It is disappointing to lose data from an external hard drive and feel like you have lost your documents entirely. However, using data recovery tools and a well-chosen program to recover data from an external hard drive will help you recover all those important files perfectly.
In this guide, we will look at common causes of data loss on the external hard drive. You will also find quick and efficient ways to recover data from external hard drive. In addition, we will provide tips for successful data recovery and how to prevent data loss in the future.
Common Scenarios of Hard Drive Data Loss
Before moving towards external hard drive data recovery, let’s first discuss why it happens.
External hard disk data loss can occur anytime for any reason. Therefore, it is essential to understand the underlying cause to recover data from external hard drive. Here are some of the common causes of data loss on external hard drives:
- Corrupted program files may cause data loss due to malware or improper external drive ejection.
- Accidents such as dropping the device, spilling a drink over the device, or even exposing the device to hot temperatures can affect your external hard drive.
- Data is lost due to intentional file deletion or a wrong drive formatting.
- Viruses or malware that threaten and potentially degrade or lock data.
How to Recover Data from External Hard Drive? (5 Ways)
Below, you will find various ways and a program to recover data from external hard drive.
Option A: Recover External Hard Drive using 4DDiG
Tenorshare 4DDiG is considered to be one of the most effective and safe programs to recover data from external hard drive for free. It can find lost, deleted, or formatted data from various storage devices including external hard disks. Thanks to its clean and simple interface, you will find Tenorshare 4DDiG much easier to navigate than other alternatives.
This tool performs well in various data loss scenarios besides accidental deletion, such as hardware failures, system crashes, virus attacks, and others. Moreover, it has a ‘preview’ function where, in case you are in doubt about what to restore, you can just preview the available files that can be restored before completing the process of restoring the files.
To use this tool for external hard drive data recovery, follow the below instructions:
Step 1. Plug your external hard drive into your computer and open this free data recovery software. Choose the external hard drive and click the ” Scan ” button to search for the missing files.
Step 2. In the following, 4DDiG will thoroughly scan your external hard drive. However, you can pause or even stop the scanning process if you find the files that you need. You can preview the recoverable files to be sure they are the files you want to restore.
Step 3. Choose the files you want to restore and press “Recover.” You should decide the location of the recovered files on your computer, particularly a safe folder. Do not save them to the same external hard drive to avoid overwriting and permanent loss of information.
Option B: Show Hidden Items
This method is effective if you have never formatted your external hard disk and have not deleted files from it. You can use it to verify if they reside on the external hard disk, but there is no way you can see them. They allow you to view the hidden to recover data from external hard drive anytime.
What would your external HDD benefit from hiding files in the first place? The problems could have been caused by a virus or malware, which could also be responsible for deleted files. Other causes include file system problems and damages, which make the files disappear. Here’s how to recover data from external hard drive without formatting:
Step 1. First and foremost, ensure your external hard drive is plugged into your computer.
Step 2. Open the This PC app and go to the tab labeled View.
Step 3. Select the Hidden items check box.
Option C: Recover External Hard Drive by CHKDSK
This command scans the disk file system and the disk metadata to identify logical/physical errors. It is extensively used for file system repair and external hard drive data recovery. But you should remember that repairing bad sectors may result in data loss and repercussions. Therefore, it is recommended that you save your data back to secure storage first.
To use this, type CMD then in the box that appears, type chkdsk E: /f /r where the ‘E’ is the letter representing your external hard drive.
The /f parameter would instruct CHKDSK to scan for errors. In contrast, the /r parameter allows the software to locate sectors that contain bad marks and attempt to retrieve any readable data on them.
Option D: Recover External Hard Drive via a Backup
Still wondering how to recover deleted data from external hard drive? There’s a good chance that you saved the contents of your external HDD to another device or your computer or uploaded them to another cloud. Well, that is the best way to prevent one from losing their data. You can retrieve accidentally erased files from the external hard drive or files that got lost by chance because of disk failure. However, this external hard drive data recovery technique only allows data recovery from a backup.
There are two options for the previous Windows versions, namely Backup and Restore, while the updated ones, with versions 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, have File History for automatic data backup and restoration.
It keeps the previous versions of all files and can save data to an external hard drive or a location on a different network. In that way, you can recover data from external hard drive for free.
Here’s how to use the File History feature:
Step 1. Plug your external HDD into the computer.
Step 2. Go to Settings, then open Updates & Security. From there, open Files backup and go to More options.
Step 3. Now click on the tab and choose Restore files from a current backup.
Step 4. The folders or files that need recovery should be selected, then right click > settings > restore to, and choose the external HDD or other. Besides, click the green recycle bin icon restore to restore the selected items to the default restore folder.
Option F: Hire Professional Data Recovery Services
Sometimes, you can’t rely on software if there is physical damage or the problem is more complex. Here’s when to reach out to the experts and what to expect:
- Physical Damage: If your hard drive is beginning to make unusual sounds (e.g., clicking or grinding).
- Complex Problems: When your data is severely infected or do-it-yourself recovery is unsuccessful.
- Important Data Recovery: Larger volumes of essential information in organizations might be too sensitive to be left in DIY try.
Choosing the Right Service:
- Look for a reputable service provider with a good number of clients giving their feedback.
- One of the important factors to be conveyed in a service is to protect your data and avoid sharing it with third parties.
- Seek a service with understood fees, preferably one that offers to recover lost data at the cost.
Tips to Increase Chances of External Hard Drive Data Recovery
Now you should no longer worry about how to recover deleted/lost data from external hard drive.
To ensure the success of retrieval of your files and to prevent them from further damage, take the proper action that is mentioned below:
Tip 1: Stop Using The Drive
Do not do any writing activities on the drive anymore. This includes disregarding the old rule ‘copy and save files’ as doing so overwrites the data you seek to recover.
Tip 2: Disconnect Properly
Eject the external hard drive from your computer safely from your computer. This checks that all programs that may use the drive are close to eliminate chances of data corruption.
Tip 3: Evaluate The Situation
It’s important to find out what type of data was lost. Is the problem caused by physical loss, some flaw in computing algorithms, or unintentional deletion?
Tip 3: Do Not Reformat
Even if your computer requires that the drive be formatted, do not format the drive. Formatting will greatly aggravate the process of recovery.
How to Avoid Hard Drive Data Loss in the Future?
To prevent data loss on the external hard drive and to avoid future loss, we have provided some recommendations for you.
Format an External Hard Drive to be Used Again
Make sure that the external hard drive is fit to hold data again and that it is safe to do so. Hence, avoid promptly writing the restored files back on your device. Format it first.
Step 1. Attach the external hard drive to the PC and right-click on This PC on the Windows desktop.
Step 2. To perform a format, simply right click on the external hard drive icon and choose the option format from the list.
Step 3. Turn to NTFS on the format window and click “Quick Format” at the bottom left. Click “Start”. After this, close those files and save them back to your external hard drive.
Make Another Copy of the External HDD
It’s also wise to make a second copy of your files stored on an external hard drive and store it in another place, for instance, the Cloud drive. This backup will provide you with a guarantee of never losing any data.
Run Antivirus Software
If you have installed an antivirus program on your computer, it is advisable to run it to scan all your devices. It will certainly guard your device and data against viruses and malware infections on time.
Conclusion
Data loss on an external hard drive can happen due to various causes, but effective solutions are available for recovery. Whether you choose a program to recover data from external hard drive, hidden item checks, command-based fixes, backups, or professional services, taking immediate action is important. For a safe, efficient recovery, consider using 4DDiG Data Recovery for a quick and reliable solution.
