Preservation comes before migration
A normal migration begins with an inventory of the source, its condition and the data that matters. Where possible, we create a controlled copy or image and work from that copy instead of repeatedly stressing the original media.
We then compare the transferred folders, file counts and agreed priority data. A migration is not complete merely because a progress bar reached 100%.
A failing source changes the process
If a disk disconnects, reports read errors or makes unusual noises, attempting to read every sector in ordinary file order can make the condition worse. We may instead image the most stable areas first, recover priority folders or recommend a recovery workflow before migration. We explain that change before proceeding.