Hard drive data suddenly erased! What happened? I need to recover the data!

Help: Why would a hard drive randomly erase data?

“I recently had an issue with one of the hard drives in my computer where it would delete data on its own. In the first 2-3 instances when I noticed this problem, I didn't create any backups, so some data is already irretrievably lost. I don't remember what got deleted, but the entire contents of my 'Pictures' and 'Videos' folders are gone! Should I continue using this hard drive or stop to prevent further data loss?”

请注意！When your hard drive suddenly starts erasing itself, it could be a sign of impending component or hardware failure. You need to act promptly to recover data from the hard drive. If the damage is irreparable, you will need to replace the hard drive with a new one.

How to recover data from a hard drive that has undergone self-erasure

Hard drives erase data in different ways. Technically, data that has been wiped is almost impossible to recover. When you wipe a hard drive, it means you're deleting everything on it, including any previously deleted files. Usually, only third-party data destruction software, or sometimes called a hard drive sanitizer, can do this. So, when we say that a hard drive wipes data randomly by itself, it's not really "erasing" but rather "quick formatting," "deleting," or "hiding" in most cases.

In most cases, as described below, you can easily recover your data using the Data Recovery Wizard tool.

• When you try to open a drive, Windows prompts you to format the disk before you can use it.
• Your encrypted drive wipes itself after too many incorrect password attempts.
• The window flashes when you open the drive, and the data disappears when you open it again.
• Your files get deleted every time you install or update your operating system.

With a data recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard, you can recover deleted data from a problematic hard drive or access data on a drive that will not currently open.

Step 1: Scan the Hard Disk Partition

Select the drive on your hard disk where you lost or deleted the files. Click “Scan” to have the data recovery tool scan for all lost data and files on the selected drive.

Step 2: Check the results

Once the scan is complete, you can use the “Filter” option or click on “Search for a file or folder” to look for the lost files from the hard drive.

Step 3: Recover Lost Hard Drive Data

Select the files you want to recover, and click “Restore” to save them to another location.

Fix #1: Scan and fix hard drive errors

Windows comes with a built-in disk checking tool that can be used to look for problems on your hard drive. It's a good idea to diagnose the hard drive and fix any errors it finds before doing anything else. To get started:

Step 1. For Windows 10, press Windows + E keys to launch File Explorer. Click on This PC, right-click on the disk where data was lost and select Properties.

Step 2: Go to the Tools tab and click the Check button in the Error Checking section. This option will look for file system errors that could be causing the hard drive to act up.

Step 3: If no errors are found, Windows will tell you that the drive does not need to be scanned. Otherwise, continue and click Scan drive. You can use the drive while the scan is in progress.

If any errors are found, you'll see a message that says “Errors were found on the disk. Restart your computer to repair file system.” You can choose to restart now or schedule the repairs for the next startup. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Fix #2: Reformatting is also an option

Note: Back up important data before proceeding with the quick format outlined here. A quick format will delete the data on your partitions but will not scan the disk for bad sectors.

When your hard drive starts wiping data without your permission, it could be a sign of a malware or virus infection. If the damage isn't severe, formatting the hard drive might be a solution.

Hard Drive Failure! How to Identify, Fix, and Prevent the Causes?

A hard drive is one of the most crucial components in a computer. What should you do when it fails? Learn about the signs, reasons, and solutions for hard drive failure here...

Step 1: Open File Explorer in Windows (by pressing Windows+E), right-click on the drive, and select “Format…”

Step 2: Choose an appropriate file system for your needs. For a hard drive partition to be used with Windows, select either NTFS or exFAT. Check the box for "Quick Format" and then click on Start.

Fix #3: Increase the available space on drive C:

Is your C drive almost full? Do you see a red stripe on the C partition? While it's less likely, a hard drive might erase data to ensure the operating system and programs can run smoothly due to insufficient or low space on the system drive. You can try transferring some free space from Drive D to Drive C, or from any other drive with sufficient free space.

The following guide shows you the steps to extend C drive with minimum effort under the help of a partition magic software. It's an effortless one-click method that won't take much time or skills.

Step 1: Click "Optimize" to extend the C drive.

When the C drive is low on space, hover your mouse over it and you'll see a “Low disk space” warning on the Partition Master tool. Click “Resize/Move” to extend it.

Click "OK" and the software will automatically extend the C drive.

Click “OK” and Partition Master will automatically allocate space from other drives to fix the “not enough disk space” problem on C drive.

Optional: You can also click "Customize" to manually expand C:.

Switch to "Manual Resize," select the "C:" drive, then drag the allocation point to the right to give it more space. Click "OK" to confirm.

Step 3. Verify that the C drive space issue is resolved

Click the “Run Tasks” button in the top right corner and then click “Apply” to start all pending operations.

Replace the failed hard drive to prevent further data loss

If none of the above fixes your issue and data continues to become corrupted, you'll have to accept that your hard drive is very sick and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

When it comes time to buy new hard drive storage, you might find it difficult to decide what kind of drive to get. Plus, where do you even start with swapping out a hard drive, or what tools do you need? These articles can help you through the entire process, from choosing the right storage drive to installing your new one.

Step 1: When purchasing the drive:

• eMMC vs SSD: What's the Difference?
• Hard Drive War: Fusion Drive vs SSD vs HDD

Step 2: When Installing Your New Drive:

• Which SSD should I choose, MBR or GPT?
• How to initialize a hard drive or SSD

Step 3: While the data is being transferred from the old drive to the new one:

• Clone a hard drive with simple steps
• Clone a failing hard drive to a new HDD/SSD
• Clone a drive with bad sectors