HDD Data Recovery Service Plans by WD, Seagate, Toshiba | Compared With Stellar

Nobody expects to lose data, but it happens—a lot! And we always find ourselves rushed. Leading HDD manufacturers like Western Digital and Seagate recognize this and are trying to address users’ concerns.

Here’s how manufacturers typically handle data recovery support.

• They offer a 2–3-year coverage plan, where—for a small fee or for free—they help customers recover data by liaising with a third-party approved vendor, at no further cost to the customer, but with strict terms governing the extent of recovery effort.
• They provide paid data recovery services that follow the same operational model.
• They do not offer any service plan but instead inform users of preferred data recovery vendors in major countries, with no liability of their own.
• They limit the offer to specific geographies (e.g., WD offers it only in the USA) or specific devices (as in Seagate’s case, covered later in the article).

Alternatively, users can contact a professional data recovery service on their own. Often, even if you have bought a service plan from the manufacturer, this still turns out to be the more viable option. To understand why this is, we will focus on the data recovery service plans offered by the “Big 3” HDD manufacturers—WD, Seagate, and Toshiba.

WD Data Recovery Service Plans

Western Digital offers a formal data recovery service program in the USA. Full details can be found on their official page.

However, there is no such program available for customers in India. Instead, WD provides a list of recommended data recovery vendors. For Indian customers, the only recommendation is Ontrack–United Kingdom.

A quick check, however, shows that Ontrack has no presence in India as a service provider.

Users can instead rely on Stellar Data Recovery—the industry leader in data recovery services—to recover data from their WD hard disks. Key benefits of Stellar’s service include:

• ✅ Free consultation over the phone.
• 📦 Free collection and delivery of your hard drive in secure, standardized packaging.
• 🔁 No limitation on the number of recovery attempts (unlike WD’s USA program). This means the process won’t stop at a basic attempt using software—Stellar’s technicians pursue even the remotest chance of recovery.
• 🧪 Access to India’s largest Class 100 Clean Room, ensuring there is no risk of further contamination to your hard drive.
• 📊 Proven track record: data from over 5,000+ Western Digital® hard drives successfully recovered every year.
• 🧰 India’s largest inventory of spare components for all types of WD drive models.
• 💽 Recovery support for any WD internal, external, or portable HDD (both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch).
• 🔧 Support for all models, including both consumer-grade and enterprise-grade devices.
• 🌐 14 branches across major Indian cities, eliminating the complexities of overseas shipping and high shipping and customs duty costs.

What Happens to Your WD HDD Warranty When You Send It for Data Recovery to Stellar?

Using a professional, ISO-certified service like Stellar does not void your WD hard drive warranty, as long as the recovery process follows certain conditions outlined by Western Digital.

Stellar follows the terms and conditions of warranty laid down by WD. After the recovery process, Stellar also provides formal documentation on the company letterhead. And as long as you have this documentation from Stellar, your WD drive’s warranty stays valid.

WD only voids warranty in cases of misuse, tampering, or improper handling—none of which apply when recovery is done by professionals in Stellar’s ISO-certified labs.

Also, it’s important to note that WD does not take responsibility for the service quality of third-party vendors (Ontrack), so it’s always safer to go with a trusted provider like Stellar that has a proven record and transparent policies.

Seagate Data Recovery Service Plans

Seagate offers quotation marks for customers in India, but it’s available only for select Seagate drives.

Internal Drives	External Drives	Game Drives
IronWolf	Ultra Touch	FireCuda Gaming Dock
IronWolf Pro	One Touch	Game Drive for Xbox
SkyHawk	Expansion	FireCuda Gaming SSD
SkyHawk AI	Backup Plus
FireCuda	Photo Drive

When you purchase a Seagate product that includes the Rescue plan, here’s how it works.

• Evaluation: If your drive fails, you can send it to Seagate, where they will evaluate if the drive fits the eligibility criteria and whether data is recoverable using their existing technology and processes.
• Cost Estimate: Seagate will then provide you with a cost estimate and ask for your credit card (or other payment gateway) information.
• Recovery: Upon confirmation, they will proceed with a one-time-only recovery effort.
• Outcome 1: If recovery is successful, you may be charged the applicable service fees, material costs, new media costs, shipping, and return customs clearance costs, and your data will be returned to you on a new drive.
• Outcome 2: If recovery is unsuccessful, you will be charged the evaluation fees and the device will be returned or destroyed per your request.

In addition, Seagate lists a partner recommendation for the Asia Pacific region (excluding China): DataCube. However, this provider is based in Korea and not relevant or practical for Indian consumers.

Possible Issues You Can Encounter With Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Service Plan

1. One Attempt Only

Typically, when a data recovery service says it will make just one attempt, it means there’s a fixed diagnostic and recovery process. Any scenario that doesn’t fit into that process is considered unviable. In that case, you may either ask Seagate to destroy the device or return it back as is.

But even if you were to pay for shipping costs to get your drive back, the chances of getting your data recovered elsewhere will have significantly reduced.

2. Additional Costs (as per Seagate’s terms and conditions)

Depending on the complexity involved, your device may be sent to any one of Seagate’s recovery labs around the world at their discretion. If the recovery is successful, you will be solely responsible for import fees, taxes, and other associated costs.

There are numerous instances of users sharing unsatisfactory experiences with Seagate’s recovery services on online forums, with one Reddit user complaining that they were asked to run a self-test tool and Seagate’s File Recovery Suite on a physically damaged hard drive. This made further attempts at recovery by professionals even more complex.

3. Drive Won’t Be Returned

Once the data recovery attempt is made, your original device is destroyed. If data is recovered, it is returned to you on an encrypted replacement drive. Else, you get a replacement drive (if the damaged drive is still under warranty). This is likely to cause alarm for users who are concerned about sensitive data still remaining on the original device.

4. No Clarity on Your Legal Rights and Obligations

Depending on the region (U.S., EMEA, APAC), you’re bound to different governing laws and arbitration rules. In all likelihood, for a consumer in India using Seagate’s data recovery service, the jurisdiction is outside India. This can make it difficult, if not impossible, for an Indian customer to fully understand their rights and obligations.

To avoid these pitfalls, you can seek free advice from Stellar’s data recovery experts regarding data recovery from Seagate® hard drives. The table below compares Seagate’s Rescue Plan against Stellar’s Seagate HDD Recovery services.

Feature	Stellar Data Recovery	Seagate Rescue Plan
Free Consultation	✅	❌
Local Service in India	✅ (Pan-India Presence)	❌ (Drive May Be Shipped to a Foreign Country)
Device Returned	✅	❌ (Device Is Destroyed)
Number of Recovery Attempts	✅	⚠️ One Attempt Only
Data Recovery for All Seagate Models	✅	⚠️ Limited Devices Only
Hidden Costs	✅ No Hidden Costs	❌ Customs/Shipping Costs Likely
Class 100 Clean Room Facility	✅	❌ No Information
Turnaround Time	✅ 4–20 Days	⚠️ 30 Days
Encrypted Drive Return	✅ (If Needed)	✅
Original Warranty Maintained	✅	✅

What happens to your Seagate HDD warranty when you send it for data recovery to Stellar?

Seagate outlines specific conditions that can void your warranty, such as:

1. Mismatched top and bottom serial numbers
2. Burnt or missing pins
3. Damage near the power connector
4. Missing or broken components
5. Worn-out screw threads or missing screws

Many unprofessional service centers unknowingly violate these conditions during recovery. But Stellar follows strict handling protocols to make sure nothing is done that will void your warranty. After the recovery, Stellar provides an official letter on company letterhead verifying the work done—this can be used when making a claim against the product’s warranty.

Toshiba Data Recovery Service Plans

Toshiba does not offer any data recovery service plans—in India or in any other country. Instead, it recommends two data recovery service providers: DriveSavers and Ontrack.

However, neither of the two offers their services in India.

These vendors likely operate through partner brands—but the reputation and legitimacy of these partner labs is difficult to verify, as there is no transparency about who these partners are.

Stellar Data Recovery Service for Toshiba Hard Drives

Here is a quick overview of the benefits of using Stellar’s Toshiba Hard Disk Recovery Service.

• You can consult a technician over the phone for free.
• No need to ship your drive overseas—Stellar’s branch offices are located in 14 major cities.
• Your original device is safely returned, not destroyed.
• Stellar follows strict protocols to keep your HDD warranty intact.
• Recovery is possible from all Toshiba HDD models, whether consumer- or enterprise-grade.

What happens to your Toshiba HDD warranty when you send it for data recovery to Stellar?

Toshiba, like other hard drive manufacturers, has clear conditions under which your warranty may be voided. These include:

• Opening the drive or tampering with the original seal
• Physical damage due to mishandling
• Modification or alteration of the drive
• Improper installation or usage
• Electrical damage caused by unsupported accessories or environments

If you go to an unverified or amateur data recovery center, these risks are very real. Many labs don’t follow manufacturer-specific protocols, which can void the warranty.

At Stellar, we ensure your warranty stays valid.

FAQs

1. What is the average hard disk data recovery cost in India?

It is very difficult to estimate the cost of data recovery without first understanding the cause of data loss. Typically, the cost depends on factors like the severity of damage, type of hard drive, amount of data to be recovered, and the urgency of recovery.

2. Is it possible to recover data from a dead or crashed HDD?

Yes, data recovery is possible in such cases. The success depends on the extent of physical or logical damage. At Stellar Data Recovery Services, we have special Class 100 Clean Room facilities, which significantly increase the chances of successful recovery.

3. Where can I find affordable hard disk data recovery near me?

You might find local vendors and repair shops in cities like Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai, and even in Tier-2 cities. However, there is a huge risk that your data could become permanently unrecoverable, and your hard drive warranty could be voided. These labs often lack the infrastructure required for professional recovery. We strongly recommend you call Stellar Data Recovery, speak to a technician, and understand your options before making any decision.