How to Perform HDD Unallocated Space Data Recovery Performing data recovery from unallocated space on a hard disk drive (HDD) can be a complex process, but it's possible with the right tools and steps. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you recover data from unallocated space: 1. **Choose a Reliable Data Recovery Software:** Select a reputable data recovery software such as tools Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or Disk Drill. Ensure the software is compatible with your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). 2. **Download and Install:** Download the chosen software from their official website and install it on your computer. 3. **Boot Your Computer:** Make sure your computer is running properly, and connect the HDD with the unallocated space to your system. If it's an external HDD, use a USB cable to connect it. 4. **Launch the Data Recovery Software:** Open the installed data recovery program. 5. **Scan the Unallocated Space:** In the software interface, look for an option to scan unallocated space. This may be labeled as "Advanced Scan," "Deep Scan," or "Unallocated Space Recovery." Start the scan process. 6. **Wait for the Scan to Complete:** Scanning can take a while, especially if the unallocated space is large. Be patient and let the software do its job. 7. **Preview Recoverable Files:** Once the scan is finished, the software will display a list of found files. You can preview them to ensure they're the ones you want to recover. 8. **Select and Recover Files:** Check the boxes next to the files you want to recover and choose a location to save them. It's crucial to save the recovered files on a different drive to avoid overwriting any remaining data in the unallocated space. 9. **Monitor the Recovery Process:** The software will start the recovery process, and you should see a progress bar indicating how far along it is. 10. **Verify Recovered Files:** After the recovery is complete, check the saved files to make sure they're intact and functional. Remember that data recovery isn't always guaranteed, especially if the unallocated space has been overwritten by new data. However, following these steps increases your chances of successfully retrieving lost files.

"Approximately 2 hours ago, I connected my 2TB Western Digital external hard drive to my computer, but the drive didn't appear on my system. Upon checking in Disk Management, the disk was shown as 'unallocated.'"

"I disconnected and reconnected the HDD to my computer using USB ports, but it still doesn't appear in File Explorer. What steps can I take to recover the unallocated space on the HDD and save my data?"

If you're experiencing a similar issue with your HDD, it's crucial to identify the root cause. Here are the primary reasons why an HDD may become unallocated:

    • Partitions are accidentally deleted or removed
    • File system damage, corruption, or errors
    • Hard drive failure with bad sectors or internal issues
    • Virus attack

If your hard drive was infected by an unknown virus, first clean it up using antivirus software.

To resolve the unallocated issue, you need to determine whether the data or the partition on the drive is of higher priority to you. To promptly recover valuable data, refer to Method 1 for guidance. To restore all missing partitions to their original state simultaneously, follow Method 2.

Method 1 - Recover Data and Recreate Partitions on Unallocated HDD

If you utilize an HDD as a data drive for storing numerous files and valuable data, when it becomes unallocated, recovering data from the unallocated disk becomes a top priority. Thankfully, HDD unallocated space recovery is feasible with the assistance of a powerful data recovery tool.

To obtain a time-efficient, reliable, and risk-free data recovery solution, we recommend trying the Data Recovery Wizard tool. With its powerful data recovery capabilities, it allows you to efficiently recover data from unallocated HDD space in just three simple steps.

# 1. Recover Data from Unallocated Hard Disk Drive

Follow this step-by-step guide to recover your photos, videos, audio files, and documents from HDD unallocated space. Typically, unallocated space is often identified as lost partitions in tools like Data Recovery Wizard.

Step 1. Scan the hard drive partition First, you need to scan the hard drive partition to detect any lost or deleted files. This is a crucial step as it allows the recovery software to analyze the sector and locate the missing data. 1. Launch the file recovery software of your choice (e.g., tools Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or Disk Drill). 2. In the software interface, select the hard drive partition that you want to recover files from. If unsure, choose the main drive where your operating system is installed. 3. Click on the "Scan" or "Start Scan" button to initiate the scanning process. The software will perform a quick scan initially, looking for recently deleted files. 4. If the quick scan doesn't find the desired files, you may need to perform a deep scan, which is more comprehensive but takes longer. This option is usually available in the software's settings or as an advanced scan mode. 5. Wait for the scanning process to complete. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours, depending on the size of the partition and the depth of the scan. Once the scan is finished, you can proceed to the next step to preview and recover the files.

Select the drive on your hard disk where you lost or deleted files. Click "Scan" and allow the data recovery software to scan for all lost data and files on the selected drive.

select a location and scan hard drive
Translation:
select a location and scan hard drive

Step 2. Check the results

Upon completion of the scan, you can utilize the "Filter" feature or click the "Search for files or folders" option to locate the lost files on the hard drive.

Find and preview all lost hard drive data

Step 3. Recover Lost Hard Drive Data

Select the desired files that you lost from the drive and click "Recover" to save them to another location.

Restore lost hard drive data.

Remember to save the recovered files to another storage device before making the HDD reusable.

# 2. ReCreate Partitions on an Unallocated Hard Disk Drive

To make the unallocated HDD usable again, follow these final steps to recreate partitions on the unallocated hard disk drive using Disk Management:

    1. Step 1: Open Disk Management, and right-click on the unallocated space on the disk or external storage device.
    2. Step 2: Select "New Simple Volume".

Create partition on unallocated HDD

  • Step 3: Specify partition size, choose the new file system - NTFS, assign a drive letter, etc. Click "Finish" to create the new partition.
  • Repeat this process as many times as needed to create multiple partitions on the HDD.

Finish creating partition.

After this, you can save the restored data back to the created partitions and continue using your hard disk drive to save data again.

Way 2 - Recover Partitions with Lost Files from Unallocated HDD Method 2 - Restore Partitions Containing Missing Files from Unallocated Hard Disk Drive

If you're seeking a one-stop solution to recover both lost partitions and their data simultaneously, consider using Partition Recovery tools. These utilities can thoroughly scan all the lost partitions with data on the unallocated hard drive, and even allow you to preview the contents of the lost partitions before recovery.

Download it and follow the steps below to recover partitions with lost files from the unallocated HDD now. Note that activation is required when you need to perform the final recovery operation with this software.

Step 1. Run the Partition Recovery tool on your PC.

Select the disk or device where you lost partition(s), and click "Scan" to continue.

Select disk to scan lost partition

Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to complete. Translation: Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to finish.

让程序扫描所选磁盘并找到丢失的分区。

Scan lost partition

Step 3. Preview and restore the lost partition(s).

Double-click on the partition that is labeled as "Lost" with "Good" recoverability.

Preview lost partition

Preview the contents of the lost partition. Click "OK" and then "Proceed" to start restoring the lost partition.

Select the found partition to restore

Step 4. Click "Recover Now" to complete the partition recovery process.

Note: If the program warns you of a conflict, first back up the partition containing important data to an external hard drive. Then proceed with the final step to restore your lost partition.

Finish partition recovery

In summary, when your hard drive or external storage devices suddenly become unallocated, cease using the device and refer to the methods provided on this page for assistance.

  • For urgent data recovery, Data Recovery Wizard is the best option.
  • To restore a lost partition to its original state (including the size of both used and free space, file system, and partition style), Partition Recovery is an ideal tool for you.

Moreover, having a backup of valuable data on your hard drive can be a lifesaver in case of disasters. The Todo Backup Free tool, equipped with File Backup and Disk Partition Backup features, can help you back up all your files at once with just a few simple steps.