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How to Recover Files from Toshiba External Hard Drive | FREE
This article describes how to recover files from my Toshiba external hard drive using reliable data recovery software, Recycle Bin, File History, etc., 6 fast and effective methods.
By Ivy / Updated on March 6, 2025
How do I recover files from my Toshiba external hard drive?
“I had a Toshiba external hard drive on which I kept massive files, but I accidentally formatted it and lost all of my files. All of the files are very important to me. I’m desperate to get them back. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you ahead of time!”
How to recover files from Toshiba external hard drive
It is not difficult to recover files from an external hard drive. The point is you need to choose a fast and effective method according to your situation. In this part, we'll cover 6 methods on how to recover deleted files from Toshiba external hard drive.
#1. Recover deleted files from Toshiba external hard drive using software (Best)
The first, also the method with the highest success rate, is using AOMEI FastRecovery, a free, reliable, and fast data recovery software for Windows 11/10/8/7 & Windows Server. It can recover deleted files from healthy/formatted/corrupted Toshiba external hard drive in 3 easy steps.
✔ Easy-to-operate. It allows you to recover lost/deleted data within 3 easy steps.
✔ Comprehensive. It supports different types of data, such as documents, pictures, videos, audios, emails, compressed files, etc., over 1000 formats.
✔ Top algorithms. By default, it uses Quick Scan to recover deleted files quickly and integrates Deep Scan for a thorough search.
✔ More flexible feature . It is able to search, file, preview, and recover files during scanning.
✔ Widely-compatible. Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems, with high compatibility between devices.
✔All-inclusive. It applies todeleted files, formatted drives,corrupted partitions,system crashes, virus attacks, etc.
Download, install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery on your computer.
Step 1. Select the Toshiba external hard drive. Hover the mouse over the drive, and click Scan.
Step 2. Then, the scanning process will start automatically. You don’t need to wait for the process to complete if you find deleted files. Here are two fast ways in the following:
- Filter: Specify the data type and size to target your search.
- Search: Type the file name or extension in the search box to locate files precisely.
Step 3. Choose the files that you want to recover. Click Recover and choose a new path to save the restored files.
#2. Restore accidentally deleted files from Recycle Bin
The easiest one is to recover data from Recycle Bin if you don't check it.
Step 1. Double-click Recycle Bin on your desktop to open it.
Step 2. Locate deleted files, right-click, and select Restore. Then, your files will come back to the location where it was before being deleted.
#3. Get deleted files back from Windows backup
The second method is to recover deleted files on Toshiba external hard drive using Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Note that you need to first enable this feature to use it.
Step 1. Input Control Panel in the Windows search bar, and start it. Then, click System and Security and Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 2. Here you’ll see if this feature is enabled. Then, click Select another backup to restore files from.
Step 3. Select the backup and click Next.
Step 4. Search or browse for lost/deleted files.
Step 5. Choose a location to save the recovered files and click Restore to recover them.
#4. Revert deleted files to an old version with File History
Microsoft also provides users with the File History feature to ecover deleted/lost files on Toshiba external hard drive. Note it requires you to turn File History on first.
Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History.
Step 2. Click Restore personal files.
Step 3. Select the files you need to recover and then click the Restore button.
#5. Recover files from using Windows File Recovery
The final method is to recover deleted/lost files on Toshiba external hard drive using CMD via Windows File Recovery, provided by Microsoft as well. This is a little technical-demanding method. You need to be familiar with command lines to use it.
Preparation work before using Windows File Recovery:
▶ Check the Toshiba external hard drive's file system. Go to This PC > right-click on the drive that contains the data you want to restore before > click Properties.
▶ Decide the recovery mode and switches. You can refer to this table.
The recovery mode applies to different situations and file systems.
| File system | Scenarios | Mode |
| NTFS | Deleted recently | Regular |
| NTFS | Deleted for a while | Extensive |
| NTFS | Formatted disk | Extensive |
| NTFS | Corrupted disk | Extensive |
| FAT and exFAT | Any | Extensive |
Switches are used to filter the scanning range, thus saving scanning time.
| Switches | Meaning | Supported mode(s) |
| /n | Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc. | All |
| /y: | Recover specific extension groups. | Signature |
| /k | Recovers system files. | NTFSSegment |
| /u | Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin. | NTFSSegment |
Step 1. Download and install Window File Recovery from Microsoft Store and then open it.
Step 2. Open Powershell or Command Prompt with administrator. In the Command Prompt, enter commands in the following command format:
winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
For example, to recover deleted pdf files from F: drive ( the Toshiba external hard drive) to D: drive, then the command will be like this:
winfr F: D: /regular /n *.pdf
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Be careful with the commands when using them to recover your erased data.
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The tool only works with Windows 10 versions 2004 and up.
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Even with Windows File Recovery, you may not be able to recover all of your lost data.
#6. Retrieve lost/deleted partitions and files on Toshiba external hard drive
Sometimes, you find the partition on Toshiba external hard drive is lost or deleted. To retrieve it back, the best method is to use partition recovery software - AOMEI Partition Recovery Wizard, especially when it's lost due to accident deletion, partition table damage, bad sectors, or any other reasons.
Step 1. Download, install, and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. Then, Click Recover > Partition Recovery, and select the disk containing lost partition. Click Next.
Step 2. Select a search mode. It is recommended that you select Fast Search the first time because it saves time. Then, click on Next.
Step 3. AOMEI Partition Assistant will show you a list of all lost or deleted partitions from Toshiba external hard drive. You can select the one you want to recover and click on Proceed.
When the partition recovery process is completed, you will be informed by the Congratulations window. Click Finish and check if the partition is recovered in Windows File Explorer.
Bonus tip: Backup Toshiba external HDD to avoid loss
Backing up critical files on Toshiba external hard drive to your computer is a better bet to avoid file loss whenever anything unexpected occurs. We propose the free backup and restore software AOMEI Backupper Standard, which allows you to backup the Toshiba external hard drive or individual files or folders in just a few simple clicks.
Step 1. Download, install, and launch free backup software for Windows - AOMEI Backupper Standard. Under the Backup tab, select the Disk Backup option.
Step 2. Set the Task Name to distinguish backup tasks from each other. Click Add Disk to choose the Toshiba external hard drive.
Step 3. Select a location to save the disk image by clicking the folder-shaped button. It can be an internal or external drive, NAS or network drive, cloud drive, etc.
Step 4. Once done, click Start Backup to backup the entire disk. You can also set the backup feature to make it easy and flexible.
- Options: You can enable the email notification to get the backup result timely, change the compression level to high, etc.
- Schedule: You can set daily, weekly, or monthly schedule backups. The shortest backup interval is the hourly backup.
- Scheme: By default, it will enable the incremental backup to backup only changed files, saving much disk space and backup time.
Conclusion
This post primarily explains how to recover files from Toshiba external hard drive. Whatever situation you’re in, you can find a relative solution here. Among them, the most effective method is to use reliable and fast data recovery software - AOMEI FastRecovery. Finally, you’re advised to backup the Toshiba external hard drive or files on it to avoid future loss.
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