External Hard Drive Failure Recovery: 5 Essential Methods

How to Recover Data or Get My External Hard Disk Drive Working Again?

Solution 1: Recover Data from the Recycle Bin or Trash

Before diving into more complex recovery methods, it's wise to check the Recycle Bin for your missing files. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop or the Trash icon on your dock to open it. Browse through the contents to locate the files you want to recover. Once found, right-click the files and choose "Restore" (Windows) to return them to their original location:

1. Open the Recycle Bin or Trash: Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
2. Search for Your Files: Browse through the list to find the files you want to restore.
3. Restore the Files: Right-click on the selected files and choose "Restore". This will return the files to their original location.

Solution 2: Recover External Hard Drive Data With Backup Software

If your external hard drive appears in Windows Disk Management, even if it’s in RAW format, unreadable, or acting strangely, you can still recover your data using reliable recovery software, no matter what issues the drive has encountered.

We recommend trying the AOMEI Backupper Standard. This software offers an easy way to recover your data with its user-friendly interface and advanced features. It ensures your important files remain safe while guiding you through the recovery process. Whether you need to restore your system or retrieve lost files, AOMEI Backupper provides all the tools you need to recover your data efficiently.

Now, here's how to recover data from an external hard drive. If you want to keep your files safe, you can also create a recovery disk for your external hard drive.

Keep in mind: AOMEI Backupper recovery only works with AOMEI Backupper backups. It means you'll need to have at least one file backup created by AOMEI Backupper to restore your lost data. That way, you can recover your files if needed.

1: Install and launch AOMEI Backupper Standard, then select Restore >> Select Task. The Select Image File option is available to manually select the image file for restoration.

2: Select the file backup for recovery, then click Next. Continue to choose specific files or folders from the list tree, and tap Next.

3: Set a saving path to recover your files. Two given options are Restore to the original location and Restore to a new location. You can choose Replace existing files. Lastly, click Start Restore to begin the task.

If you want to see a more detailed guide to teach you how to do it, check out: How to Do Files and Folders Restore.

Note: However, if you need to directly restore the backup image onto another computer that has different hardware, we recommend using the professional version. It comes with a feature called Universal Restore, which ensures a bootable OS after system recovery.

Solution 3: Run the CHKDSK for External Hard Drive Failure Repair

When encountering external hard drive failure, running the CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility can often be a useful first step in diagnosing and repairing the issue. This built-in Windows tool scans the drive for errors and attempts to fix any issues it finds. In this section, we'll explore how to run CHKDSK for external hard drive failure repair, providing a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve common disk errors.

1. Press the Windows key, and type cmd in the search bar.

2. Input chkdsk F: /f /r and press Enter. (Replace F with the letter assigned to your external hard drive./f tells chkdsk to fix any errors it finds; /r helps it find and repair bad parts of the drive to recover readable data.)

3. Input exit to exit Command Prompt.

Solution 4: Update/Reinstall the External Hard Drive

If your external hard drive isn't working right, it could be because its drivers are outdated or corrupted. By updating or reinstalling the drivers, you can often make the external hard drive failure recovery and get your hard drive working again. Follow these steps to update or reinstall the drivers and troubleshoot the issue.

Update Device Driver:

1: Start by clicking on Start and then selecting Device Manager.

2: Next, navigate to Disk Drives, find your drive, and click on it.

3: Then, choose the option to Update Driver and select Search automatically for updated driver software.

Reinstall Device Drive:

1: Go to Disk Drives >> Uninstall Device Instead.

2: Afterward, restart your computer and see if the driver is automatically reinstalled.

Solution 5: Find Professional Help for External Hard Drive Failure

When your external hard drive suffers mechanical damage, attempting a DIY fix is ill-advised unless you have professional expertise. Instead, opt for a reputable data recovery center to ensure the best results.

Here’s how most data recovery services work:

1. Initiate a Work Order: Start by submitting a work order online and waiting for a price estimate.
2. Ship Your Drive: Carefully pack your external hard drive and send it to the chosen data recovery center.
3. Recovery and Return: The center will work on recovering your data and then ship it back to you.

Top-tier data recovery centers typically charge a small service fee only if they successfully recover your data, with some not charging at all unless they achieve results.

What is a Dead External Hard Drive?

External hard drives provide an easy way to store files, but they can fail for several reasons. When an external hard drive stops working, knowing how to recover your data is essential. This guide explains the common causes of external hard drive failure and offers step-by-step instructions to help you recover your data using different methods. Whether the problem comes from physical damage, software glitches, or logical errors, understanding the root cause is key to finding the right solution. By following these steps, you can safely recover your data and restore your external hard drive's functionality.

Reasons for External Hard Drive Failure

Grasping the causes of external hard drive failures is essential for deploying effective recovery tactics. Various factors can lead to the malfunction of external hard drives, including physical damage and software problems. By understanding these causes, users can take preventive steps to avert failures and protect their data.

❌Physical Damage: Dropping the hard drive, exposure to extreme temperatures, or water damage can physically harm the device. 🛑Logical Errors: File system corruption, partition table damage, or bad sectors can lead to data loss and drive malfunction. 📌Power Surges: Sudden power outages or fluctuations can damage the circuitry of the hard drive, causing it to fail. 🚩Firmware Issues: Incompatibility with the system, outdated firmware, or firmware corruption can render the hard drive inaccessible. 📣Software Corruption: Malware infections, improper ejection of the drive, or software conflicts can corrupt the data stored on the external hard drive.

Now that you have known the common causes of external hard drive failures, let's shift our focus to solutions. You can use effective methods and tools for recovering from external hard drive failures. We provided clear, step-by-step instructions to help you retrieve your valuable data and restore your external hard drive to working order.

FAQs about External Hard Drive Failure Recovery

Q 1: Can I recover data from a physically damaged external hard drive?

A 1: It really depends on the situation whether it can be recognized and read. If the answer is yes, you can still try AOMEI Backupper Standard to restore your data. If not, seeking help from official physical stores could be better.

Q 2: What should I do if my external hard drive is not recognized by my computer?

A 2: Try connecting the drive to a different USB port or computer. If it remains unrecognized, use disk management tools or recovery software to diagnose the issue.

Q 3: Can I recover files lost because of viruses or malicious plug-ins?

A 3: Yes, you can use AOMEI Backupper to recover deleted files as long as you have the copy image before they were infected and lost.

Key Tech Terms in External Hard Drive Recovery

1. Bad Sectors: Bad sectors are portions of your external hard drive that can no longer store data properly. Over time, they can lead to file corruption and eventual drive failure.

2. S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring: S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) is a feature built into modern drives that monitors drive health. By analyzing S.M.A.R.T. data, you can predict drive failure before it happens.

3. File System Corruption: File system corruption occurs when the structure used by the operating system to track data becomes damaged. This can prevent access to the files and may require repair through disk management tools.

Bottom Line

Experiencing an external hard drive failure can be frustrating, but with the right knowledge and tools, external hard drive failure recovery is possible. From software fixes to professional recovery services, understanding how to tackle the problem head-on can help you rescue important files and prevent future losses. Consider using reliable data recovery software like AOMEI Backupper for comprehensive recovery solutions. It also creates a Windows 8.1 image backup, so why not give it a shot?