Data Recovery Rotterdam

Data recovery in Rotterdam: the device is sometimes beyond saving, your data usually is not

Your phone was dropped, fell in water or simply will not switch on, and years of photos, messages and files are still on it without a recent backup. Most repair shops look at a damaged board and tell you nothing more can be done. That is where we start. GSM Dokter specialises in logic board repair and microsoldering, done in our own workshop in Rotterdam. Around 8 out of 10 devices we take on for data recovery give their data back. Recovery starts at €149 and you only pay if it works.

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300,000+devices repaired

20 yearsin Rotterdam

80%of recoveries succeed

from €149no cure no pay

Is my data still recoverable?

That depends on what is broken, not on how bad the device looks. A device that fell from a height or spent time under water is often beyond economical repair, while the storage chip itself usually survives. Below is a rough guide; you get certainty after the diagnosis.

What happened	Chance for your data	The device itself
Dropped, will not switch on	Usually recoverable	Sometimes repairable
Water or soft drink damage	Usually recoverable	Often beyond repair
Short circuit, for example a bad charger	Usually recoverable	Often repairable
Stuck on the logo or restarting in a loop	Usually recoverable	Often repairable
Broken screen, device otherwise fine	Almost always	Ordinary screen repair
Loose hard drive or SSD no longer recognised	Usually recoverable	Via a cleanroom, takes longer
Device was erased or reset to factory settings	Almost never	Works normally
Burned or broken in two	Case by case, we will look at it	Beyond repair

What not to do now

Stop trying to switch it on. Every attempt sends current through damaged traces and can finish off a memory chip that still works.
Do not charge it. After liquid damage or a short circuit this is the fastest way to turn a repairable board into a dead one.
No rice, no hairdryer. Rice pulls nothing out of a sealed device and only adds dust; heat spreads the moisture further across the board.
Do not wait. Corrosion keeps working. The sooner we can clean the board, the better your chances.

Why an iPhone or MacBook is different from a PC

iPhone. The storage chip is encrypted and tied to the processor of that one device. Desolder it and put it in a reader and all you get is encrypted noise. The only route is getting the board working again.
MacBook with T2, M1, M2 or M3. The SSD is soldered to the logic board and encrypted with the Secure Enclave. There is nothing to take out; here too, repairing the board is the only way.

This is why anyone who says “we will just take the drive out” gets stuck with these devices. On Apple hardware, logic board repair and data recovery have become the same job, and that is exactly what we are specialists in.

How it works

Bring it in or send it. Tell us what happened; it saves us time. When you book, choose your device and then the option Data recovery.
Diagnosis. We open the device, inspect the board under a microscope and measure where it goes wrong. €29 for a phone or tablet, €49 for a MacBook, waived once you have the repair done with us.
Price and your approval. You hear what is wrong, what it costs and how big the chance is. Nothing happens until you agree.
Microsoldering. We repair traces, replace damaged components or transfer the memory chip. All in house in Rotterdam.
Your data back. You supply an external drive or bring a new device and we put your data straight onto it. Expect 5 to 7 working days.

No cure no pay: if no data comes back, you pay nothing for the recovery.

What it costs

Recovery starts at €149 including VAT. What it comes to in your case depends on what has to be repaired on the board: a short circuit is sorted faster than a board that spent months under water. You hear the amount after the diagnosis and before we begin, and you only pay if your data actually comes out.

Loose hard drives and SSDs too

External drive no longer recognised, clicking, or dropped? We handle those as well. Drives that have to be opened go to a dust-free cleanroom, which is not at our own location, so expect a longer turnaround than the 5 to 7 working days that applies to devices. You hear the price beforehand and here too you only pay if it works.

What happens to your data

Your photos, messages and files are yours. We copy them without opening them, and once you have your data and confirm, we delete our copy from our equipment. That is how we work under the GDPR.

What customers say

Frequently asked questions

My device cannot be repaired. Can you still get my data out?

Often yes, and that is exactly what we do. A device that fell from a height or lay in water is frequently beyond economical repair while the storage chip still works fine. We repair the board far enough to read the data, even when the device will never be a phone again.

What does it cost if it does not work?

Nothing for the recovery. No cure no pay. Only the diagnosis of €29 for a phone or tablet or €49 for a MacBook remains, and that is waived once we go ahead.

How likely is it to succeed?

Around 8 out of 10 recoveries we take on succeed. After the diagnosis we can be far more precise about your device, because then we know exactly what is damaged.

How long does it take?

Expect 5 to 7 working days. This is precision work under a microscope and it cannot be rushed. Loose hard drives and SSDs take longer because they are opened in a cleanroom off site.

How do I get my files back?

You supply an external drive or bring a new device, and we put your data straight onto it. Your data does not have to stay with us.

I erased my device by accident. Can you undo that?

On an iPhone or a modern MacBook, almost never. Erasing throws away the encryption key, after which the data is physically unreadable. On loose hard drives and older storage there is often still something possible.

Do you look at my files?

No. We copy your data without opening it and delete our copy once you have yours.

Can I send my device instead?

Yes, with a free shipping label. Pack it well and do not switch it on. After liquid damage, bringing it in person is better: the sooner the board is cleaned, the less corrosion there is.