A film production company in London experienced a critical data loss event when their LaCie Rugged external hard drive was accidentally exposed to liquid during an outdoor shoot. The drive contained crucial video files, editing projects, and backups of raw footage, which were vital for completing an ongoing project.
After the incident, the drive became unresponsive, and the company approached Advanced Data Recovery, London’s leading data recovery company, to retrieve their critical files.
The Problem
The LaCie Rugged drive was affected by:
- Liquid Damage:
- Corrosion on the drive’s circuit board (PCB) due to prolonged contact with liquid.
- Potential short circuits caused by the liquid exposure.
- Physical and Logical Damage:
- The internal HDD components, including the platters and read/write heads, were suspected to be compromised.
- Logical file system issues caused by the abrupt failure of the drive.
- No Recent Backup:
- The drive was the sole storage location for the raw footage, making recovery critical.
The Data Recovery Process by Advanced Data Recovery
Step 1: Initial Assessment
Upon receiving the damaged LaCie drive, the recovery team conducted a detailed evaluation:
- Visual Inspection: Identified liquid-induced corrosion on the PCB and signs of internal component failure.
- Drive Disassembly: Opened the drive in an ISO Class 5 cleanroom to assess the internal components for contamination or damage.
- Logical Analysis: Confirmed that the file system was intact but inaccessible due to physical damage.
Step 2: Component Repair and Stabilization
To prepare the drive for data extraction:
- PCB Repair: The corroded PCB was cleaned and repaired where possible. If irreparable, a donor PCB was sourced from an identical LaCie model and reprogrammed to match the original firmware.
- Internal Component Replacement: Damaged read/write heads were replaced using donor parts, ensuring minimal risk to the platters.
Step 3: Data Imaging
Once the drive was operational:
- Disk Imaging: A bit-by-bit clone of the drive was created to secure the data. This step was critical for bypassing physically damaged areas and preserving the original drive.
- Error Handling: Advanced imaging tools were used to navigate bad sectors caused by the liquid damage.
Step 4: File System Recovery
- File Reconstruction: The drive’s exFAT file system (commonly used for video projects) was repaired to reconstruct the directory structure and retrieve raw footage files.
- Fragmented File Recovery: Advanced software was used to piece together fragmented video files, ensuring their integrity and usability.
Step 5: Validation and Delivery
- Data Validation: The recovered video files were tested for playback to ensure they were complete and free of corruption.
- Secure Delivery: The data was transferred to a new rugged external drive and delivered to the client, along with backup recommendations.
Challenges Faced
- Severe Liquid Damage: Corrosion on the PCB and potential platter contamination required precise handling and cleaning.
- Large Video Files: Recovering fragmented 4K video files required advanced techniques to reconstruct them correctly.
- Time Sensitivity: The production company had tight deadlines, necessitating expedited recovery.
Outcome
Advanced Data Recovery achieved:
- 100% recovery of the critical video files, including raw footage and editing projects.
- A 72-hour turnaround, allowing the production company to meet their project deadline.
- A comprehensive backup strategy provided to prevent future data loss.
Lessons Learned
- Protect External Drives: Use waterproof cases or pouches to safeguard drives from environmental hazards during outdoor shoots.
- Backup Regularly: Maintain multiple backups, including off-site or cloud storage, to ensure data safety.
- Seek Professional Help Immediately: Avoid powering on a liquid-damaged drive, as this can cause further damage. Contact professionals without delay.
Why Choose Advanced Data Recovery (London)?
- Cleanroom Expertise: Cleanroom for safe handling of liquid-damaged drives.
- Specialized Tools: Proprietary technology for reconstructing fragmented video files and repairing damaged components.
- Rapid Turnaround: Emergency services for time-critical recoveries.
This case demonstrates Advanced Data Recovery’s exceptional expertise in recovering data from physically and logically compromised devices, helping clients regain access to their critical files with minimal disruption.