With over 25 years of experience, Exeter Data Recovery is the leading name in professional Sony data recovery across Devon and the UK. We specialise in retrieving data from Sony laptops and notebooks, no matter the issue – from accidental deletions to physical damage or corrupted file systems. Our engineers are highly trained in advanced data recovery techniques for Sony VAIO and other legacy Sony laptop models.
If your Sony laptop has failed, won’t boot, suffered liquid damage or isn’t recognising your data – contact Exeter Data Recovery for a free diagnostics today.
Top 20 Best-Selling Sony Laptop and Notebook Models We Support
We provide expert data recovery for the most popular Sony models, including:
- Sony VAIO S Series
- Sony VAIO Z Series
- Sony VAIO E Series
- Sony VAIO F Series
- Sony VAIO Duo 13
- Sony VAIO Duo 11
- Sony VAIO Pro 13
- Sony VAIO Pro 11
- Sony VAIO T Series
- Sony VAIO C Series
- Sony VAIO P Series
- Sony VAIO Y Series
- Sony VAIO L Series
- Sony VAIO NW Series
- Sony VAIO CW Series
- Sony VAIO SR Series
- Sony VAIO AR Series
- Sony VAIO UX Micro PC
- Sony VAIO VPC Series
- Sony VAIO G Series
Whether your device is current or discontinued, our lab is fully equipped to recover data from any Sony laptop model.
Common Faults and Technical Recovery Procedures
We specialise in recovering data from all types of Sony laptop and notebook storage issues, both logical and physical. Below are the top 25 faults we recover data from, with a technical explanation of each issue and the standard recovery process:
1. Accidental Deletion of Files
Issue: Files removed but not overwritten.
Recovery: Use forensic recovery tools to scan MFT (Master File Table) or equivalent NTFS/FAT metadata for deleted entries. Rebuild directory structure and extract files.
2. Accidental Formatting
Issue: Drive reformatted, original data structure overwritten.
Recovery: Deep scan for file signatures, reconstruct file system via heuristic and metadata analysis.
3. File System Corruption
Issue: NTFS, exFAT or EXT file system corruption due to improper shutdown or software errors.
Recovery: Use file system repair utilities (R-Studio, UFS Explorer) to rebuild damaged structures; mount reconstructed volume in virtual environment.
4. Physical Damage
Issue: Cracked casing, broken connectors, or dropped laptop resulting in mechanical failure.
Recovery: Move HDD to identical donor unit. If internal damage, use cleanroom for platter removal or head stack replacement.
5. Bad Sectors on the Hard Drive
Issue: Physical damage to platter surface causes unreadable sectors.
Recovery: Employ hardware imager (e.g., Deepspar Disk Imager) to skip, retry, or read slow sectors at low level. Reconstruct data from usable image.
6. Drive Not Recognised by BIOS
Issue: PCB failure or firmware corruption.
Recovery: Replace PCB from identical model and transfer ROM chip. Use firmware tools to reinitialise drive or access SA (Service Area).
7. Read/Write Errors
Issue: Firmware instability, controller failure, or sector degradation.
Recovery: Low-level imaging using error-handling read protocols. Attempt to stabilise drive firmware with vendor-specific utilities.
8. Virus or Malware Infection
Issue: Files encrypted, deleted or corrupted by malicious code.
Recovery: Recover original files from shadow copies, unallocated space, or unaffected partitions. In ransomware cases, attempt decryption if keys available.
9. File Transfer Interruptions
Issue: Power cut or cable disconnection during file movement.
Recovery: Identify orphaned or partially written files, check file integrity, recover from temp storage or previous snapshots.
10. Controller Failure
Issue: SSD or HDD controller chip fails, rendering device inaccessible.
Recovery: Swap controller board; if encrypted, firmware recovery tools used to pair controller to NAND or platters.
11. Water or Liquid Damage
Issue: Short circuits, corrosion on PCB.
Recovery: Clean components using ultrasonic cleaning process. Use donor PCB if necessary; stabilise and image.
12. Overheating Damage
Issue: High internal temperature warps mechanical components or damages solder joints.
Recovery: Repair damaged connections, reball ICs if required, clone data using thermal stabilisation techniques.
13. Wear and Tear on SSDs
Issue: Excessive program/erase cycles degrade NAND flash.
Recovery: Read-only imaging via custom controller interface. Use ECC reconstruction to correct worn blocks.
14. Unsupported File System Detected
Issue: Drive used on incompatible OS or device.
Recovery: Mount volume in a compatible virtual machine; manual reconstruction of file system if necessary.
15. Electrical Damage
Issue: Power surge damages PCB or internal circuitry.
Recovery: PCB replacement, voltage regulation chip swap, controller reinitialisation.
16. Partition Table Corruption
Issue: Partition information overwritten or missing.
Recovery: Use partition recovery utilities to locate and reconstruct GPT or MBR tables.
17. Formatting in an Unsupported Device
Issue: File system altered by cameras or media players.
Recovery: Restore original structure using signature-based recovery, reverse engineer overwritten FAT/NTFS data.
18. Overwritten Data
Issue: New data written over deleted or formatted sectors.
Recovery: Partial recovery may be possible from file fragments, slack space, or residual metadata.
19. Bent or Broken SATA/PATA Pins
Issue: Improper connection damages port interface.
Recovery: Resolder connector or transplant PCB; image via stable link.
20. Firmware Corruption
Issue: Internal firmware modules fail to initialise.
Recovery: Load known-good firmware modules using vendor-specific tools like PC-3000; access SA to recover data.
21. Mechanical Failure (Clicking Sound)
Issue: Faulty read/write heads or stuck spindle.
Recovery: Replace head stack in cleanroom, recalibrate servo alignment, image disk.
22. Heads Stuck to Platter
Issue: Stiction due to sudden shutdown or overheating.
Recovery: Use platter lifting tools in cleanroom to free heads, inspect for scratches, then image.
23. Seized Spindle Motor
Issue: Motor bearing failure prevents platter rotation.
Recovery: Platter swap into donor unit using alignment tools.
24. Encrypted Drives (BitLocker, Proprietary Encryption)
Issue: Data protected by hardware or software encryption.
Recovery: Requires recovery key or TPM dump; decrypt recovered image using secure tools.
25. Manufacturing Defects or Batch Failures
Issue: Drives from a faulty batch with early degradation.
Recovery: Use workarounds documented for known model faults. Replace firmware modules or defective components.
Why Choose Exeter Data Recovery for Sony Laptops?
- 25+ years of experience in Sony laptop data recovery
- Advanced cleanroom facility for physical repairs
- SSD and HDD specialists, including chip-off and firmware-level recovery
- Recovery for all Sony file systems and operating systems
- Secure handling of sensitive data (GDPR compliant)
- Free diagnostics and no-obligation recovery assessments
- UK-based engineers – no outsourcing
Supported Storage Media in Sony Laptops
We recover data from:
- 2.5″ SATA HDDs
- SATA, M.2, and PCIe SSDs
- Hybrid drives (SSHD)
- eMMC storage in ultrabooks
- External backups or recovery partitions
Contact Exeter Data Recovery Today
Whether your Sony laptop has suffered logical corruption or physical failure, our engineers are standing by to help. We offer fast turnaround, free diagnostics, and the highest success rates in the UK.
📍 Exeter-Based, Serving Nationwide
📞 Call: 0800 689 0668
🕓 Hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–5.30pm