Is there hope for my wife’s failed hard drive?

It’s great to hear they got some data, but once they started swapping out parts, that usually means they put in a solid effort. Unless you find a top-tier recovery expert, the chances of salvaging additional data might be slim. For now, I would recommend looking into cloud storage solutions — they’re an excellent way to prevent future heartbreak. Even tools like Google Photos automatically back up images as you take them, which is super handy!

It sounds like your wife has done quite a bit already to recover those memories. Unfortunately, once dust gets in there, it can really mess with the components inside the hard drive, making further recovery challenging. HDDs can last a long time, but they're not invincible. The best advice is to think about backups going forward—investing in another drive or cloud storage for the future is probably wiser than pouring more money into recovery efforts that might not yield results.

Getting professional recovery can be a costly endeavor, especially after what you've experienced. Some companies might charge thousands of dollars for recovery, especially if they need to replace parts or use specialized cleanrooms. It's a big decision — might be worth it if the data is extremely valuable to you, but be prepared for the possibility that they might not be able to recover much more.

Definitely try to get that data backed up next time! Losing files like photos is super frustrating. After all this, it might be hard to recover additional data, but looking for another reputable recovery service could be an option. Be wary, though; they can be pricey!