Server Data Recovery in London
Failed RAID array, crashed server or corrupted virtual machine? We get business data back fast.
Business-critical server recovery
When a server goes down, the whole business can stop. Data Doctor recovers data from failed file servers, database servers, email servers and virtual hosts for organisations across London and the UK. Our engineers work on server disks and RAID sets in-house at our London SE1 lab, with a free initial consultation, clear published prices and priority options when downtime is costing you money.
Server failures we recover
- Multiple disk failures in RAID 5, RAID 6 and RAID 10 arrays.
- Failed rebuilds after a disk was replaced, and arrays that went offline or foreign.
- RAID controller failure and lost configuration.
- Corrupted volumes – NTFS, ReFS, ext4, XFS and VMFS.
- Virtual machine loss – deleted or corrupted VMware ESXi, Hyper-V and Xen virtual disks. See virtualisation recovery.
- Database and email corruption – SQL Server and Exchange.
- Ransomware attacks – see ransomware recovery.
Secure and Confidential Server Data Recovery
Minimising downtime for your business
We understand that every hour a server is down costs money. That’s why server jobs can be booked on our emergency service, with engineers working continuously until your data is back. We can prioritise the files you need first – for example, a finance database or a live project folder – so staff can get back to work while the rest of the recovery continues.
We work with in-house IT teams and managed service providers, and we’re happy to talk technical details with your IT support before any disks are removed.
Brands and systems
We recover data from HP ProLiant, Dell PowerEdge, IBM/Lenovo, Fujitsu and custom-built servers, plus NAS systems from Synology, QNAP and Drobo. Disks can be SATA, SAS, SCSI or SSD.
How we recover a failed server
- Free initial consultation, then diagnosis – we check every disk and work out the array parameters.
- Disk imaging – each member disk is cloned; faulty disks are repaired first, in our clean room if needed.
- Virtual rebuild – the array is reconstructed from the images, so your original disks are never written to.
- Data extraction and verification – we test key databases, VMs and shares before returning the data.
Protecting your servers in future
Once your data is safe, we can advise on reducing the risk of it happening again: monitoring disk health, replacing ageing disks before they fail, keeping an offline or cloud backup, and testing restores regularly. Read our guides on disaster recovery methods and protecting business data.
If your server has failed
- Don’t force a rebuild or re-initialise the array – this is the most common cause of permanent data loss.
- Label each disk with its slot number before removing it.
- Don’t run CHKDSK or file system repairs on a degraded volume.
- Call us on 020 7394 2529 – we can advise before you touch anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recover data from a RAID 5 with two failed disks?
In many cases, yes. We repair and image the failed disks, then rebuild the array virtually. See RAID 5 data recovery.
Do we need to send the whole server?
Usually only the disks are needed, labelled with their slot order. For some hardware-encrypted or unusual controllers we may also ask for the controller card.
Is there an emergency service for servers?
Yes. Our emergency service puts your server at the front of the queue, with engineers working until it is recovered.
Can you recover a virtual machine from a failed server?
Yes. We rebuild the datastore and extract the VMware, Hyper-V or Xen virtual disks, then recover files from inside them if needed.
What information should I give you?
The server make and model, RAID level, number of disks, what happened before the failure and anything that has been tried since. Screenshots of controller errors are very helpful.