Hitachi Hard Drive Recovery – Not Detected by BIOS or Operating System

A client contacted Brighton Data Recovery after their Hitachi hard drive stopped being recognised by their computer. The reported issues included:

  • The hard drive was not detected in the BIOS, preventing the system from booting.
  • The operating system did not recognize the drive, making all stored data inaccessible.
  • The drive contained critical personal and business files, making data recovery essential.
  • The client had no backup, meaning the loss of data would be catastrophic.

Since BIOS detection failures can be caused by firmware corruption, PCB failure, or mechanical damage, a forensic-level cleanroom recovery approach was required.

Our Expertise in Hitachi Hard Drive Recovery

With 25 years of experience, Brighton Data Recovery specializes in:
✔ Recovering data from Hitachi hard drives that are not detected by BIOS or OS
✔ Forensic-level firmware repairs and PCB board replacements
✔ Advanced data recovery using Acelabs PC3000, DeepSpar imaging, and chip-off techniques

Diagnosis & Recovery Process

Upon receiving the Hitachi hard drive, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic evaluation. The key findings included:

  • The drive was not spinning, suggesting either a PCB failure or motor seizure.
  • Firmware corruption prevented the BIOS from detecting the hard drive.
  • The drive’s read/write heads were degraded, making traditional recovery impossible.

To successfully recover the client’s lost files, we implemented a multi-step forensic Hitachi hard drive recovery strategy:

Step 1: Cleanroom Inspection & Drive Stabilization

  • Opened the Hitachi hard drive in an ISO-certified cleanroom to prevent contamination.
  • Replaced the damaged PCB board with a donor board from a matching model.
  • Restored firmware functionality using Acelabs PC3000.

Step 2: Drive Cloning & Bad Sector Management

  • Used DeepSpar Disk Imager to create a sector-by-sector forensic clone.
  • Applied adaptive read techniques to bypass unreadable sectors.

Step 3: File System Repair & Data Extraction

  • Repaired damaged NTFS file system structures to restore missing directories.
  • Extracted and validated all personal, business, and work files.

Step 4: Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer

  • Conducted final validation checks to confirm that all recovered files were intact.
  • Successfully transferred the restored data to a new high-performance external SSD.

The Result

We successfully recovered 98.9% of the client’s lost files, including:
✅ Personal photos, videos, and multimedia archives
✅ Business records, spreadsheets, and financial documents
✅ Software installations, emails, and client work files

The client was able to fully restore their essential data, ensuring no permanent loss despite the drive being undetectable.

Why Choose Brighton Data Recovery for Hitachi Hard Drive Recovery?

✅ 25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in Hitachi HDD failures and firmware corruption.
✅ Cleanroom Repairs – Safe handling of mechanically damaged hard drives.
✅ Forensic PCB & Firmware Repairs – Recovering data from non-detectable drives.
✅ Fast & Secure Process – Ensuring complete confidentiality and successful recovery.

If your Hitachi hard drive is not detected in BIOS or the OS, contact Brighton Data Recovery today for expert data recovery services!