With over 25 years of specialist expertise, Coventry Data Recovery is the UK’s trusted name in forensic-level data recovery from Compaq, Dell, HP, and other desktop PCs. We specialise in recovering inaccessible or deleted data from failed or damaged systems, including hard disk drives, SSDs, and hybrid storage media.
Supported Brands and Popular Models
We provide expert data recovery services for all major desktop computer brands including:
- Compaq Presario CQ5600
- Dell OptiPlex 7000 Series
- HP Pavilion Elite HPE-590
- Corsair One i300
- CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR
Common Desktop PC Data Recovery Faults and Technical Solutions
Below are the most frequent faults we encounter in desktop systems, along with technical insight into our recovery processes:
1. Mechanical Failure
- Cause: Damaged read/write heads or spindle motor failure.
- Solution: Open the drive in a Class 100 cleanroom, transplant heads/platter to a donor assembly, and image the disk using sector-by-sector forensic tools.
2. Bad Sectors
- Cause: Magnetic degradation or physical surface wear.
- Solution: Use hardware-level imaging (e.g., DeepSpar or PC-3000) with error skip/retry algorithms to isolate and clone recoverable data.
3. Firmware Corruption
- Cause: Faulty microcode preventing drive initialisation.
- Solution: Load custom firmware modules via vendor-specific utilities to access Service Area (SA), then image user data.
4. Logical Corruption
- Cause: File system damage due to abrupt shutdown or malware.
- Solution: Mount raw disk images in a write-blocked environment and use forensic software to repair or reconstruct file structures (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, HFS+).
5. Read/Write Errors
- Cause: Failing read/write heads or partial magnetic decay.
- Solution: Clone in reverse order or using head-mapping to isolate working head zones.
6. Controller Failure
- Cause: Failed logic board or IC components.
- Solution: Replace PCB with a matching donor and reprogram the ROM chip if necessary to restore access.
7. Virus or Malware Infection
- Cause: Malicious software encrypting, hiding, or deleting data.
- Solution: Create forensic image, scan and extract artefacts from unallocated space or restore MFT entries using advanced recovery platforms.
8. Overwritten Data
- Cause: New data written over deleted files.
- Solution: Use forensic tools to recover residual data fragments and reconstruct files using header analysis and carving.
9. Partition Table Corruption
- Cause: Incorrect formatting or failed OS installation.
- Solution: Rebuild GPT/MBR structure manually or via automated tools while preserving original sector alignment.
10. Water or Liquid Damage
- Cause: Short-circuiting of logic board or internal corrosion.
- Solution: Ultrasonic cleaning of PCB, component testing, and transplant to functional donor assembly.
11. Electrical Damage
- Cause: Power surge or static discharge.
- Solution: Inspect fuse diodes, TVS protection, and MOSFETs on PCB. Swap components if needed before imaging.
12. Unsupported File System
- Cause: Drive formatted on a proprietary system (e.g., Linux EXT4, Mac HFS+).
- Solution: Mount with compatible OS in virtual lab or use file system emulation to extract data.
13. File Transfer Interruptions
- Cause: Sudden disconnection during write operation.
- Solution: Analyse journaling and temporary file structures to locate incomplete transfers.
14. Accidental Formatting
- Cause: Quick or full format executed.
- Solution: Reconstruct volume using signature-based scanning of unallocated clusters.
15. Bent or Broken SATA Pins
- Cause: Mishandling or forceful cable insertions.
- Solution: Microsoldering repair of interface or re-connector replacement.
16. Platter Surface Damage
- Cause: Head crash resulting in physical scoring.
- Solution: Use adaptive imaging with platter mapping to extract data from undamaged areas.
17. SSD Controller Failure
- Cause: NAND controller chip failure.
- Solution: NAND chip-off extraction and logical reconstruction using vendor-specific ECC and wear levelling translation.
18. Overheating
- Cause: Prolonged use or fan failure.
- Solution: Cool drive to operational temperature and immediately image before further degradation.
19. Manufacturing Defects
- Cause: Batch-specific firmware bugs or mechanical imbalance.
- Solution: Apply firmware patch or replace internal components with donor parts from known good batch.
20. Drive Not Recognised by BIOS/System
- Cause: Damaged SA or unreadable ROM chip.
- Solution: Load ROM dump and manually initialise drive in vendor mode using PC-3000 or MRT Lab tools.
Systems and Platforms We Support
- Operating Systems: Windows 11/10/8/7, Linux (EXT3/EXT4), macOS, and legacy DOS/FAT file systems.
- Form Factors: 3.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SSD, M.2 NVMe, PCIe-based storage.
- Interfaces: SATA, IDE/PATA, NVMe, SCSI, SAS, USB 3.0, eSATA
Why Choose Coventry Data Recovery?
- 25 years’ experience in forensic and enterprise-grade data recovery.
- In-house Class 100 cleanroom for physical drive repairs.
- Advanced equipment including PC-3000, DeepSpar, and monolith NAND readers.
- Transparent and professional service with no data, no fee terms.
- Free diagnostic evaluation and expert technical support.
Get Started Today
If your Compaq, Dell, or HP desktop PC has experienced data loss, contact Coventry Data Recovery for expert forensic-level recovery services.
📞 Call now for free diagnostics and consultation from our engineering team.