Can I drop off a hard drive in Pittsburgh?

Yes. The Attic Lab is based in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh. Contact first to coordinate a drop-off time. Drop-off is free and avoids shipping your irreplaceable data.

How long does data recovery take in Pittsburgh?

Logical data recovery (deleted files, formatted drives) typically takes 2 to 5 business days. Physical failures can take 1 to 2 weeks. VHS tape digitization runs in real time: a 2-hour tape takes 2 hours to capture. A specific timeline is included with every quote.

How much does data recovery cost in Pittsburgh?

Hard drive and SSD recovery runs $150 to $500 depending on the type of failure. Memory card recovery is $100 flat for a deleted or formatted card that still reads, and $150 to $250 for complex cases. VHS digitization is $25 to $45 per tape. An exact flat quote is given after free evaluation. No hourly rates, no surprise charges.

What if I'm not sure what's wrong with my drive?

Fill out the form and describe what happened. The evaluation is for diagnosing exactly that. The situation will be explained in plain terms before any work starts.

Bloomfield · Pittsburgh, PA

Local data recovery
and VHS digitization.

I'm Josh. I do data recovery and tape digitization out of Bloomfield, right in Pittsburgh. Drop off in person or ship it. The evaluation is free, and I'll show you what's recoverable before you pay anything.

Serving Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Oakland, Lawrenceville, the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Monroeville, Cranberry, and the greater Pittsburgh area. Not nearby? Shipping works too.

No data, no charge Firm quote before work starts Local drop-off by appointment Response within 24 hours

The evaluation is free. I'll show you what's recoverable before you pay anything. If what you're looking for isn't there, you owe nothing.

Inside the lab

The equipment doing the work.

This is the actual Pittsburgh workspace: the drive-imaging bench, electronics station, and maintained tape decks used for recovery and capture work.

Hard drives connected for sector-by-sector imaging at The Attic Lab in Pittsburgh — Drive imaging bench

Electronics workbench with soldering and inspection tools used for drive diagnostics — Electronics & diagnostics

Maintained four-head VHS decks used for tape digitization at The Attic Lab — Tape capture decks

Want the technical details? See how I work and where I refer out.

What I handle

Data Recovery

Hard drives, SSDs, flash drives

✓ Accidentally deleted files or folders
✓ Formatted or wiped drive
✓ Drive not showing up or not detected
✓ Clicking, grinding, or unusual sounds
✓ Corrupted file system or partition
✓ External drive stopped working
✓ WD My Passport controller failure
✓ Laptop drive after drop or impact
✓ USB flash drives and SD cards

Drives $150 to $500 · memory cards from $100 flat

Exact quote after free evaluation. The evaluation is free. I'll show you what's recoverable before you pay anything. If what you're looking for isn't there, you owe nothing.

VHS & Tape Digitization

Convert tapes to digital files

✓ VHS cassettes ($25 to $40 per tape)
✓ VHS-C camcorder tapes ($25 to $40)
✓ Hi-8 and 8mm camcorder tapes ($30 to $45)
✓ Output as MP4 files that play on anything
✓ Delivered on USB drive or download link
✓ Original tapes returned with order
✓ Captured on maintained 4-head Hi-Fi decks
✓ Each tape inspected before capture

Bundle pricing for 5 or more tapes

Payment after delivery. You approve the files first.

How it works

1.

Fill out the form below

Tell me what you have and what happened. I'll respond within 24 hours with a preliminary read on the situation.
2.

Drop off or ship

Pittsburgh locals can drop off in person. If you're shipping, you don't need to remove the drive — shipping the whole laptop is fine. See the shipping guide at theatticlab.net/shipping for how to package your device.
3.

Evaluation and firm quote

I evaluate the drive or tapes and give you a flat number. No hourly rates, no surprise charges. You approve it before any recovery work begins.
4.

Recovery, then payment

For data recovery: you get a report of what's recoverable and a firm quote, and you pay on delivery. For tapes: you approve the files before paying.

Get a free quote

Fill this out and I'll get back to you within 24 hours with a preliminary assessment and next steps. No commitment required.

Your name

Email address

Phone number

Optional. Useful for local drop-off coordination.

What service do you need?

Device type

For data recovery. Skip if VHS only.

What happened?

Include what happened and what you need back, but don't include passwords, recovery keys, or financial account numbers.

How are you sending the device?

You don't need to remove the drive from your laptop — shipping the whole device is fine.

Need packaging help? See the shipping guide.

How urgent is this?

I respond within 24 hours. No spam, no mailing lists, no commitment required.
By submitting, you acknowledge the Privacy Policy. Sending this form does not start paid work; the Service Terms apply if you later approve a quote.

Prefer to reach out directly? josh@theatticlab.net or (412) 228-0236 both work.

Quick answers

What if you can't get my data back?: The evaluation is free. I'll show you what's recoverable before you pay anything. If what you're looking for isn't there, you owe nothing.
Can I drop it off in person?: Yes. I'm based in Bloomfield. Contact me first so we can coordinate a time. Drop-off is free, and you don't have to deal with shipping.
How long does it take?: Logical data recovery (deleted files, formatted drives) typically takes 2 to 5 business days. Physical failures can take 1 to 2 weeks. VHS tape digitization runs real-time: a 2-hour tape takes 2 hours to capture. I'll give you a timeline with the quote.
What if I'm not sure what's wrong?: Fill out the form and describe what happened. That's what the evaluation is for. I'll figure out what's going on and explain it in plain terms before any work starts.
How much does it cost?: Hard drive and SSD recovery runs $150 to $500 depending on the type of failure. Memory card recovery is $100 flat for a deleted or formatted card that still reads, and $150 to $250 for complex cases. VHS digitization is $25 to $45 per tape. Your exact quote depends on the specific case. I give you a firm, flat number before I start. No hourly rates.