How to Repair a Damaged External Hard Drive Without Data Loss

Have you ever wondered what causes your external hard drives to fail and become inaccessible? It could be due to a missing or outdated driver for the external hard disk, a corrupted file system, or even physical damage, which can render the disk inaccessible and, worse still, result in data loss. The issue of data loss is more severe than we might realize.

However, don't lose heart; there are effective strategies you can employ to prevent total data loss and mend your external drive. This article will outline the steps to repair a damaged external hard drive and recover data from it using several methods.

When your external hard drive is damaged, there will likely be some noticeable symptoms, such as making a clicking sound, overheating, the external hard drive not responding, not functioning properly, not appearing, and an accompanying risk of data loss.

How to Recover Data from Corrupted External Hard Drives

The most effective method to recover files from a corrupted external hard drive is by using data recovery software or services.

方法1: 使用外部硬盘恢复软件恢复数据

As long as your external hard drive is detectable by Windows Disk Management, whether it's RAW, inaccessible, or displaying other unusual characters, powerful hard drive recovery software can assist you in retrieving your data with just a few clicks.

Here, we recommend trying out Data Recovery Wizard, a tool that enables you to recover lost data from various storage devices on Windows 11/10/8/7. Simply download and install it, and then proceed with the steps below to retrieve valuable data from your connected external hard drive:

逐步指南：使用Data Recovery Wizard工具从损坏的外部硬盘恢复文件：

1. Step 1. Download and install the tool, Data Recovery Wizard.
2. Step 2. Connect your corrupted external hard drive to your PC or laptop.
3. Step 3. Select your drive from the External drives list and click the "Scan" button.
4. Step 4. This software will initiate a quick and deep scan consecutively.
5. Step 5. Preview the recovered files and proceed to recover them to complete the corrupted external hard drive recovery process.

Video tutorial on how to repair a corrupted external hard drive without losing data:

 

Have you restored data from the damaged external hard drive? Don't forget to help others by sharing this tool on your social media.

Method 2: Utilize Data Recovery Services

Sometimes data storage devices, such as HDDs, memory cards, or USB sticks, become corrupted, making it impossible to access personal data. Our tool offers an efficient solution - data recovery services - to assist you in such situations. You can have your external hard drives repaired by professionals while ensuring the integrity of your data.

Sure, please provide the text that needs to be translated.

Tools Data Recovery Services

Click here to contact our experts for a free evaluation

Consult with Tools data recovery specialists for personalized manual recovery assistance. After a FREE diagnosis, we can provide the following services:

• Repair damaged RAID configurations, unbootable Windows operating system, and corrupted virtual disk files
• Recover lost partitions and re-partitioned drives
• Undo formatting of hard drives and fix RAW drives (including BitLocker encrypted drives)
• Resolve disks that have become protected as GPT partitions
  

How to Repair Corrupted External Hard Drives Without Formatting

How to fix a corrupted external hard drive without data loss? The following methods can be tried to repair a damaged file system or faulty driver on an external disk. There's no need for formatting, so you don't have to worry about losing your data.

Method 1: Repair Corrupted External Hard Drives with Windows Tools

There are Windows tools available that are supposed to get a problematic hard drive back to normal. Each tool is worth a try.

Step 1. Open "This PC," right-click the drive with bad sectors, and select "Properties."

Step 2. Go to the "Tools" tab.

Step 3. Click "Check" to scan and run disk repair.

Method 2: Fix a Corrupted External Hard Drive Using CMD

Alternatively, you can use administrative privileges to permanently remove bad sectors using the chkdsk command. The Command Prompt functions in the same way as the Windows tool.

请注意，CHKDSK 命令可能会在磁盘修复过程中导致数据丢失。因此，请确保先使用 Data Recovery Wizard 工具 恢复数据。

Step 1. Press the Windows + R keys together, type cmd, and press Enter.

Step 2. Type the command: chkdsk E: /f /r /x and press Enter. (Replace E with the letter of your actual drive)

Method 3: Update Disk Driver in Device Manager

This is a mandatory option to compel an external hard drive to appear. Occasionally, the driver issue is the primary culprit behind a hard drive problem, hence you can attempt to resolve it by reinstalling the driver.

Step 1. Right-click "This PC" and select "Properties" > "Device Manager".

Step 2. Click on "Disk drives," right-click on the hard drive that isn't showing up in Windows, and select "Uninstall device." (Ensure you've chosen the correct USB device).

Step 3. In the prompt asking you to confirm the removal, click "OK".

Step 4. Restart your computer and reconnect the drive to the PC. Once the computer has restarted, the driver should be automatically installed.

Method 4: Repair Corrupted System Files with SFC Scan

Missing or corrupted system files can sometimes be the cause of a hard drive exhibiting unusual symptoms. This typically occurs when there's an issue during the file saving process. Therefore, if your hard drive appears to be compromised and you're unable to access it, you may first need to repair the crashed system files.

Step 1. Open Start, type cmd, and press Enter to open a Command Prompt window.

Step 2. Type chkdsk g:/f (if the external hard drive is drive G) and press Enter.

Step 3. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

When the scan is complete, you'll see a "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations" message if no corruption was found. If there is corruption, it will be fixed automatically.

Share these solutions on your social media and let more people know how to fix external hard drives without losing data.

How to Repair a Corrupted External Hard Drive by Formatting

In this section, we'll demonstrate two methods to format a corrupted external hard drive and restore it to its normal state. Before proceeding, it's essential to understand the types of hard drive issues that can be resolved using the disk formatting approach.

In theory, disk formatting should be performed with caution since it deletes data and uninstalls programs. However, it is highly beneficial. Disk formatting is the initial setup process for data storage media, capable of resolving common hard drive issues such as "Disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?" or the hard drive not showing up and appearing as RAW. Additionally, it can scan and repair bad sectors and occasionally eliminate complex viruses.

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive with the issue to the computer.

Step 2. Right-click the device and choose Format.

Step 3. Assign a new file system, either NTFS or FAT, to the drive and click "OK" to complete the process.

Method 2: Assign or Change the Drive Letter of an External Hard Disk

If you're unsure whether the device has a problem, try connecting it to a different USB port or even a separate computer to see if it's recognized. If the drive is readable, you can access your data on the external hard drive.

If the hard drive is not detected on another computer, inspect its status in Windows Disk Management. Subsequently, attempt to alter the drive letter and path to make it visible.

Step 1. Right-click on "This PC" and choose "Manage". In the Storage section, click "Disk Management". Alternatively, you can open Disk Management in Windows 10/8.1/8/7 using this method: Press Windows + R, type diskmgmt.msc in the Run dialog, then press Enter.

Step 2. Right-click on the SSD partition and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths…".

Step 3. In the Add, Change, and Remove options, click the "Change" button and select a drive letter from the list. Click "OK" to assign a new drive letter to the problematic hard drive.

Another applicable disk formatting tool comes from a third-party company. The tool is called tools Partition Master Free, and it performs the same function as the Windows File Explorer, but it operates even when the hard drive's drive letter is not visible. In such situations, you can download this software to carry out the formatting process.

Step 1. Right-click the external drive or USB you plan to format and select "Format".

Step 2. Set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size, then click "OK".

Step 3. Click "Yes" to continue.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button and click "Apply" to format the hard drive partition.

Method 4: Format the External Hard Drive using CMD

The Diskpart command will wipe all data from your corrupted device. Hence, it's crucial to recover data from the corrupted external hard drive first, and then proceed with using CMD to fix the drive.

Step 1. Press Win+R, type cmd, and press Enter.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter;

Step 3. Type list disk and press Enter;

Step 4. Type: select disk 0 and press Enter; (0 represents the drive letter of your corrupted external hard drive.)

Step 5. Type clean and press Enter; (This will erase all data on the drive.)

Step 6. Type create partition primary and press Enter;

Step 7. Type exit and press Enter to complete the process.

What Causes a Corrupted External Hard Drive

Many factors can lead to hard drive issues, preventing it from functioning properly. Here are some examples:

• Improper operation: disconnecting a connected device from your PC without safely ejecting it
• Damage or malware infection
• Excessive number of hard disk bad sectors
• File system errors
• Outdated/Corrupted driver
• Different error messages suggesting a hard drive issue

Tech-savvy individuals typically maintain their storage devices in good condition by using them properly, updating drivers every one or two months, and regularly scanning for viruses with antivirus software. However, if an error does occur, how can it be fixed?

You can use the effective methods above to repair a corrupted external hard drive without losing data on your own. Become your own expert by carefully reading through and resurrecting your external hard drive.

How to Effectively Prevent External Hard Drive Damage

Every computer comes equipped with a hard drive, which serves to store the operating system, software applications, and users' data. A computer cannot function without a functioning hard drive. To ensure proper operation with an internal or external hard drive, it's crucial to possess certain knowledge and skills to maintain the health of the storage device, thereby extending its lifespan.

Share this tutorial on your social media and help more people who can benefit from this information.

"Repair External Hard Drive Frequently Asked Questions"

Read the frequently asked questions below for more helpful tips.

< strong > 1. How can I retrieve data from a damaged external hard drive?

要从损坏的外部硬盘恢复文件：

Connect your external hard drive to your computer. Run the Data Recovery Wizard tool. Select the external hard drive and click the Scan button. Choose the files you want and click Recover.

2. How much does it cost to recover data from an external hard drive?

Considering these factors, the basic HDD data recovery costs generally range from $0 to $100.

If you only require data recovery, it costs $69.9. If you need both hard drive repair and data recovery, the cost typically ranges from $100 to $700, depending on the hard drive's capacity and the extent of the damage.

3. Can a damaged hard drive be repaired?

Yes, hard drive repair is possible, but the HDD should not be reused after recovery!

< strong > 4. How do I fix a corrupted external hard drive? Translation: < strong > 4. How do I repair a damaged external hard drive?

If your external hard drive becomes corrupted, you can repair it using Windows repair tools.

Open This PC, right-click the drive with bad sectors, and select Properties. Go to the Tools tab. Click Check to scan and fix the bad sectors on your external hard disk.