Hello, I have encountered an unpleasant event. My external hard drive has stopped working. The disc is no longer readable . When I connect the disc to my computer, the system asks me to format it.
There are very important files on the disc.
Does anyone know how to help me?
If this is your first foray into data recovery, it's best to send it to data recovery shops.
Any do-it-yourself or recovery apps are never a sure thing. You can try RECUVA but sometimes folk balk that it doesn't FIX the drive. No data recovery app should write to said drive. It should only recover or copy files out. Writing to a damaged drive is too dangerous.
If you feel RECUVA wasn't good enough feel free to Google "Recuva Alternatives." For me if Recuva doesn't do the job, the drive is sent to a recovery house.
Think of the unicycle, one wheel, hard to avoid a crash. Bicycle is much better and the tricycle almost everyone can ride without trouble. The same for storage drives. Google 321 BACKUP and yup, 3 copies or you may not have your data for long. A single copy is prone to loss. Even a second drive with the copies would have saved you.
Ugh, I'm so sorry that happened. I've had that happen with two different external hard drives over the years ... both were LaCie drives from a very long time ago. Unfortunately, I never took any steps to try to recover them, and lost the data on them at the time. I hope you're able to figure something out in this case.
I was recommended to pull the disc out of the box and connect it directly through the SATA interface.
Now I have this picture.
I'd recommend to stop messing around and bring it to a specialized recovery shop, as rproffitt already mentioned. The more you tamper with it, the more chance you'll lose your data.
Assuming you intend to ignore the sound advice of your compatriots here, I recommend having a look at a tool called Foremost. I'm a specialist and that's what I would use.
I was able to solve this problem.
First, I was able to make a copy of the disc using Clonezilla.
I came across this video tutorial.
True, it cost me $97.95, but that's nothing compared to taking the disc to a specialist. I risked losing my files forever. But I can't afford to pay a lot of money.
Let me tell you a little bit about how I did it.
I downloaded Hetman Partition Recovery, the software mapped my RAW drive, which used to be FAT, and started a full scan. It found most of my files and successfully recovered them. Yes, it couldn't recover all the files, but I was lucky: I recovered the most important ones.
And yes, make copies of important files (discs) for the future.
Also thanks to everyone who tried to help me)
I’m glad you were able to recover your important files.
Have you tried connecting your external hard drive to another computer which running a different operating system?
Hi Ryan Morgan,
I'm am glad your were successful in recovering your data.
I have dealt with several similar situations. Some were with my computers, other times, friends and family members. As you, I bought data recovery software and dealt with the process myself. Making the decision whether to take it to a pro or do it myself, came down to the data involved. If it is business critical, let the pros do it. If the files are not worth thousands, I'll do it. If toe failure was electronics related, i.e. the drive is not recognized, then it is the pro or nothing.
Since Drive Management app showed the drive could be read, you arrived at the same decision I would have.
Cheers, Mike
If your external hard drive becomes corrupted. I would suggest you to try and use windows repair tool. Using this tool you can repair the faulty sectors.
I'm really sorry to hear about your external hard drive issue. First and foremost, do not format the drive, as that could erase your important files. Try connecting the drive to a different computer or using a different USB port to see if it's just a connectivity issue. If that doesn't work, you can use data recovery software like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill, which are designed to recover files from non-readable disks. You can also check Disk Management on Windows to see if the drive shows up there; sometimes, assigning a new drive letter can fix the problem. If none of these steps work, your best bet would be to contact a professional data recovery service. They have the expertise and tools to retrieve data from damaged drives. I hope one of these solutions helps you get your files back.
You should use a disk management tool to fix the hard drive. There might be a USB port connection issue as well.
You should use a disk management tool
There are hundreds of them out there. Care to recommend one or two with an explanation as to why you picked them?
Hello,
I'm sorry to hear about your external hard drive issues. Here are a few steps you can take to try to recover your important files:
Do Not Format the Drive: Formatting the drive will erase all the data on it. Avoid this step unless it’s absolutely necessary and you’ve exhausted all other recovery options.
Check the Connection: Sometimes, the issue could be as simple as a loose connection or a faulty cable. Try using a different USB cable or port. If possible, connect the drive to another computer to see if it’s recognized there.
Use Disk Management:
On Windows, open Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "Disk Management". Check if the drive is listed there and if it shows as unallocated or with a RAW file system.
On Mac, use Disk Utility to see if the drive is recognized and if you can run First Aid on it.
Data Recovery Software: There are several data recovery programs that can help you recover files from a drive that’s not accessible. Some popular options include:
Recuva (Windows)
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Windows and Mac)
TestDisk (Windows, Mac, and Linux - free and powerful but requires some technical knowledge)
Professional Data Recovery Services: If the above steps don’t work, you might need to contact a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from damaged or corrupted drives. This option can be expensive but is often the most reliable for critical data.
Backup in the Future: Once you recover your data, consider setting up a regular backup schedule. Using cloud storage or multiple backup drives can help prevent data loss in the future.
I hope one of these solutions helps you recover your files. Let me know if you need more detailed instructions on any of the steps.
Best of luck!
Try programs like Recuva, EaseUS, or Disk Drill to recover your files.
If your external hard drive is unreadable and you need to recover important files, avoid formatting it. Try using data recovery software like Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or seek professional data recovery services if necessary.
First off, don’t format the drive—doing so could make data recovery more difficult. Try connecting the drive to a different USB port or using another cable. Sometimes the problem might be with the port or the cable.Check Disk Management on Windows to see if the drive shows up there. Sometimes, it might just be a matter of assigning it a new drive letter. There are plenty of data recovery tools out there like Recuva, TestDisk, or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. These can often recover files from drives that aren’t readable.If you’re comfortable with a bit of tech tinkering, try booting from a Linux Live CD. Sometimes Linux can read drives that Windows can’t. If the data is super important and you’re not able to recover it yourself, you might want to consider a professional data recovery service. It can be pricey, but they often have the tools and expertise to get your files back.
Ensure that the hard drive is properly connected to the computer and that the cables are not damaged. Try using a different USB port or cable.
In response to external hard drive issues, promptly diagnose connectivity, power supply, and file system integrity. Implement data recovery measures, update drivers, and consider professional assistance for severe cases to safeguard valuable information.
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