A+ Perfect Computers

editor's profile:- A+ Perfect Computers, founded in 2007 and based in Fairfield, Connecticut, specializes in data recovery from failed flash storage devices such as USB sticks, CF cards - and flash SSDs.

see also:- A+ Perfect Computers - editor mentions on StorageSearch.com and APC's own SSD recovery page (which lists brands which they say they know are recoverable).

• editor's comments:- December 2010 - I'm always suspicious when a company makes sweeping claims on its website about its ability to recover data from flash SSDs. And the same was true when I was contacted by APC's President - Jeremy Brock - in early October 2010 who said he disagreed with some of the things I had written about this subject.
  
  In particular - I suggested to readers that a useful filtering mechanism for readers was to choose only DR companies which had been established for 5 years - or who were recommended by the manufacturer of their SSD.
  
  During the next few months we exchanged over 30 lengthy detailed emails about the internals of SSDs and their recoverability (or lack thereof).
  
  The impression I got from these dialogs is that even a specialist flash recovery company like A+ Perfect Computers has a partial view of the wide range of different architectures in the flash SSD market and the technology differences between different SSD controllers.
  
  That's because the SSD data recovery market at the close of 2010 is still relatively small. Many DR companies I've spoken to - including APC have been handling an average of single digits of true SSD data recoveries each month. SSDs present much complex problems to DR companies than traditional backup or data transfer flash storage devices which have simpler designs due to the fact they aren't designed to operate reliably as primary storage.
  
  Despite that - there are techniques which SSD data recovery specialists like APC can use to recover some types of SSDs in some circumstances. And as they encounter more devices they are well placed to be ahead of the curve in learning what new techniques they need to develop.
  
  I've been talking to data recovery companies about SSD data recovery since early 2007 - and as my email exchange with APC's President - Jeremy Brock grew to massive proportions I suggested he write an article about this subject from his perspective. Here's the link - Introduction to SSD Data Recovery Concepts and Technologies.
  
  Meanwhile my guidance to readers (confirmed by comments from some of the leading SSD controller companies) remains the same. Many (or even most) flash SSD designs in the market are not recoverable. But if you are in the unfortunate position of needing SSD recovery - then choosing a specialist in SSD recovery is better than choosing a general DR company which may not have developed SSD techniques yet due to the relatively small size of business this represents compared to fixing HDDs.
  
  Although A+ Perfect Computers - has in my view - still got a lot to learn about SSDs - the company gave me the impression that they already have above industry average experience in flash SSD data recovery and are working to develop and expand this competency. As the SSD market bubble expands you're going to see hundreds of companies coming into the SSD recovery market. Today - choosing a company to fix your SSD data is nearly as hard as choosing an SSD.