Data recovery FAQ: answers to your questions
Find answers from our specialists to the most frequently asked questions about data recovery: hard drive failures, SSD, RAID, USB drives, pricing, turnaround times and process. SOS Data Recovery (Tesweb SA), Swiss specialist since 2006 with over 10,000 cases handled, answers your questions.
Why consult our data recovery FAQ?
Our technicians answer the most frequently asked questions about hard drive, SSD, RAID, NAS, USB drive and memory card failures. Each answer is based on over 10,000 cases handled since 2006 and regularly updated. If you cannot find the answer to your question, contact us — free diagnosis within 3 hours.
What is forensic data recovery and how does it differ from standard data recovery?
Forensic data recovery (or digital forensics) is a rigorous technical process that aims not only to recover deleted or hidden data, but also to preserve the chain of custody so that this data is admissible in court.
The main differences with standard data recovery:
| Criterion | Standard Recovery | Forensic Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Recover data | Recover + document + certify |
| Footprint on the media | Minimal but undocumented | None (write-blocker cloning) |
| Chain of custody | Not required | Mandatory (MD5/SHA hashing) |
| Report | Optional | Certified report required |
| Judicial value | None | Admissible in court |