the board is exactly our specialty. We diagnose the failed component under the microscope, repair it, and bring the board back just enough to read the storage in place. It's board-level work most shops mail out; we do it in-house.
Will you look through my files? Is my data private?
We access only what's needed to confirm the recovery worked, and we never sell, share, or browse your data. After 11 years, our reputation depends on discretion. Your files are returned to you on a fresh drive and removed from our equipment once you've verified them. We don't monetize your data — ever.
What does it cost, and how do I know if it's worth it?
Start with the $65 written diagnostic. It tells you up front whether recovery is feasible and roughly what it involves, and it applies toward the job. Logical recoveries are the most affordable; physical and board-level work costs more depending on severity. You decide with real information — no surprise bills, and no charge to find out where you stand.
Why bring your PC to WeFixed
Most repair shops that advertise data recovery quietly mail your drive to a third party. We're the lab that does the board-level work — and we're the only WeFixed location, at 2722 Washington Blvd N in Clarendon, Arlington. Eleven years of microsoldering means a dead motherboard or soldered SSD is something we can actually open up, diagnose under the microscope, and read in-house. We're upfront when a case needs a cleanroom partner, we work from a forensic image so your original is never put at further risk, and we never sell your data. Walk in, or use tracked mail-in from any of the 50 states.