SMR Hard Drive Data Recovery

At Rossmann Repair Group, we specialize in the recovery of data from Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) hard drives, which is new tech. SMR drives are widely used in consumer and enterprise environments since they provide higher storage capacity for less money. Their unique structure makes them very difficult to recover when they fail.


If your SMR hard drive is not working, we have all the tools necessary to get your data back!

Why Rossmann Repair?

What Makes SMR Drives Unique and Challenging for Recovery?

SMR hard drives write data in overlapping tracks, like shingles on a roof. This allows for higher storage density. While this technology maximizes capacity, it makes recovery more difficult due to the following reasons:

  • Overlapping Data Tracks: Modifying or recovering one track risks overwriting or corrupting adjacent tracks.
  • Second-Level Translators (SLT): These firmware components map logical block addresses (LBA) to physical block addresses (PBA). If the translator is damaged, the drive can return empty or corrupted data.
  • Trim-like UNMAP Commands: SMR drives used in host-managed or host-aware configurations can process UNMAP commands (similar to TRIM for SSDs) in some systems. These commands tell the drive to mark certain data blocks as no longer in use, which can sometimes erase important mapping information in the Second-Level Translator (SLT) that connects logical addresses to physical storage locations. Deleted translator metadata or zone mappings can prevent reconstruction of the overlapping data tracks unique to SMR drives.
  • Firmware Dependence: SMR drives heavily rely on firmware for managing data zones, and corruption here can make recovery extremely complex.

Who Uses SMR Hard Drives?

SMR drives are commonly found in:

  1. Consumer Electronics: External hard drives like the WD My Passport and Seagate Backup Plus.
  2. Network Attached Storage (NAS): Models like the WD Red series often use SMR drives for storage solutions.
  3. Surveillance Systems: High-capacity drives for storing security camera footage, such as some of Seagate’s SMR-based surveillance models.

Common Issues with SMR Drives

  1. Quick Formatting:
  • If you format a drive and unplug it, old-style CMR drives (CMR referring to Conventional Magnetic Recording) are trivial to recover with standard software like R-Studio or UFS. Sometimes a pain, but mostly doable.
  • With SMR drives like some WD My Passport models, you have to deal with second translators, translator dependencies, and you may not even get all the data from it.
  • Basic software like UFS Explorer and R-Studio will show only empty sectors with zeroes in a case like this where the drive was formatted.
  • Recovery often requires advanced tools to bypass damaged SLTs and restore fragmented data, like the Acelab PC3000.
  1. Firmware Corruption:
  • SMR-specific firmware handling is more complicated compared to older CMR drives.
  • If the second translator has an issue, the drive may click even if the heads are good, which can confuse new technicians into believing the heads are a problem.
  • Sometimes this means blocking access to the service area or special modules.
  • Software like UFS Explorer and R-Studio will not handle this. In this case, UFS stands for "u find shit" - only zeroes :'(

Our SMR Data Recovery Process

We use advanced technology and methods to deal with the challenges specific to SMR recovery:

  1. Translator Repair:
    • We rebuild or bypass the damaged second-level translator to recover fragmented data.
  2. Firmware Restoration:
    • Our tools safely repair corrupted firmware modules to get the drive back to working condition so we can recover all of its data.
  3. Zone Recovery:
    • By carefully handling overlapping zones, we ensure adjacent data tracks remain intact during recovery.
  4. Physical Repairs:
    • For drives with mechanical issues, our Purair VLF-48 laminar flow bench provides the controlled environment necessary for repairs. The Purair VLF-48 Laminar Flow Bench allows an ultra-clean workspace with ULPA filtration capturing 99.999% of particles down to 0.1 microns. Its vertical airflow design minimizes turbulence, making it perfect for handling delicate media during data recovery. We are NOT opening your drive in any old office!
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Watch a Real Data Recovery Service below!

Why SMR Data Recovery Requires Experienced Technicians

Recovering data from SMR hard drives is a highly specialized task that requires lots of technical expertise & precision. New technicians working with tools like the PC3000 or performing cleanroom repairs on a laminar flow bench are on their way to success if they are committed to learning, but newer technicians often make mistakes that lead to permanent data loss. Here’s why choosing an experienced technician matters!


Common Mistakes Made by Inexperienced Technicians

  1. Mishandling Second-Level Translators (SLT):

    • SMR drives rely on SLTs to map logical data to physical locations. A newbie may overwrite or improperly rebuild this translator, causing irreversible data loss.
    • Using generic PC3000 scripts without understanding SMR-specific firmware quirks can result in fragmented or missing data.
  2. Damage to Overlapping Data Tracks:

    • SMR drives write data in overlapping tracks, meaning a mistake in one area can overwrite or corrupt adjacent tracks.
    • Inexperienced techs often use cloning methods meant for standard old CMR drives which can destroy the integrity of overlapping zones.
  3. Improper Use of Cleanroom Tools:

    • Handling delicate internal components like heads or platters in a laminar flow bench requires experience. Common errors include:
      • Scratching platters while removing heads.
      • Misaligning replacement components, rendering the drive unreadable.
  4. Not addressing UNMAP Issues:

    • New techs sometimes overlook the impact of Trim commands, which can prematurely delete data necessary for a data recovery from SMR drives. Misconfiguring recovery software can make things worse.
  5. Inadequate Firmware Handling:

    • SMR drives depend heavily on proprietary firmware for managing shingled zones. Without training a technician might apply firmware fixes meant for CMR drives, bricking the device.

Why Choose Rossmann Repair Group?

  • Certified Expertise: Our technicians are extensively trained and certified by ACE Lab, the developers of PC3000. We understand the nuances of SMR drives and their unique recovery challenges. While "Apple certification" is useless & often means the technician is not allowed to do real repairs, acelab's actually matter!
  • Industry-Leading Tools: We
  • Experience You Can Trust: With years of expertise in data recovery, we handle cases other labs cannot.
  • Top Rated: No, really. Check google maps - we have the highest(and most) ratings of any data recovery company.
  • No paid advertising: No banner ads, no yelp promotions, no google adwords. We rely on word of mouth and videos demonstrating our abilities. The lack of paid advertising means the savings are passed onto you.

Contact Us Today

If your SMR hard drive has failed, don’t lose hope. Contact Rossmann Repair Group for professional data recovery services!

We Can Extract Information From These Types of Media at Our Lab

Laptop Hard Drives
Liquid damaged iPhones
Physically damaged USB flash drives
SD & microSD cards
WD MyPassport
Desktop Hard Drives
External Hard Drives
USB Hard Drives
RAID configurations
SATA, IDE, SCSI, SAS, SSD Hard Drives

Our Rates?

Giving a price without seeing the device, assessing its condition is impossible. Everyone feels better having some basic idea of what things may cost, so for a basic idea, see below. Do realize the + means price can go up! Please do note that drives that have been opened before are rarely if ever recoverable by us: mention this prior to sending it in as we rarely work on pre-worked on drives.
hard drives

Hard Drives

$100 for basic data retrieval, $250-$650 for firmware repair, $900-$2000 for heads swap.
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SD cards and micro sd cards

SDcards/microSD cards

$200 for basic data recovery, $900 for breakout board data recovery
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cellphone data recovery

CellPhones

$300-$650 for drop or liquid damage, $1200+ for difficult cases(board swap). $400+ for any damage inflicted by inept repair technicians(long screw) that is above and beyond terrible.
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ssd card data recovery

SSDs

$300-$2000 depending on extent of damage
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Love From Our Customers

Hear from our satisfied customers who trust us for their data recovery needs in Austin. We didn't become the top rated repair shop on Google maps by accident - this was a 15 year effort of providing best-in-class service, with no gimmicks. 

Super helpful and friendly team- even tho they could replace my hard drive bracket they inspected the machine and hdd free of charge.
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J M Goodwin Avatar
J M Goodwin
1/21/2018
5 star ratingThey were very responsive, and very flexible. They put a new motherboard in my computer and then learned that the screen was still bad. So they didn't charge me and sent me my hard drive too. I was really impressed
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Danny Shader Avatar
Danny Shader
12/17/2020
AMAZING. I talked to a few other places before coming here. The final price I paid here was half of what I was quoted at the other place, insanely FAST (a few days vs. 6-8 days) AND SO MUCH MORE CLEAR in their diagnosis and process! The Rossmann Group is the best. First, I went to Dr. Brendan's on St.Marks. My computer sat there for a while- even though they mention a 24hr diagnosis period and I called them to ask about what happened. Super poor communication at Dr.Brendan from my experience. Also their quote was around $800 and timing was 6-8 days. This all felt super wrong, and I decided I might should take the laptop somewhere else. My work depends on it! SO I had read all the awesome reviews on google and saw how involved the people at The Rossmann Group were in helping their customers. Went over there on a Sunday. As soon as I showed up the technician opened my computer and told me exactly what was wrong, immediately diagnosed and understood. No smoke and mirrors, no questions unanswered. So amazing! Even though it was a holiday weekend (ie: NYE) the problem was solved by Tuesday night and I picked up my computer Wednesday! Highly recommend this shop! It seriously has taken a huge burden off my back as I launch my new biz in 2019. Computer problem was.... Display went out on my mac book pro after I dropped coffee near it. Other place said I would need a LCD screen replacement and a new logic board. But Rossmann Group opened the computer and showed me that part of the cable that connects the logic board and screen was burned out. So they replaced that for around 460$. Computer works great now!
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Alexandria Jarvis Avatar
Alexandria Jarvis
1/21/2019
5 star ratingI wasn't able to retrieve files off an external hard drive and the first estimate was $350 to $2500 (they said it had to go back to the manufacturer). Rossman was referred baby a friend and I was able to retrieve all my information. It was pricey (not $2,500!!) but worth it. I was very happy with the service.
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Mvy M. Avatar
Mvy M.
5/05/2020
5 star ratingLove it .... they are so nice always helpful... i was struggling looking for some hard drive repair...finally found them thank god ..thank you guys for everything
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Fabiola Paredes Avatar
Fabiola Paredes
12/17/2021
I had an iPhone 8 that was totally dead, wouldn't recognize being plugged into a computer or power outlet. The biggest problem was that it hadn't been backed up in a long time and there 5000+ photos and videos of our kids were potentially lost.I sent it in to RRG and got a call from Kevin (who was the tech who was actually going to be handling my repair). He was great, forthcoming with the plan, and very polite.Bottom line? Got my phone back with all the data still intact (apps, contacts, photos, videos, settings) working 100%, AND got a flash drive with the photos and videos on it.Thanks guys!
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Chris Straughn Avatar
Chris Straughn
10/21/2019
5 star ratingiMac FIXED! One happy Mac owner!
Knowledgeable, Qualified and Reasonably priced. What more can one ask for? These guys saved me the expense of a new system or Apple's greedy authorized network. I love Apple equipment but if it breaks and you're past Applecare, you may be at the mercy of Apple's mercenary group of authorized repair centers, or if you are lucky enough to find Rossman's, you should get a fair deal.

Taking the glass screen off a 27in iMac for a hard drive replacement was something I didn't want to do myself though there are kits to do - it's risky business. Buying an iMac that is remotely close to what I have is astronomical in price.

Louis Rossman and his well qualified team of real Mac genius' told me to save some money and get a recommended SSD on Amazon and bring it in. Though they said a week to 10 days and looked busy, I received an email 3 days later that my machine was ready. I saw distressed people with damaged laptops and Rossman's team gave them a diagnosis while they waited- or fixed it.

My iMac seems to be working better than new and I will update this if I see otherwise. Louis Rossman makes videos about Apple and the repair industry that I found informative and entertaining - non-authorized reasonably priced places are under siege. He is part of the thread of "urban legends" and I saw one client ask for a selfie with him- A You Tube celebrity but more.

I was victim to a horrible screen repair on an iPad with junk parts done at an unauthorized dealer, which I write about extensively on Yelp. Finding the "right" repair center is critical and with the tools of Social Media- "Yelp" you can do it. I sincerely believe if you come to Rossman- the job will be done right at a fair price. They put a screen protector on my iPad no charge-gratis. Perks of being a customer?

You can't go wrong at this Apple repair center! It's not just for laptops. *****
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Larry G. Avatar
Larry G.
6/09/2019
By far the best company I have ever used for data recovery. They keep m informed every step of the way and did it quickly. Thanks again cant wait to use them again.
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John Bort Avatar
John Bort
12/17/2020
5 star ratingI walked in with my dead Macbook Pro Tuesday (randomly wouldn't turn on or charge) and Louis and his team were so helpful! At first they opened it up and said that the logic board needed to be replaced but were willing to see if the current one could be salvaged first. I left and came back and in an hour my Macbook was good as new!!!! Apple told me it would be better to just buy a whole new Macbook, so glad I came here first! Highly recommend for all your Apple repair needs.
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Lay E. Avatar
Lay E.
7/12/2018
My MacBook Air got dropped in a body of water and stopped turning on. After getting a consult from a different group, they referred me here as they didn't have the right parts to extract the data from my hard drive. Initial consult took maybe 5-10 minutes of waiting before they told me they would be able to extract the data and move it to a new location (which ended up being my new MacBook Pro) for $100. This was versus the $750 Apple was quoting me and they would need me to ship my laptop to them (no thanks). Initially told me it would take one day. The following day when I called to follow up, they mentioned it may take another day, mostly I believe because they were busy. After letting them know I needed my laptop for work they were able to accommodate me and get it done that same day. Overall, quick/easy/efficient/good price point. The only downside to their reputable nature is that they are quite busy. Fortunately for me, my issue was relatively straightforward. But for a more complex issue their turnaround time will likely be slower, so make sure you let them know your time frame and get a time quote in addition to your $$$ quote for your own planning. Thanks! Will definitely return (but hope I won't have to).
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Tori Ko Avatar
Tori Ko
12/17/2020
5 star ratingAmazing technician, I believe the best in Apple repair in the country even better than Apple with the tools and facility they can get of course, Apple makes many problems for third party repair shops. I have learned a lot from his videos and from Jessa Jones at iPad Rehab in Rochester NY. I look forward in learning more from them all. Aside from being great technicians they are very honest which is a good relief from anyone that want's to get anything repaired. I look forward to visiting NYC one day and stopping by the shop and thank him in person. They have also fixed my laptop where I am writing this response on and gave me tips on my external hard drive which is now also up and working!
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Tony Trilex Avatar
Tony Trilex
12/17/2021
World-class Mac repair service. If you want it done right and fast, this is the shop. Rossmann Repair had my damaged Macbook Pro screen replaced and ready for pick up less than six hours after drop off. Prior to that, I had spilled a cup of tea on another laptop- they successfully retrieved all data. Their quiet, friendly efficiency is very much appreciated pandemic or not. Great guys and gals.
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Ron Link Avatar
Ron Link
12/17/2021
5 star ratingI was referred to Rossmann Repair Group by a friend whose dad swears by the shop. After my Macbook Pro crashed and Mikey's Hookup in Brooklyn quoted me $511 to fix it and recover my data (plus a $90 diagnostic fee), I was desperate for a second opinion. Enter: Rossman Repair Group, who was able to get the job done for $250. What's more, the guys accidentally fixed my computer without first sending me a quote - when they realized this mistake, they graciously offered that I not pay full price for the repair. One of the best customer service experiences I've had in a really long time, ESPECIALLY when it comes to Apple products... I highly recommend them!Thanks Rossmann Repair! My laptop is working great now - you guys are the best!
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L A. Avatar
L A.
10/30/2018
5 star ratingThey will save your life (and your harddrives life)The new address for Rossmann Repair Group is 2410 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78705.
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Nils R. Avatar
Nils R.
12/13/2022
These guys are the real deal. They recovered my hard drive for half the price another place in mid town was charging me. It wasnt cheap but it was worth it, Saved my life!
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Will Williams Avatar
Will Williams
9/21/2019

Our Recent Work

Our highly trained technicians have worked on some of the most complex cases with great success. If your hard drive or SDcard is no longer responsive, we’ll get your information back!
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Have a failed external USB drive? We can by-pass the USB on your drive and go straight for your data!
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Stuck heads? No problem! We have the tools and the clean room to un-stick your heads..
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We can do clean room data recovery on premises when necessary.
inspecting 6 head stack donor drive
Inspecting a 6 head stack from a donor drive before it goes into the patient.

Bottom Line:

At Rossmann Repair Group, we don’t just recover data; we restore your peace of mind. Contact us today for your hard drive data recovery needs in Austin and experience service that sets the industry standard.

Top Reasons To Have Your Repairs Done By Us

All data recovery done on-site.

Our pricing is fair.

High success rate.

You can meet & speak with the recovery specialist working on your case directly.

Get In Touch with Us

Give us a call or fill out the form below to get a fast price estimate on a fix for your device.  If you are not local, we also offer a very streamlined Mail-In Service which makes it very easy to work with us from anywhere in the country.
Mail-In Repair Service

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Monday-Friday – 11 AM to 7 PM
2410 San Antonio Street
Austin, TX 78705

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We Can Fix Your Problem

We provide the best unauthorized MacBook, iPad & iPhone Repair in Austin. You can come to our store for a free estimate without an appointment, or mail your device to us from anywhere in the world to receive service.
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