Solved: External Hard Drive Data Recovery in 2024

Is It Possible To Recover Data From External Hard Drive?

Permanent data loss can raise many questions “Is there any way to get my data back?”, “Is it possible to recover data from an external hard drive?” and more.

The answer to all those questions is Yes, but there is a catch, You must stop using the external hard drive to prevent new data from overwriting the lost or deleted data from the external hard drive.

If you answered Yes, then chances are external HDD data recovery is very good.

We would like to assist you with portable hard disk recovery, continue reading the upcoming section as it addresses solutions to common reasons that cause data loss in an external hard drive.

Jump to the specific solution you need

Case 1: Recover Deleted Data from External Hard Drive

1. Restore Files From Recycle Bin

Just like the internal drives, External hard drives contain a Recycle bin in them. You wouldn’t have noticed because it's normally hidden, unhide the folder and check for the deleted files from the external hard drive.

Open the File Explorer and click on the External hard drive.

Click on the View tab on top and select Options.

In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab and check the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option.

Now go back to the external hard drive, you can see the Recycle bin on the external hard drive. Check the folder for the deleted files and restore them to your preferred location.

Files that were Shift-deleted, formatted, or corrupted will not be present in the Recycle bin. Only a data recovery software can recover files deleted from Recycle bin.

Case 2: Recover Lost Data From External Hard Drive (Formatting, Corruption, Virus attacks)

1. Recover Data Using Backup

Modern external hard drives have an automatic backup feature on them. If your hard drive has a backup feature simply restore the photos, videos, and other files from the backup.

Remember: This is applicable only if you have set the auto-backup previously.

2. Recover Data Using Data Recovery Software

Opting for data recovery software from a plethora of choices could be a job, the key is to opt for an HDD recovery software that doesn’t further damage the lost data and a simple user interface with helpful features to make the recovery process easy.

We suggest you opt for Yodot Hard Drive Recovery software to get back the lost data from the External hard drive.

The tool is simple and robust to recover multiple file formats from severy corrupt hard drives to RAW drives. Download the tool and try it out yourself.

Follow these steps to recover files from your external hard drive at all data loss or deletion scenarios.

Step 1: Download and install the software and connect your external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2: Launch the tool and choose the Partition Recovery or Formatted/Reformatted Recovery option based on your data loss situation.

Step 3: Select your external hard drive from the pst of detected drives and click on Next.

Step 4: Mark all found partitions and cpck on the Next button.

Step 5: Now, select the file types you want to recover. If you wish to recover entire data from the external hard drive irrespective of the file type, then click on the Next button.

Step 6: After a quick scan, recovered data from the external hard drive will be psted in File Type View and Data View.

Step 7: Select and Preview your required file by double-clicking on it to verify the recovered data.

Step 8: At last, save recovered data in a safe location (not on the external hard drive).

Case 3: Fix Hard Drive Issues Perform HDD Recovery

You don’t have to always recover data from the external hard drive, sometimes minor tweaks can help you fix issues that prevent you from accessing the external hard drive data.

Make sure to check the physical connection between the external hard disk and the computer and try the solutions in this section if you are facing these issues:

• External Hard Drive Not Showing up
• Files Not Showing In External Hard Drive
• External Hard Drive Not Responding

Update the Drivers

Occasionally windows runs into driver issues, you can update them to get your portable hard drive recognized by the computer, here is how it is done.

1. Open Device Manager and expand Disk Drives.



2. Choose your external hard drive, right-click on it, and select Update driver.



3. Select Search automatically for drivers.

Once the updating process is completed, disconnect the external hard drive and reboot the system. After reboot connect the HDD again and check the file explorer if the issue is resolved.

Unhide the Hidden Files

To prevent accidental deletion selective external hard drive files are hidden automatically, follow the steps below to unhide them.

1. Open File Explorer, click on the external hard disk, open View tab and choose options.



2. Open the folder options window click on View tab, check Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and click on OK.

Now check if you can view all the files and folders in the external hard drive.

Scan the External Hard Drive

Scan your external hard drive using the chkdsk command to fix minor file system errors on your external hard drive.

Follow these steps to run the CHKDSK scan on your affected hard disk:

1. Open the Command Prompt as Administrator.



2. Type chkdsk E: /r (Replace E with your hard drive letter) and press Enter.

This will fix the structural issues with the file system on your external hard drive.

Case 4: Physically Damaged External Hard Drive

If none of the above solutions recovered or fixed your external hard drive issue, then it could be internal or external physical damage on your external hard drive.

If you notice signs like:

• Clicking or grinding noises.
• Failing to detect power.
• Slow or laggy performance.

These are clear indications of physical damage in your external hard drive, Act fast and choose a reliable data recovery service that can help you retrieve the files from your external hard drive.

These services are costly compared to data recovery software, so opt for a data recovery service that is reputed, safe, and has a high success rate. Also, ensure that the recovery falls under your budget.

By now, you understand data recovery can be stressful, especially when you are a first-timer.

How about taking a precautionary measure to protect your external hard drive data? Sounds good? Well, continue reading to learn about some simple tips to keep your external hard drive data safe.

Simple Tips To Keep Your External Hard Drive Data Safe

• Backup: Take periodical backups of important files on the external hard drive to a cloud storage or other backup utilities to keep the data safe at all times.
• Eject Safely: Always eject your external hard drive from your computer before unplugging it to prevent incomplete data and corruption.
• Scan for Viruses: Use an updated antivirus tool to protect your external hard drive from virus and malware attacks.
• Proper handling: Ensure that your external hard drive is kept under ideal conditions; avoid exposing it to extreme heat or cold, and avoid applying any physical pressure or dropping it to prevent physical damage.

Conclusion:

To sum up, external hard drive recovery can be difficult, we suggest you be mindful of your actions on your external hard drive and take precautionary measures to keep the external hard disk files safe at all times.

If you rely on the external hard drive to save your data and transfer it across other devices, consider having a disaster management plan consisting of reliable data recovery software to save yourself from unforeseen events like formatting corruption or any other damages.