Can a Hard Drive with Bitcoins be Recovered After Years

If you've lost a hard drive containing Bitcoins, the good news is that it's not necessarily a lost cause. Data recovery is possible, even after years, as long as the hard drive is still physically intact.

The chances of recovery depend on the condition of the hard drive and the type of damage it has sustained. If the drive is physically damaged, such as from a drop or water exposure, it may be more difficult to recover the data.

In some cases, data recovery can be done in-house, using specialized software and equipment. However, if the drive is severely damaged, professional data recovery services may be necessary.

These services use advanced techniques and equipment to recover data, even from drives that have been physically damaged.

James Howells has been on a decade-long mission to relocate his lost hard drive, which is estimated to contain either $190 million or $409 million worth of bitcoins.

He's tried to get his local council's help, but they've been unhelpful and have denied him access to the landfill site where it might be.

Howells has studied aerial photographs of the landfill site and believes he's narrowed down the area to a 200-square-meter section.

He thinks this area is a disused section of the site, containing 100,000 tonnes of a total 1.4 million tonnes.

Howells is now planning to use an AI scanning system to search for the hard drive, which would take around 9-12 months to complete.

He's already got some of the best people in the excavation business involved and is hoping the council will give him the go-ahead to begin his search.

If the hard drive with bitcoins is ever found, the owner, Howells, plans to keep about 30% of the data, which is worth just over $54 million at current value.

He's not looking to get rich quick, though - the amount of money he'd get from his share would be enough to do some good in his community.

About a third of the money would go to the recovery team, and 30% to the investors who are waiting for their cut.

The rest would be used for local causes, including a generous gesture to the people of Newport - each of the 150,000 residents would receive £50 in bitcoin, worth about $61 at current value.

It's interesting to note that the amount of money per person has actually decreased over time, from $240 per person in January 2021.

The condition of the hard drive is a crucial factor in determining whether the data can be recovered. If the platter isn't cracked, there's an 80% to 90% chance the data will be retrievable.

Data-recovery professionals agree that a damaged platter significantly reduces the chances of recovering the data.

With a functional platter, the possibilities for recovery are promising, but a damaged one makes the task much more challenging.

The hard drive's condition is a crucial factor in determining its recoverability.

If the platter isn't cracked, there's an 80% to 90% chance the data will be retrievable.

Data-recovery professional Phil Bridge confirms that these figures are accurate.

A damaged platter significantly reduces the chances of recovering the data, with only a small chance of success.

Bridge's involvement in the project was sparked by the intriguing possibility of retrieving the data, which would be a fantastic success story.

If he manages to retrieve the data, he would keep roughly 30% of what's on there, worth just over $54 million at current value.

He would allocate about a third of the funds to the recovery team, 30% to the investors, and the rest for local causes.

He plans to give £50, or about $61 at current value, in bitcoin to each of Newport's 150,000 residents.

The amount he's willing to give to residents has fallen from the $240 each he initially told CNN in January 2021.

He decided to put more money into securing "professional companies" for the excavation to help convince the council, which led to the reduction in resident giveaways.

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If you lose access to your hard drive with bitcoins, you could lose all your digital assets permanently. This is because bitcoins stored on a hard drive are not backed up, and without the drive or a backup, they are irretrievable.

The value of your bitcoins can fluctuate rapidly, and if you sell them at a low point, you could end up losing money. This is because the value of bitcoins can drop by as much as 20% in a single day.

If you store your hard drive in a fire-prone area, you risk losing your bitcoins in a fire. This is because the heat from a fire can damage the drive's circuitry, rendering it unusable.

Hard drives can also be physically damaged if they are dropped or subjected to physical stress. This can cause the drive's mechanical components to fail, resulting in data loss.

If you store your hard drive in a humid environment, the drive's internal components can corrode, causing it to fail. This is because moisture can seep into the drive's casing and damage its internal components.

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If you don't take steps to secure your hard drive, it can be stolen or hacked, resulting in the loss of your bitcoins. This is because hackers can use malware to access your drive and steal your bitcoins, or thieves can physically steal the drive and sell it on the black market.