Falls Technology Services

Questions

Data recovery questions, answered

Falls Technology Services · Idaho Falls · November 12, 2026

Lost files are stressful. These are the questions we hear most, with honest answers about what's likely. The most important one first: if the files matter, stop using the device and turn it off.

Can you get my photos and files back?

Often, yes. Recently deleted files, an accidentally formatted drive, or a computer that won't start but has a healthy drive are usually recoverable. A drive with physical damage, files that have been overwritten, and phones without a backup are harder, and sometimes impossible. We tell you honestly what's likely before any work.

Data recovery: what's possible, and what isn't

What should I do right now?

Stop using the drive or device and turn it off. Every minute it runs, every download and update, can write over the files you're trying to save. Don't keep restarting it to see if it comes back.

How much does data recovery cost?

We look first and agree the price with you before we start. If we can't get your files back, there's no charge for our work. If a drive needs a specialist clean-room lab, we explain that cost too, and you decide.

Data recovery in Idaho Falls

My drive is clicking. Is it dead?

Clicking, grinding or beeping usually means the drive is failing physically. Turn it off: running it can make it worse. Those drives often need a clean-room lab, and we help you send it if so.

Should I try free recovery software first?

Never install or run it on the same drive you're recovering from: it can write over the files you want. On a drive that's failing physically, any software makes it work harder. Ask first if the files matter.

My external drive or memory card says it needs formatting.

Don't click format. The files are often still there and recoverable if nothing new has been saved. Unplug it and bring it as it is.

Lost files, or a drive that isn't showing up

Can you get photos off a broken or dead phone?

Phones are encrypted, so recovery usually depends on getting the phone to start again or on a backup existing. Check iCloud or Google Photos first: your photos may already be saved there.

Water-damaged phone? Your photos may still be saved

I deleted something by accident and emptied the trash.

Stop using that computer and check your backups and cloud storage first: OneDrive, iCloud and Google Drive keep their own deleted items for a while. On a computer with a solid-state drive (SSD), deleted files are often wiped quickly, so act fast.

Lost photos: where to look first

How do I make sure this never happens again?

An automatic backup with a copy kept somewhere else (off-site or in the cloud), and a test now and then that files really come back. Once your files are recovered, we can set that up.

Is your backup actually working?

General answers in plain English, checked when we wrote them. Every device is different: we check yours before saying what it needs. This isn't professional advice for your exact device. See our website terms.

Still have a question?

Tell us what's going on and we'll tell you what it takes before we start.

Send us a message  or call (208) 745-2981, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

More questions