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Devices · laptop & pc recovery

Laptop & PC data recovery in Bristol.

Laptop or PC that won't turn on, won't boot, has been dropped or had files deleted? We recover data from Windows laptops and desktops of every make — Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and more. The computer being dead is rarely the problem; the drive inside is usually fine.

£300 + VAT per machine
Most jobs — no fix, no fee
Laptops & desktops
~ pc_2026-001 — live RECOVERED
$ bdr diagnose /dev/nvme0
 Device: Dell XPS 13 · 512 GB NVMe
 Status: WILL NOT POWER ON — board fault
 Client: Hayes, M. · Fishponds BS16

$ bdr engineer-working
 Drive: removed · healthy
 Imaging: 480 GB / 512 GB · 100% read
 NTFS: rebuilt · files intact

$ bdr verify
 ✓ documents — 28,400 files
 ✓ photos — 19,100 files
 ✓ laptop recovered — data back
!

Don't keep trying to boot a failing machine.

If your laptop or PC won't start, keeps blue-screening, or restarts before Windows loads, stop trying to boot it. A failing drive only gets worse each time, and Windows repair tools can overwrite the very files we need. Don't reset the PC, reinstall Windows or run chkdsk — power it down, take the drive out and send it to us. Many newer machines are BitLocker-encrypted, so find your recovery key too; it may be saved in your Microsoft account.

// faults we recover from

Laptop & PC faults we fix.

From a laptop that won't turn on to a PC stuck on a blue screen, these are the laptop and PC failures we recover from most — startup, physical, logical and encrypted.

Won't turn on or dead machineA laptop or PC that won't power on usually has a board or power fault, but the drive inside is almost always fine. Send us the drive and we recover your files.DeadNo powerWon't boot or Windows won't startStuck on the spinning dots, an automatic repair loop, or no bootable device? The drive is usually failing or the Windows install is corrupt, not your data. We image the drive and recover it.StartupNo bootBlue screen or boot loopConstant blue screens (BSOD) or a PC that restarts before Windows loads often mean a failing drive. We image it before it gets worse and recover what's on it.BSODFailing driveDropped laptop or clicking driveDropped your laptop? If it's clicking or no longer detected, the hard drive heads have likely failed. We fit matched donor heads in our clean bench and recover the data.PhysicalHeadsSpilled liquid on a laptopSpilled a drink on your laptop? Don't try to power it on. The board may be damaged but the drive is usually removable and intact, so we can recover your data from it.PhysicalLiquidDeleted files or emptied Recycle BinDeleted the wrong files, or emptied the Recycle Bin? On a healthy drive the data is usually still there until it's overwritten — stop using the PC and we can often get it all back.LogicalDeletedFormatted, reset or reinstalledReset this PC, formatted the drive or reinstalled Windows over your data? As long as little has been written since, we can usually recover the files. Stop using it and bring it in.LogicalFormattedVirus, ransomware or corrupt WindowsA virus, a failed Windows update or a corrupt user profile can lock you out of your own files. Where the drive is readable, we recover them. Ransomware needs special handling — ask us.LogicalMalwareBitLocker or forgotten passwordLocked out by a forgotten Windows password? On its own that doesn't encrypt your files — send us the drive and we recover them. But many newer PCs are BitLocker-encrypted, and for those we need your recovery key.EncryptedBitLocker
// laptops & pcs we recover

Every make. Every machine.

We recover every make of laptop and PC — Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and the rest, gaming rigs, ultrabooks and custom builds. Nearly all have a removable drive we work on directly, whatever the machine.

DellHPLenovoASUSAcerMSIMicrosoft SurfaceSamsungToshibaLGHuaweiRazerMedionFujitsuSony VAIOGigabytePackard BellPC SpecialistChillblastNVMe SSDM.2 SSDSATA SSD2.5" HDDBitLocker

Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, MSI and Microsoft Surface · gaming PCs, ultrabooks, all-in-ones and custom desktops · SATA and NVMe SSDs and 2.5 inch hard drives · NTFS and BitLocker. Most laptops and PCs have a removable drive we work on directly — we'll tell you if yours has soldered storage.

// our recovery process

How we recover a laptop or PC.

Laptop and PC recovery is really about the drive inside. We take the drive out, image it without ever writing to it, and rebuild your files from that copy — repairing the drive first where it has failed.

01

Free diagnostic

Tell us the laptop or PC and what happened — won't turn on, won't boot, dropped, deleted files. We diagnose it and send a written quote, usually within 48 hours.

02

Send us the drive

Take the drive out of the laptop or PC yourself — SATA or NVMe — and send us the drive; we don't open laptops or computers. We work on the drive directly, so a dead computer is no barrier to your data. Mechanical or board repairs to the drive need 50% of the fee upfront.

03

Repair if needed

Where the drive has a mechanical, electronic or firmware fault, we repair it — swapping heads, rebuilding the controller — before any data is read.

04

Image read-only

We take a read-only image of the drive on specialist hardware, reading weak or damaged areas gently so a failing drive is never stressed further.

05

Unlock and rebuild

Where the drive is BitLocker-encrypted and you have the recovery key, we unlock it, then rebuild the NTFS file system from the image to recover your files and folders.

06

Recover and verify

We recover your documents, photos and files and check they actually open and are complete before anything is returned to you.

07

Backup drive or download

We return your data on a new drive, or you can download it free for recoveries up to 75 GB.

// what we recover from

Every machine. Your data back.

We recover every make of laptop and PC — Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and the rest — taking the drive out, repairing it where needed and reading it from a read-only image to get your files back.

Every make
Dell, HP, Lenovo, +
Read-only
source never altered
Drive & board
in-house repairs
48 hr
Diagnostic turnaround
£300
Fixed per machine + VAT
25 yrs
Recovering data
// get a custom quote

Get a custom quote

Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.

Prefer to call? 0117 332 1137 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm

// pricing

Clear, fixed pricing.

One fixed price to recover a single laptop or PC — with a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.

Laptop & PC data recovery
£300 + VAT
Fixed price to recover one laptop or PC. Most jobs are no fix, no fee.
  • Free diagnostic and a written quote first
  • Fixed £300 + VAT to recover one laptop or PC
  • Failing drive or hardware fault: 50% of the fee upfront
  • Mechanical drive that needs opening in the clean bench: 50% of parts and labour upfront
  • Your recovered data back on a new drive, or a free download up to 75 GB
// recent recoveries

Failed machines. Real recoveries.

A snapshot of recent laptop and PC recoveries across won't-boot, dead machines, dropped drives and deletion. Names redacted, results verified.

// CASE 2026-042recovered
Dell XPS 13NVMe SSDWon't turn on

Dell laptop that died and wouldn't power on at all.

The board had failed but the NVMe drive was fine, so we imaged it and recovered everything.

// CASE 2026-036recovered
HP Pavilion1 TB HDDDropped — clicking

HP laptop dropped down the stairs and now clicking.

The hard drive heads had failed in the fall. We fitted donor heads and imaged the platters to recover the data.

// CASE 2026-030recovered
Lenovo ThinkPad512 GB SSDWon't boot

ThinkPad stuck in an automatic repair loop.

A corrupt Windows install was hiding the data. We imaged the SSD and recovered all the files.

// CASE 2026-023recovered
Custom desktop PC2 TB HDDDeleted files

Work folders deleted from a desktop PC and the Recycle Bin emptied.

The drive was healthy and the data still there. We imaged it and recovered the folders straight away.

// CASE 2026-016recovered
ASUS ZenBook256 GB SSDLiquid damage

ASUS laptop with coffee spilled across the keyboard.

The board was corroded but the SSD was removable and intact. We pulled it and recovered the lot.

// CASE 2026-009recovered
Acer Aspire1 TB HDDFormatted

Acer laptop where Windows was reinstalled before the backup finished.

Little had overwritten the data. We imaged the drive and carved back the documents and photos.

// client reviews

Machines recovered. Customers relieved.

Reviews from real Bristol and South West clients whose laptops and PCs we recovered.

★★★★★
My Dell laptop just died and wouldn’t turn on, with years of photos on it. They took the drive out and recovered every one. I cannot recommend them enough.
M
Michael H.Fishponds, Bristol · March 2025
★★★★★
My HP laptop got dropped and started clicking with all my kids’ photos on it. They recovered every one. Worth every penny and lovely people to deal with.
S
Sarah J.Bath · November 2024
★★★★★
My laptop wouldn’t start up and just kept trying to repair itself with all my work on it. They recovered the lot. Fast, fair and completely honest.
D
David T.Keynsham · August 2023
★★★★★
I deleted important folders from my PC and two other places said they were gone. These got them all back. Genuine experts.
P
Priya K.Clifton, Bristol · May 2022
★★★★★
Quoted a clear fixed price up front, no fix no fee, and kept me updated the whole way. Recovered my dissertation off a dead laptop. Brilliant service.
T
Tom W.Bristol · January 2021
★★★★★
I spilled coffee on my laptop and thought my holiday photos were gone for good. They took the drive out and recovered them all. Honest, skilled and reassuring.
L
Linda M.Portishead · September 2019
// sending your device in

Two simple steps.

Send us your device for a free diagnostic, and tell us a little about what happened — an engineer will review it and confirm your exact quote in writing before any work begins.

1

Send us your device

Recovering your data starts with getting the device to us. Pack it safely, add your contact details, and send it over — after we run a free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work begins.

How to pack it
  • Package the device into a small, sturdy box or padded envelope.
  • Leave out caddies, cables and power supplies — we won’t need them for the recovery.
  • Include your details inside the package: name, address, phone and email — on a slip of paper, or use our shipping form — then seal it up.
Post toBristol Data Recovery
Castlemead, Lower Castle Street
Bristol BS1 3AG
Shipping formPDF · print & include with your devicePDF ↓

Posting it in? We recommend a tracked, insured service. Prefer to drop it off? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still package the device as above.

2

Need more information?

If you need more information on our data recovery service, fill out the form with more detail about your issue and an engineer will review it and give you a custom quote.

An engineer reviews every enquiry personally — we usually reply within 30 minutes during the day. Prefer to call? 0117 332 1137.

Thanks — your message is in.

We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.

// frequently asked questions

Laptop & PC recovery, answered.

The questions we are asked most about recovering a laptop or PC.

Usually, yes. A laptop or PC that won't power on normally has a board or power fault, while the drive that holds your files is fine. Once you remove the drive and send it to us, we image it and recover your data, so a dead machine is rarely a barrier.

Almost never. A machine stuck on the spinning dots, an automatic repair loop or 'no bootable device' usually has a failing drive or a corrupt Windows install, not lost files. Send us the drive and we image it and recover your data without relying on Windows.

Usually, yes, if it has a hard drive. Clicking after a drop means the read/write heads have failed, while the platters holding your data are intact. We fit matched donor heads in our clean bench and image the drive. Stop powering it on — every attempt risks the data.

Probably not, if you act quickly. On a healthy drive, deleted files usually stay on the disk until something overwrites them. Stop using the laptop or PC and contact us — the sooner we image the drive, the better the chance of getting it all back.

It is a fixed £300 + VAT to recover a single laptop or PC, with a free diagnostic and a written quote first. If the drive is failing or needs mechanical work, we take 50% of the fee upfront, so most jobs are no fix, no fee.

On most jobs, yes. For a failing drive or hardware work we take a 50% deposit upfront and the rest is only due if we recover your data — so if we can't, you are not left with the full bill.

Every make — Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, MSI, Microsoft Surface and the rest, laptops and desktop PCs, with SATA or NVMe drives. Most have a removable drive we work on directly; we'll tell you if a machine has soldered storage.

Usually, yes. A forgotten Windows login password on its own doesn't encrypt your files, so once you send us the drive we can recover them. The catch is BitLocker: many newer Windows laptops encrypt the drive by default, and for those we need the recovery key — which Windows often saves to your Microsoft account under your devices. Without that key, encrypted data can't be unlocked by anyone.

Often, yes. A virus, a corrupt user profile or a failed update can lock you out of your files while leaving them on the drive. Where the drive is readable, we recover your documents and photos. Ransomware that has encrypted your files needs special handling — ask us about that separately.

Most recoveries are done within 2 to 3 working days. Drives that need mechanical or board-level work usually take a little longer — 3 to 4 working days — depending on parts. The free diagnostic is normally finished within 48 hours, and urgent cases can often be prioritised.

Please take the hard drive or SSD out of the laptop or PC first and send us just the drive — we don't remove drives from laptops or computers ourselves. You can drop the drive off at our Bristol location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured. Include your name, address, phone number and email, and your BitLocker recovery key if the drive is encrypted, so we can book it in and quote before any work begins.

// laptop or pc failed?

Won't turn on, won't boot or dropped? We'll recover it.

Free diagnostic, a fixed £300 + VAT per machine, and no fix no fee on most jobs — every make of Windows laptop and desktop PC recovered. Start your recovery today.

Call us — 0117 332 1137
Mon–Fri · 9am–5:30pm · No fix, no fee
Start a free diagnostic →