How to Recover Files from a Damaged External Hard Drive

"To recover data from a formatted or damaged disk, follow these steps:"

1. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard and select the damaged disk. 2. Scan the damaged disk. 3. Review the search results. 4. Preview files by double-clicking on them. 5. Check the files and folders you wish to recover. 6. Click "Recover" and select a different location to save the recovered data. More options...

External hard drives are widely utilized in our daily lives due to their convenience in storing and swiftly transferring important files. While we appreciate the ease they provide, they also present challenges. Data loss on an external hard drive is an unavoidable issue. You might accidentally delete files or format the external hard drive. Additionally, the drive itself can unexpectedly become corrupted.

Part 1. Reliable External Hard Drive Recovery Software

It's not uncommon for an external hard drive to become corrupted, and anyone can encounter this issue. Using professional software for corrupted external hard drive recovery is your best option. Numerous external drive recovery programs claim to restore data from external hard drives.

Frankly speaking, only a handful of them can deliver the desired outcomes. If you're seeking a safe and reliable external hard drive recovery software, then consider using the tool called Data Recovery Wizard. As one of the most professional data recovery programs, it boasts over 10 million users globally. It not only recovers data from external hard disks but also from internal hard drives, SD cards, USB flash drives, and more. It possesses numerous exceptional features:

• Recover deleted, formatted, and inaccessible data in various data loss scenarios.
• Effectively, safely, and completely restore photos, audio, music, and emails from any storage device.
• Recover data from the recycle bin, hard drive, memory card, flash drive, digital camera, and camcorder.

Why is it considered the best data recovery software? Can you provide evidence? Indeed, we have evaluated five commonly used data recovery software tools. We conducted tests on their scanning time and speed when searching for deleted or lost files within the same partition (127GB free out of 141GB). The scanning speed and the capacity to locate more files are crucial factors for a data recovery tool. Based on our tests, the data recovery software emerged as the top performer. Please refer to the table below for detailed results:

Part 2. How to Recover Data from a Corrupted Hard Drive

When your external hard drive becomes corrupted or damaged, the primary concern is to retrieve files before they're lost permanently. This is crucial to mitigate the situation before the hard drive completely fails. However, it's essential to ensure that your external hard drive is displayed as "Online" in Disk Management.

Then, you can try the best hard disk recovery software to restore all lost data from the external hard drive with the video.

You can also follow the guidelines below to recover lost files from a corrupted external hard drive:

Step 1. Use a proper USB cable to connect your external hard drive to the computer. Run tools Data Recovery Wizard and you'll see your external disk under External drives. This software supports all popular external hard drive brands, including WD, Seagate, Toshiba, LaCie, SanDisk, Samsung, etc.

Select the external hard drive and then click the "Scan" button.

Step 2. As the scan process begins, the software will gradually find and display more lost and deleted data in the scan results. The recovered data will be neatly organized. You can swiftly locate the desired files or folders by selecting the file type or searching for the exact file name in the search box.

Step 3. You can preview the files found by Data Recovery Wizard's scanning algorithms. Then, select the files and click "Recover". To prevent data overwrite, it's recommended to save the recovered data to a different drive than the original Seagate drive.

Part 3: How to Repair a Corrupted External Hard Drive

A corrupted external hard drive is a common issue encountered by numerous individuals on a daily basis. If you are unable to access your external hard drive, you should follow the solutions below to inspect and rectify the problem:

1. Check for power supply and connection issues. Your device might have a separate power adapter, so ensuring its proper functioning is crucial. 2. Try a different USB cable. There could be an issue with the old one that's preventing connectivity. 3. Scan your external hard drive with antivirus software if it contains viruses. This can help remove any malicious files causing problems. 4. Run the System File Checker (SFC). Open the "Command Prompt" and type "sfc /scannow." This tool repairs damaged or missing Windows system files that might lead to drive corruption.

Run CHKDSK to Fix the File System Errors (Recommended) Translate this into English: Run the CHKDSK utility to fix file system errors (recommended)

If the three straightforward methods don't assist, I recommend running the CHKDSK utility to rectify file system errors on the external device. The CHKDSK command prompt inspects the file system and file system metadata of a volume for both logical and physical issues.

Step 1. In the Search Bar, type "cmd". Right-click on the Command Prompt search result and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 2. Enter the command: chkdsk E: /f /r /x

Here you should replace E with your drive letter.

This image depicts the process of "Repairing a Corrupted External Hard Drive."

If the command line isn't your preferred option, you can use this command-line alternative tool - CleanGenius. Utilize this one-click solution to fix the file system error on your hard drive.

Step 1. Download CleanGenius for free on your computer.

Step 2. Launch the software. Click "Optimization" on the left panel, and then select "File Showing."

Step 3. Go to "Choose drive" and select the drive with a file system error. Check the "Check and fix file system error" option and click "Execute".

Step 4. Wait for CleanGenius to complete the repair process. After that, click on "here" to view the results.

Part 4. How to Prevent External Hard Drive Corruption/Failure

The most effective way to prevent data loss is to minimize the risk of external hard drive failure by taking preventive steps. Here are some tips that may contribute to drive corruption and should be avoided to safeguard your storage devices from corruption: 1. Regularly backup your data: Ensure that you have regular backups of important files on another storage device or using cloud-based services. 2. Handle with care: External hard drives are sensitive; avoid exposing them to physical shocks, drops, or extreme temperatures. 3. Proper storage: Keep your external hard drive in a clean, dry, and cool place when not in use to prevent dust and humidity damage. 4. Use surge protectors: Plug your hard drive into a surge protector or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect it from power fluctuations and sudden shutdowns. 5. Update firmware: Stay up-to-date with the latest firmware updates for your hard drive to ensure optimal performance and fix potential issues. 6. Safely remove the drive: When using the drive with a computer, always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option or its equivalent in your operating system before physically disconnecting it. 7. Avoid overloading: Do not store more data on the hard drive than its recommended capacity, as this can cause performance issues and increase the risk of failure. 8. Check for malware: Regularly scan your hard drive for viruses and malware, which can cause corruption. 9. Use reliable software: Only use reputable software for file transfers, disk management, and other operations to minimize the risk of corruption. 10. Turn off your computer properly: Always shut down your computer properly before disconnecting the external hard drive to prevent any interrupted write processes. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of external hard drive failure and protect your valuable data.

• Handle the drive with extreme care. Always ensure that the drive is securely stored when turned on. Keep the external hard drive away from direct sunlight.
• Always use the Eject Device option. Never disconnect an external hard drive while files are being accessed, as this can corrupt its data.
• Keep away from magnets. Magnets can erase all data on an external hard disk, so maintain a safe distance.
• Use the USB plug correctly. When removing a USB cable, gently pull from the connector end. Avoid forcefully pulling the cable out, as it may damage the connector.
• Backup, backup, and backup again. Create a copy of your external hard drive files and upload them to a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive. Alternatively, copy them to another drive or set up a backup schedule to automatically back up files. Having a backup beforehand is always beneficial.

Conclusion

It's quite common to encounter a damaged or corrupted external hard drive. If your computer still detects the external hard drive, even if it appears that all files are missing, you're fortunate. There's a possibility of retrieving your files using professional software like Data Recovery Wizard. Regardless of the data loss situation you face, this tool is always ready to assist you.