Server that won't boot, a RAID array offline, a corrupt database or a virtualization host down? We recover Dell, HPE, Lenovo and every other server — Windows Server, VMware and Hyper-V. We image every drive, rebuild the array off the hardware and recover your data, never your originals.
$ bdr diagnose /dev/server → Server: Dell PowerEdge · RAID 5 · 6 × 2 TB → Status: ARRAY OFFLINE — 2 disks failed → Client: Hayes, M. · Fishponds BS16 $ bdr engineer-working → Member disks: all 6 imaged read-only → RAID 5: rebuilt off the controller → Windows Server: volumes mounted $ bdr verify → ✓ file shares — 6.1 TB → ✓ SQL databases — restored → ✓ server recovered — data back
If your server won't boot, has dropped its RAID array offline or had a rebuild stall, stop — don't let it rebuild, re-initialise or re-sync the array. A rebuild writes across the disks and can overwrite the very data we need. Power the server down, label which drive came from which bay, and call us. The drives almost always outlive the server, and the first attempt at recovery is the safest.
From a server that won't boot to a corrupt database, these are the server failures we recover from most — hardware, RAID, OS and database.
We recover every server — Dell, HPE, Lenovo, Supermicro and the rest — Windows Server, Linux, VMware and Hyper-V, RAID or single drive. The make and role decide the method, not whether we can help.
Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, Lenovo ThinkSystem, Supermicro, Fujitsu PRIMERGY and Cisco UCS · tower, rack and blade · Windows Server, Linux, VMware ESXi and Hyper-V · Dell PERC and HP Smart Array RAID · SQL Server, Exchange and Active Directory · SAS, SATA and NVMe.
Server recovery is about reaching the data on the drives, whatever the server itself is doing. Once you send us the drives, we rebuild any RAID array from read-only images, then recover the operating system, virtual machines, databases and files — never touching your originals.
Tell us the server — make and model, RAID setup, what it runs, what happened. We assess it and send a written quote, usually within 48 hours. Label the drive bay order before you remove anything if you can.
We take a read-only image of every drive in the server on specialist hardware, including failing ones, so all the work happens on copies and your originals are never touched.
Where a drive has failed mechanically or electronically, we repair it — swapping heads, rebuilding the board — enough to image it. Drive-level repairs need 50% of the fee upfront.
Where the server uses RAID, we reconstruct the array — disk order, stripe, parity — from the images and rebuild the volume exactly as the controller had it, off the hardware.
We recover the file system and what sits on it — files and shares, virtual machines, SQL and Exchange databases, Active Directory — repairing them where needed and pulling the most consistent copy.
We check the recovered volumes, databases and virtual machines actually open and are complete before anything is returned to you.
We return your data on new storage sized for the server, ready to restore and put back into service.
We recover every server — Dell, HPE, Lenovo and the rest — Windows Server, VMware and Hyper-V — imaging every drive and rebuilding the array, the OS and the workloads off the hardware, so a dead server never means lost data.
Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.
We will be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
Clear, tiered pricing for server recovery — with a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.
A snapshot of recent server recoveries across offline arrays, won't-boot machines, corrupt databases and virtualization hosts. Names redacted, results verified.
Two disks had failed in the array. We imaged all six, rebuilt the RAID and recovered the file shares and SQL databases.
The board had failed but the drives were fine. We rebuilt the array and recovered every virtual machine.
The RAID was healthy but the Exchange database was damaged. We imaged the mirror and recovered and repaired the mailbox store.
The rebuild had partly overwritten the array. We imaged every disk, reconstructed it and recovered the VMFS datastore and its VMs.
The SSD controller had died. We recovered the NAND and rebuilt the file system to recover the sites and databases.
Little had overwritten the data. We rebuilt the array and recovered the deleted volume and its shares.
Reviews from real Bristol and South West clients whose servers we recovered.
Our Dell PowerEdge server’s RAID dropped offline and took the whole office down. They rebuilt the array and recovered every file and database. I cannot recommend them enough.
Our server wouldn’t boot and we feared all the company data was gone. They took the drives out and recovered all of it. Worth every penny and a relief to deal with.
Our Exchange server database corrupted and we lost all our email. They recovered and repaired the mailbox store and got it all back. Fast, fair and completely honest.
Our Hyper-V host went down and two other firms said the virtual machines were gone. These recovered every one. Genuine experts.
Gave us a clear quote up front, no fix no fee, and kept us updated throughout. Recovered our VMware datastore after a rebuild failed. Brilliant service.
Our server’s boot drive died and I feared the worst for our databases. They recovered the lot off it. Honest, skilled and reassuring.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
The questions we are asked most about recovering a server.
Usually, yes. A server that won't power on or POST normally has a board, power or controller fault, while the drives that hold your data are fine. Once you take the drives out and send them to us, we rebuild any RAID array and recover your data, so a dead server is rarely a barrier.
Yes. Most servers store their data on a RAID array, and we recover failed arrays — multiple dead disks, a failed rebuild or a dead controller — by imaging every disk read-only and reconstructing the array from the copies. Don't let the server rebuild or re-initialise the array first.
Yes. We recover ESXi and Hyper-V hosts whether the fault is the hardware, the RAID or the datastore. Once we've rebuilt the storage we repair the VMFS, CSV or NTFS file system and recover your virtual machines — VMDKs and VHDXs — and the data inside them.
Usually, yes. We recover and repair SQL Server, Exchange and Oracle databases from the server's drives, whether the cause is a failed array, a corrupt volume or a deleted store. We rebuild the storage, extract the database files and repair them so your data and mail come back.
A single-drive or mirrored server starts at £500 + VAT. Multi-disk RAID servers — RAID 5, 6 or 10 — start at £800 + VAT, depending on the number of disks and the work needed. Every job starts with a free diagnostic and a written quote, and most are no fix, no fee.
On most jobs, yes. For drive-level repairs 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 PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, Lenovo ThinkSystem, Supermicro, Fujitsu and the rest, tower, rack and blade, running Windows Server, Linux, VMware or Hyper-V. The make and role decide the method, not whether the data can be recovered.
Just the drives, please — we don't remove drives from server or RAID devices, so take the drives out yourself and send every one, including any that have failed, labelled with their bay order. That is all we need to rebuild the array and recover the data; the chassis and controller are not required.
Usually, yes. A failed domain controller still holds its Active Directory database on the drives. We recover the drives, rebuild any array and extract the AD database and system state so the directory can be restored.
A single-drive or mirrored server is usually done within 3 to 4 working days. Multi-disk RAID servers take 4 to 7 working days, depending on the number of disks and whether any need drive-level repair first. The free diagnostic is normally finished within 48 hours, and urgent business cases can often be prioritised.
Please take the drives out of the server yourself and send us just the drives — we don't remove drives from server or RAID devices ourselves. Label each drive with its bay order and pack them so nothing can knock together. You can drop them off at our Bristol location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post them to us fully insured. Include your name, company, address, phone number and email so we can book it in and quote before any work begins.
Free diagnostic, tiered pricing from £500, and no fix no fee on most jobs — every server recovered, Dell, HPE, Windows Server, VMware and the rest, off the hardware. Start your recovery today.