Data recovery is sometimes confused with computer forensics. Data recovery is used in a case where the data from the hard drive can’t be extracted with traditional computer forensic imaging devices or software. There is special hardware and software that is used to extract data from a hard drive for the purposes of data recovery and then that extraction can be converted to a digital forensic image that can be examined by a digital forensics investigator. Some cases that we have done here at Exhibit A CFI include hard drives that were thrown in a lake to avoid detection, one was set on fire, and many others were smashed to where the computer was totally destroyed. In all of these cases we were able to do a data recovery process first and then do the digital forensics investigation afterwards to get the information needed for our clients. If data recovery is needed, Exhibit A CFI can definitely help you get the data and then do the investigation.
Data recovery is a separate fee from the computer forensics investigation costs.