External hard drives provide a convenient way to store large amounts of data and transport it between computers. However, like any storage device, they can fail or become corrupted, leading to potential data loss. The good news is that recovering data from an external drive is often possible with the right tools and techniques.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about recovering external drives:
- Yes, data can often be recovered from a failed or corrupted external drive using data recovery software or services.
- The best recovery success comes from addressing issues quickly before more data is lost.
- Software recovery tools can sometimes repair external drive issues and recover data.
- For severe external drive problems, professional data recovery services may be required.
- The type of failure and extent of data loss impact the recovery process and chances.
Evaluating the External Drive
When an external drive fails or data becomes inaccessible, the first step is to evaluate the situation. What are the symptoms? Here are some common external drive failure modes and potential solutions:
External Drive Not Recognized
If your computer does not detect the external drive when connected, there could be an issue with the USB port, cable, power supply, or drive itself. Try connecting the drive to another computer. If it is still not recognized, try a new USB cable and power source. Check for physical damage and ensure connections are secure.
External Drive Not Powering On
No power could indicate a failed drive mechanism or faulty power supply. Try using a different USB port in case the port is not supplying sufficient power. Test the drive with another computer and replace the USB cable if there are still no signs of power.
Drive Detected But Data Not Accessible
If the drive powers on but the data cannot be accessed, this points to a logical failure rather than a physical one. The file system may be corrupted or the drive was disconnected improperly. Run the manufacturer’s diagnostic software to check the drive health.
External Drive Making Clicking Noises
Clicking noises from a mechanical failure are a serious issue. It likely means the read/write heads are malfunctioning or that the drive has bad sectors. Do not continue running the drive. Consult a professional recovery service immediately to avoid further data loss.
External Drive Slow to Respond
A slow external drive could indicate impending failure. Check for fragmentation issues or bad sectors. Back up critical data right away. The performance degradation will get progressively worse over time as more sectors fail.
Preparing External Drives for Data Recovery
Once you have diagnosed the external drive failure mode, take steps to protect against further data loss:
- Stop using the external drive immediately.
- Detach the external drive safely using the “Eject” function.
- Avoid any tampering or forced removal, which could damage components.
- Keep the drive in a safe place to prevent physical damage.
Your actions play a major role in maximizing the potential recovery. Even powering up a failed drive can make data recovery more difficult or impossible.
Recovering Data from External Drives
The strategies and tools used to recover lost external drive data depend on the cause and severity of the failure. Here are some options:
Using Data Recovery Software
Data recovery software scans external drives for retrievable data and can repair certain file system issues. Popular recovery software includes:
- Recuva
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
- Stellar Data Recovery
- R-Studio
Look for a tool that supports your drive’s file system. Be sure to scan for recoverable data first before attempting any repairs.
Using Advanced Recovery Services
For difficult mechanical failures or highly corrupted drives, advanced data recovery services may be able to clone the drive and troubleshoot issues in a sterile lab environment. Expect a high success rate but at a steep price.
Sending to the Manufacturer
External hard drive manufacturers like Seagate, Western Digital (WD) and Toshiba sometimes offer data recovery services for drives within the warranty period. First run diagnostics then contact them for next steps.
Using Online Backup
If you regularly back up external drive data to an online backup service like Carbonite or Backblaze, you can easily restore the data in the event of failure. External drive backups are highly recommended.
Best Practices to Avoid External Drive Failure
While data recovery is often possible, prevention is always the best approach. Here are tips to avoid external drive failure and data loss:
- Handle drives gently and avoid physical shocks/drops.
- Disconnect using the eject function, not by simply unplugging.
- Keep drives in clean, cool environments free of magnets or static.
- Use the drive manufacturer’s formatted file system.
- Always eject and wait for writes to complete before disconnecting.
- Manage drive cables carefully to avoid inadvertent removal.
- Use a UPS to protect against power surges or outages.
- Maintain up-to-date backups, either cloud or physical media.
- Watch for early signs of failure like degradation or strange noises.
- Avoid using drives for long periods of inactivity.
Example Data Recovery Cases
To understand the data recovery process better, here are some real world examples of external drive failures and recoveries:
Case 1: External Drive Not Spinning Up
A 1TB Seagate external hard drive was not powering on when connected to a laptop via USB cable. The computer failed to detect the drive was connected. Troubleshooting found no physical damage. The client brought the drive to a data recovery center where technicians opened the housing and discovered the drive was not spinning up.
The recovery experts determined the internal components had failed and performed a specialized repair to get the platters spinning again. With the mechanical functionality restored, they were able to make a clone of the drive and extract the client’s photos, documents, and other personal files. Recovery was 100% successful.
Case 2: Dropped External Drive
An external drive fell off a desk onto a hard floor, leading to severe physical damage. The USB connection port broke off, and the computer could no longer see the drive. The client opened a case and shipped the damaged drive to a professional recovery lab.
The lab disassembled the drive in a clean room and found both platter and read/write head damage. However, the platters were still intact enough to image sector-by-sector. They replaced damaged components and rebuilt enough functionality to copy the data to another drive minus the damaged sectors. In the end, about 94% of the data was recovered.
Case 3: Virus Corrupted File System
The client noticed periodic freezing and crashing when attempting to access files on an external drive. Diagnostics found no physical problems but detected file system corruption. The corruption progressed each time files were accessed until the computer could no longer recognize the drive.
The client used recovery software to scan the external drive. While the scanned results showed the files were still present, the critical file system structure was too damaged for the operating system to make sense of it. Attempted repairs failed. As a last resort, the client sent the drive to a recovery firm.
Since the mechanical components and platters were still functional, the recovery technicians were able to make a full forensic image of the drive. From this image, they used advanced techniques to rebuild the corrupted file system. In the end, all files stored on the external drive were recovered successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover data from a dead external hard drive?
Yes, data can potentially be recovered from a dead external hard drive. If the drive is mechanically non-functional, recovery experts can often replace damaged components and regain access to recover data. If the drive failure is logical, recovery software can often restore the file system and retrieve data.
How can I recover data from a damaged external hard disk?
With physical damage to an external hard disk, professional data recovery services offer the best chance of recovering data. They have specialized tools and clean room facilities to repair drives and reconstruct damaged components. The recovered data can then be copied to a new, undamaged external hard drive.
Is it possible to recover files from a formatted external hard drive?
Yes, as long as no new data has been written over the formatted external drive, recovery software can scan the drive and restore the previous files. Formatting simply removes the file system structure and marks space as available rather than erasing anything.
Can lost data be recovered from a USB with physical damage?
It is possible to recover lost data from a physically damaged USB drive. Data recovery specialists have sophisticated techniques and equipment to attempt restoring data even from USB sticks with broken components. The chances depend on the extent of the damage.
How much does data recovery cost for an external hard disk?
The cost for external hard disk data recovery can range widely depending on the severity of the failure, recovery methods required, and level of service. Simple software recoveries can sometimes cost $100 or less. Advanced clean room procedures may cost $500 to $1500 or more.
When to Use a Professional Service
While data recovery software provides an affordable starting point, professional recovery services offer a much higher success rate for physically damaged drives or those with extreme logical corruption. Here are instances when it pays to use a pro:
- External drive has visible physical damage.
- You hear strange noises like clicking or grinding.
- The drive does not spin up or power on.
- DIY software recovery tools cannot access the data.
- The drive fails diagnostics or has critical errors.
- Data is valuable enough to justify the higher cost.
Reputable data recovery firms like Drivesavers, Gillware, Secure Data, CBL, Prosoft, and WeRecoverData can often recover data when all else fails. The right provider has cutting-edge tools, certified clean rooms, and years of expertise.
Bottom Line
Recovering lost data from external hard drives is very feasible in most failure scenarios. Physical damage generally requires professional recovery services that can repair drives and reconstruct data. Logical issues like file system corruption are often repairable using DIY software tools. The key is acting quickly, avoiding further data loss, and using the right recovery methods for the specific problem.