Corruption is when the data is present but no longer makes sense — a file that won't open, a folder turned to gibberish, a drive that reads as RAW. Sometimes the fix is rebuilding a damaged file system; sometimes it's repairing the files themselves. Either way, the underlying data is usually still there, and we recover it in-house.
$ bdr diagnose /dev/sda → Device: WD My Passport (2 TB) · external → Status: CORRUPT — file system RAW, data intact → Client: confidential · Belfast $ bdr engineer-working → Forensic image: taken · originals untouched → File system: rebuilt from NTFS structures → Restored: 2,840 folders · 61,200 files $ bdr verify → ✓ documents — 38,400 files → ✓ photos — 22,800 files → ✓ drive readable again — recovered
When a drive or its files are corrupted, the instinct is to run chkdsk, a repair utility or a “fix it” tool — but on a fragile or failing drive those can make the damage permanent by writing changes to the disk. Don't repair, don't format, and don't defragment. Copy nothing new onto the drive, and let us assess it from a safe image first.
Corruption can sit in the structures that organise your files, or in the files themselves — and the two need different handling. These are the causes we see most.
We recover corrupted data from every kind of storage and every major make — drives, cards and sticks alike.
Spinning hard disks · solid-state drives · USB sticks · memory cards of every format (SD, microSD, CompactFlash) · portable and desktop externals · plus the internal drives from laptops, desktops and Macs.
Corruption can sit in the file system or in the files themselves, so we treat both. We image the drive, rebuild the damaged structures, and where needed repair individual files — always from a copy, never your original.
We work out whether the corruption is in the file system, in bad sectors, or in individual files, and whether the drive itself is failing, then quote in writing.
We take a read-only, sector-by-sector image — carefully around any bad areas — and do all the work on that copy, so nothing on your original changes.
We repair or reconstruct the damaged file-system structures so intact files come back with their names and folders in place.
For files that are themselves corrupted, we repair what can be repaired — and carve clean copies out of the raw data where they exist.
Recovered files are checked to confirm they open and are intact before anything is returned to you.
Your data comes back sorted and ready to use, on fresh media.
We copy your data to an external drive and post it back, or offer a free download of up to 75GB — whichever suits you.
From RAW and unmountable drives to bad sectors and corrupted documents, databases and videos, we recover data that's present but unreadable — rebuilding file systems and repairing files, always from a read-only image of your drive.
Let us know which files or drives are corrupt and an engineer will respond, normally inside one working day.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
A free diagnostic first, then a fixed written quote before any work begins. Memory cards and USB sticks are £250 + VAT and hard drives £300 + VAT; where physical repair is needed there's a 50% deposit toward parts and bench time, with the balance only on success.
A representative selection of corrupted-data recoveries across different devices — device types and outcomes shown, customer details kept private.
The file system had been left half-written. We imaged the drive and rebuilt the structure, recovering the folders and files intact.
Spreading bad sectors were corrupting reads. We imaged around the failing areas and recovered clean copies of almost everything.
An interrupted write had corrupted the file structure. We rebuilt it and carved out the video files, repairing the clips that needed it.
As verified Belfast reviews for corruption jobs come in, they’ll be published here — real names, real recoveries, nothing invented.
No invented reviews here. We're collecting verified, named reviews from our Belfast customers and will publish them here as they come in. In the meantime you're welcome to call and talk an issue through with an engineer on 028 9002 0144.
Post or drop in your device for a free diagnostic, with a note on what happened — an engineer reviews it and confirms your exact quote in writing before any work begins.
First step: get the device onto our Belfast bench. Wrap it well, tuck your contact details in the box, and post it over — the diagnostic costs nothing, and you’ll have a firm written price to approve before we touch a single sector.
Posting it? A tracked, insured service is best. Dropping it off instead? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still pack the device as above.
Not ready to send anything yet? Use the form to describe the fault in your own words and one of the engineers will come back with a quote tailored to your situation.
We will get back to you soon. If it is urgent, call 028 9002 0144.
The questions we're asked most about corrupted files and drives.
Usually a damaged file system, bad sectors on the disk, an interrupted write from a crash or power cut, malware, or simply an ageing drive. The data is often still there — it's the structure that organises it, or a specific file, that's been damaged.
Not on a drive that holds important data, and especially not on one that might be failing. Repair tools write changes to the disk to “fix” it, and on a fragile drive that can lock in the damage or overwrite recoverable files. It's far safer to image the drive and work from the copy.
Usually, yes. RAW means Windows can't read the file system, not that the data is gone. We rebuild the file-system structures from an image of the drive and recover the files behind it — without formatting anything.
Often, yes. Where a document, database or video file is itself corrupted, we can repair many file types — and where a clean copy still exists in the raw data, we carve that out instead. We'll tell you at the diagnostic what's realistic for your files.
Pricing is £250 + VAT where the media is a card or stick, £300 + VAT for a hard drive — free diagnostic included, no fix, no fee on most jobs, and the final figure always confirmed in writing up front.
Most corruption recoveries are completed within 1 to 3 working days, though a drive with heavy bad sectors can take longer to image safely. The diagnostic itself is usually finished within 48 hours.
You can hand the device in at Cromac Square any weekday between 9am and 5:30pm, or send it by insured post. Box it securely with a note of your name, contact number, email and address inside — that’s everything we need to log it, run the free diagnostic and issue your quote.
A file that won't open or a drive that reads as RAW rarely means the data is gone. Stop running repair tools and send it in — we'll recover it from a safe image. Free diagnostic, no fix no fee on most jobs.