Desert Data Recovery

Called Desert Data after reviewing them on the Unilocal community. I had a failing hard drive and needed to have someone look at it. There are plenty of options out there but when you have personal data that you don’t want to lose, you better make the right choice.
After speaking with Tim I drove to their location and dropped off my drive. Within 24 hours they got back to me and offered options, never pushy and although this is a costly endeavor they don’t force you to pay a fee for the initial consult.
I decided my hard drive was going to be too pricey to replace and they handed it back to me and even advised to store it somewhere in case I change my mind. Definitely coming back although I hope to never have to because losing your data is not fun.

Desert Data Recovery are my heroes! When our NAS drive at our office that contained ALL of our client files, years and years of work, these two were able to get it all back in 24 hours! When I initially called Nicky she was so calm and kind. Dropping off the drive I was nervous and excited. We knew from an out of state company that they could recover the data, this came with a long time frame and an even larger price tag! Desert Data was amazing and we are up and going again! Definitely worth knowing people with such amazing skills!

A great place when you need help with hard drive failure or damage. They were able to recover 99.5% of my lost data after I dropped and broke the drive. Efficient, helpful and transparent as to costs and services. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who is panicking with a drive catastrophe.

Had a great experience. I threw my
laptop across the room in damage to the hard drive, I could not get Windows to even load, much less open any files. I bought a new computer and left my laptop alone for more than two years. DDR was able to recover all of my files from my damaged laptop, for a much cheaper price than anywhere else I was quoted. They were super fast, very friendly, and very efficient.

Absolutely satisfied by the fast response time on calling back. This was critical when my three Terabyte drive with 2o years of photos was wiped out accidentally. They were able to recover 99% of all the data and in a very short time.
Professional, courteous and expedient. Thank you.

Desert Data is amazing!!! I had an external drive crash with 10 years of my portfolio I was skeptical and put off getting it recovered because every place was so pricey and I wasn’t comfortable mailing my life away to some stranger. They were super easy to work with, emailed as they went along, I ended having to get a lot of work done but the rates were below the average costs online and I had the security sense that I could talk to them, email them and could stop in. Best customer service in this industry in the valley, I would recommend them to anyone.
Thanks again.

Fixed my failed hard drive with no problems! Nicky and Tim run the best data recovery business in the valley. No shipping your hard drive off to New York or Montana; all the work happens right in their shop. I couldn’t believe how quick the process was! Hopefully, I’ll never experience a failed hard drive again but if I do, there is only one place I’ll be calling. Desert Data Recovery. Nobody better…

BRING YOUR CRASHED HARD DRIVE HERE — NOW!
Desert Data is truly as good as it gets — which is exactly what you need when you are in a pinch. My external drive crashed and after an unsatisfactory «commit to pay potential thousands for unknown recovery» experience at a national chain, I came here. Tim and Nicky performed an immediate free diagnostic and advised me on the most cost efficient ways to recover my data as well as to prevent future losses. Turned out, a colleague had a backup copy of my data on the east coast so I did not actually use Desert Data to recover the drive. But even knowing this, DD has remained proactive and communicative to make sure that I have truly recovered the data I need. Tim and Nicky, you are the best. And if I experience the worst, you are the people I’ll be calling.

I dropped (practically slammed) my 2TB Seagate external drive that was hooked up to my computer while running on a tile floor and I got the «click of death»… I was very devastated because it had years worth of music that I made and I hadn’t backed it up… Desert Data Recovery definitely came to the rescue! They were able to retrieve most of my data, which is amazing considering the damage that was done to the platter. I’m definitely lucky to get as much back as I did. And on top of that, they were very fast, had great customer service, and fair prices. I will definitely recommend this company if this issue ever arises again. Thanks!!!

Desert Data Recovery is top-​notch. Tim and Nicky are my heroes! I gave them a very troublesome Western Digital Passport but they went the extra-​mile and refused to give up on the drive. Despite failed read heads and a problem with the circuit board, they saved my data.
Their customer service is fantastic. They are very friendly and kind. Nicky kept me well informed along the way and that helped to ease my concerns. I am so thankful for their determination, their expertise and their high level of customer service.

Tim and Nicky Homer are, in my estimation, wizards.
They are, two rare pearls in a sea of computer servicers that is filled with toxic time wasters, predatory technicians, and a nothing resembling biological life save the most basic single-​celled organisms. My drive failed to read and my backup hadn’t been syncing for months, something I only noticed after failing to retrieve my documents. I nearly vomited.
After spending that Saturday evening in tears, cold sweats and contemplating the quickest way to exit this mortal coil, I called Best Buy. Their Geek Squad said it would be, if possible at all, expensive (thousands), not local (sent to Tennessee) and lengthy (two weeks minimum). None of this would work for me.
I then searched for local providers and on the first page hit the lovely business that is Desert Data Recovery. I called at about 1030 on a Sat night expecting a response maybe on Sunday, but likely on Monday. Within 30 minutes, Nicky had texted me back and I went to bed knowing that they work Sundays and would be at their office. They only asked that I confirm the time. At 10 AM on Sunday, I met these two lovely people.
They took time with me to explain the likely problems, the basics of drive functioning and presented me with a general sense that these people know exactly what they are doing. I left my drive with them around 1030, breathed easy on the drive home because of how lovely and confident and expert these people are and, within two hours, Nicky had emailed me with a detailed diagnosis, in-​depth course of action and price — which came with a «no data no fee» guaranteed. If they could find and retrieve the data, $ 395. If not, nothing. I think this is something you simply will not find at the big box stores. She told me they’d email me the next day with either a finished product or an update if they needed more time. My Sunday was turned from blackness and muck into light and life and my vital work was on its way back to me. I breathed easier than I had in the last 18 hours.
The next day, Monday, I called to check in on the process and things still looked good, but being honest brokers, Nicky said they could see that there would be some bad sectors and they would be irretrievable. I really didn’t worry as much as I could have as these people seem so incredibly capable. I left myself in their hands.
As of this writing, it is 344 in the afternoon on the next day, Tuesday, and I just received about an hour ago an email from Nicky with all the available files and a short list of bad ones. I opened the secure link she sent me and I was nearly in tears that it seems more than 99.999 percent of my files have now returned. They are a mix of essential business and deeply important personal files along with a novel draft. DDR has just performed the perfect impression of a deity.
They are now loading my data onto a backup drive, and will also hold onto the data in a dedicated Dropbox folder in case on the way home I crash and the only thing damaged is the updated drive. Tim and Nicky think of everything.
There is a reason DDR has laudatory reviews. They are a local business owned by personable experts that provides exceptionally detailed, rapid service — this treble perfection can never be equalled by corporate behemoths. AND they guarantee their work to a degree that a big company would never do — with a ‘no data no fee’ offer.
I’m happily stunned and will never, really, NEVER, go to anyone else for data tech service no matter whether I stay in Phoenix or move to the island of Guernsey. I’d more happily entrust Nicky and Tim with my problem drives by sending them through the mail than I ever would anyone else.
You’ve got a customer for life here.

I had an external hard drive that failed. I had years worth of valuable data and pictures. I had contacted a couple of other places and their prices were outrageous. Plus they would have to send your hard drive to some place else. At Desert Data, they did everything in house, and for a lot better price, than the others. I hope I never have to use them again, but I would not hesitate to call them if I had another issue at all!!! Talking to them on the phone was a pleasure and she had the answers to my questions!!!

I was really happy with the help that Tom and Nicky were able to give me. I lost the data on my external drive and tried Fry’s who couldn’t recover the data and then tried Data Doctors who only wanted money up front to take a look at it. Fry’s charged me also for nothing in return. Tom was great and he turned around the recovery in just a couple of days. I highly recommend them and like that they won’t charge you for diagnostics or if they can’t get back the data.

I had an external hard drive stop working, and I checked in here after stopping at Best Buy. They were able to get all the data off the drive in short order and transfer it onto a new one I purchased expressly for this purpose.
They were extremely kind, friendly, easy to work with, and took the time to explain everything to me. They’re a small operation, but they know their stuff. The service was very personal, even going so far as to tell me about what products I might consider for the new drive I needed to purchase even though they didn’t benefit from that sale. The work was done cheaper and faster than going through a chain store, because they do everything right there — they don’t have to send it away.
Without any reservation, I very strongly recommend them! This is my first ever Unilocal review, but it was such good service I wanted to let others know!

I am so glad that I decided to go to Desert Data. I am an architecture student and my life depends on my computer. I did a software update that destroyed my hard drive and my whole life was gone including files I needed to make a portfolio for grad school. Brought it in and they were able to get everything back and recovered within 3 days. Saved my life and extremely friendly and understanding.

I audio recorded a meeting using an early model Olympus DS-​330 digital audio recorder. I inadvertently deleted the file while attempting to transfer the recording to my laptop computer. Big problem; I needed a fix. Persuaded by Desert Data Recovery’s stellar Unilocal ratings and the opportunity to use a local business, I contacted CEO Tim Homer. Tim estimated that there was at best a 50:50 chance of recovering the file by reason of the age of the equipment and Olympus’ use of proprietary software. Nevertheless, he told me that that his evaluation of the unit would be free; I would be charged only if they recovered the file at issue.
Let’s stop there for a moment. I’ve worked with national data recovery organizations, and I assure you that they do nothing for free (aside from accepting your initial sales call and offering a sight-​unseen wide-​ranging estimate of recovery costs). You must ship your storage media or device to their out-​of-​state location and pay a minimum inspection fee ($ 50-​$ 100) to see if anything is recoverable. Only after they’ve drilled down on the project are they willing to provide a firm quote, but there still are no guarantees. My results have been mixed.
Tim worked on my Olympus DS-​330 digital audio recorder over a couple of days, and concluded that the only possible way to retrieve the file was to remove the chip and attempt to access the data directly (50:50 odds). He estimated the cost at $ 800. The file was not THAT important, so I called it a day and picked up the recorder from Desert Data Recovery. I knew that Tim spent a lot of time on it, so I offered to pay him the inspection fee charged by most places, which he refused. I returned to my office and called a couple of national data recovery organizations in follow up and found that the cost of a similar project in their shop would cost over $ 1,500 (as compared to Tim’s $ 800). Further, they offered no better odds of recovery than did Desert Data Recovery. Although Tim was unable to recover the audio file I destroyed; it is clear that neither could anyone else. Further, my entire adventure resulted in no cost to me whatsoever.
I am knocked out by the professionalism, competence, intensity and warmth I experienced at this small business. Based on my history with them to date, I would recommend Desert Data Recovery without reservation.

I had a Seagate 3TB hard drive fail on me. We took it to Desert Data Recovery. They reviewed the drive for free. They determined it to be a firmware issue which meant a $ 395 recovery fee. That was ¹⁄₃ the cost of other recovery places that also charged a fee just to look at the drive. After the initial recovery, 2 heads were found to be dead. Fortunately, I was able to recover my critical data. They placed it on Dropbox and I was able to download my files immediately. They did a great job and I would definitely recommend these guys to everyone!

So I get this call from my mom saying «Hey my hard drive died, what do I do?».
I believe firmly that I should be able to figure out anything with about 15 minutes of practice on YouTube, so I tell her to mail it to me and I’ll fix it. After all, I’m a master of setting the time on the coffee maker, figuring out how to pirate Game of Thrones, and being electrocuted only rarely when doing home electrical work.
It shows up in the mail, and I get some thing off Amazon so I can plug it into my USB and copy the files.
This will be cake.
I get everything plugged in, and turn it on. Immediately it smells like someone is either cooking meth, or burning tires, and I notice the hard drive is actually smoking.
I’m not shitting you. Real actual smoke.
Although this particular symptom was not covered on YouTube, I am fairly certain that this is bad.
I got on Unilocal and looked for data recovery places with five stars, so I came across this place. I talked to the guy on the phone who was super cool and professional, and had me bring it in. I dropped it off, and he had it fixed the same day for $ 95 bucks.
My friend, whom is an «expert» with these sorts of things, told me I should expect to pay «at least hundreds, if not much more». My thorough understanding of algebra illustrates to me that $ 95 is, in fact, less than «at least hundreds, if not much more»
I feel like I came out on top here.
So now I get to send my mom back her hard drive full of pictures for Mother’s Day, and I look like the hero. Time to go for a celebratory beer at Wilderness.

I can’t recommend Desert Data Recovery enough. Very professional, quick, and friendly. Tim had my free diagnostic evaluation completed in less than 24 hours, explained exactly what was wrong, and was very clear about pricing. He was able to recover everything from my hard drive in less than 2 days. Excellent company!

Tim Homer was able to take mini disks containing music that had been sitting in a shoe box for 16 years, traveling in an RV all over the country and transfer the data to a DVD. He even suggested some free software I could download to separate the tracks and edit the music into a more useable form. He was helpful, prompt, quick to correct a problem and very enjoyable just to talk to. Highly recommended…