Having an external hard drive stop responding can be extremely frustrating, especially if important personal or work files are stored on it. The good news is that there are steps you can take to try and recover data from an unresponsive external hard drive.
Quick Overview – How to Recover Data from Unresponsive External Hard Drive
Here is a quick overview of the main steps involved in trying to recover data from an unresponsive external hard drive:
- First, don’t panic. The data is likely still on the drive and may be recoverable.
- Stop using the drive right away. Continuing to use it could overwrite the data you want to recover.
- Try basic troubleshooting like changing cables, ports, or enclosures to see if the drive will mount.
- Use data recovery software to scan the drive and retrieve files. Good options include Disk Drill, Stellar Data Recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
- If software can’t see the drive, the last resort is to send it to a data recovery service. They dismantle drives in a cleanroom and retrieve the data at the platter level.
The key is to avoid anything that could overwrite the existing data before recovery attempts are made. Software and services can work wonders, but if the data gets overwritten, it may be lost forever.
What Causes an External Hard Drive to Become Unresponsive?
There are several potential causes for an external hard drive not responding:
- Connection issues – Damaged cables, loose connections, damaged USB ports, or driver issues can prevent proper communication between the drive and computer.
- Power problems – Insufficient power to the drive, power surges, or physical damage to the enclosure can lead to unresponsiveness.
- Outdated drivers – External hard drives may not function properly if drivers are outdated or missing.
- Drive failure – Internal electrical or mechanical faults can cause a drive to malfunction and become undetectable by the OS.
- Logical damage – Accidental file deletion, corruption, or formatting errors may render data inaccessible.
The specific cause determines the best method for recovering data. Diagnosing the issue is an important first step in the process.
First Steps – Don’t Panic and Stop Using the Drive
When an external hard drive fails or becomes unresponsive, it’s normal to feel a rush of panic, especially if important or sentimental files are involved. However, it’s important to avoid letting emotions drive actions that could lead to permanent data loss.
The first step is to stop using the drive right away. Continuing to write data or attempt file transfers could overwrite the very data you’re hoping to recover. Until you’re ready to take data recovery steps, disconnect the drive.
Next, take a deep breath and reassure yourself that there is a good chance the data is still intact. Modern hard drives have robust mechanical and logical systems to prevent data loss. Just because the drive is unresponsive does not mean the data is gone for good.
Troubleshoot Basic Connectivity Issues
Before attempting recovery, it’s worthwhile to troubleshoot some basic connectivity issues that may be preventing the drive from mounting:
- Try plugging the drive into a different USB port, ideally directly on the computer rather than through a hub.
- Substitute the USB cable with a high-quality replacement.
- For externally powered drives, use a different power supply and cable.
- Connect the drive to a different computer to test if it is detected.
- Check Disk Management in Windows or Disk Utility on a Mac to see if the drive appears there.
- Update USB and external hard drive drivers in Device Manager.
If the drive starts working after trying the steps above, copy needed files off of it immediately and consider the data recovered. Avoid continuing to use a drive that has exhibited problems.
Use Data Recovery Software
If basic troubleshooting does not restore functionality, the next step is to use data recovery software to read data off the unresponsive drive.
Data recovery software works by scanning the drives sectors, analyzing the contents, and attempting to reconstruct files. Even if the file system is corrupted or the drive does not show up in explorer, recovery software can often still extract data by interpreting raw contents of the disk.
Examples of top data recovery software include:
- Disk Drill – Handles lost partitions efficiently, recovers 200+ file types, offers free trial.
- Stellar Data Recovery – Recovers data from SSDs and hardware RAID arrays too, has deep scanning capability.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Allows choosing which file types to scan for, recovers data well from formatted drives.
The right software depends on the specific situation. For example, if the drive has been formatted, recovery software with deep scanning for lost files and partitions makes sense. If data was accidentally deleted, software focusing on undeleting files is a good fit.
To use data recovery software:
- Download and install the software, choosing the unresponsive external drive as the target.
- Select file types or entire drive to scan. An initial quick scan locates lost files and partitions.
- A deep scan thoroughly searches entire drive for more files, but takes more time.
- Preview found files to identify ones to recover. Don’t save recovered files to the problem drive.
- Activate software and recover files to a healthy drive. Expect 1-2 GB per hour recovery speed.
With the right software and some time and patience, there is a very good chance of getting data back from even an unresponsive drive. Just take care not to overwrite anything in the process.
Data Recovery Software Scenario Examples
Here are some common unresponsive drive scenarios and data recovery software solutions:
| Scenario | Software Solution |
|---|---|
| External drive not detected due to accidental formatting | EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can restore formatted partitions and retrieve files |
| Lost files after drive was disconnected during transfer | Disk Drill has powerful lost file recovery algorithms |
| Corrupted file system causes drive to not mount | Stellar Data Recovery can bypass file system damage and read disk contents |
Choose a Professional Data Recovery Service
If DIY software recovery attempts fail, then the last resort is to turn to a professional data recovery service. Specialists have access to specialized tools and cleanroom facilities to physically recover data from drive platters and chips.
A professional data recovery service can recover data when all else fails by:
- Opening the external hard drive in a dust-free cleanroom to avoid contamination.
- Disassembling the drive and removing platters to install in a specialized recovery unit.
- Imaging drive contents at a bitwise level even when electrical components are damaged.
- Using specialized software and hardware to rebuild drive contents.
This “lab recovery” approach has the highest chance of successfully retrieving files from even seriously corrupted external drives. However, costs typically start around $500-1000 or more depending on drive size.
Reputable data recovery services include:
- DriveSavers – Has been providing data recovery since 1985, options for fast turnaround.
- Gillware – No-data, no-charge guarantee. Free shipping both ways.
- Ontrack – Large global data recovery company with Class 100 cleanrooms.
To start the data recovery process, the unresponsive drive is shipped to the provider’s facility by overnight courier. Diagnostic and recovery procedures are initiated once the drive arrives. With approval, recovered data is transferred electronically or on media.
Data recovery services can retrieve data when all else fails. However, costs are higher than DIY options. Only use as a last resort after exhausting other options.
Prevent Future Data Loss on External Drives
Going through data recovery is frustrating and time consuming. Here are proactive tips to avoid needing data recovery again in the future:
- Maintain backups – Regularly back up important data from external drives to guard against failure.
- Handle carefully – Don’t drop or jostle external drives while using to avoid physical damage.
- Eject properly – Safely disconnect external drives before removing to avoid corruption.
- Update drivers – Keep USB and other external drive drivers updated to prevent issues.
- Inspect regularly – Periodically scan drives using built-in utilities to check for problems.
Following best practices for using and maintaining external hard drives reduces the chances of failure. But data recovery options are available if an unresponsive drive occurs.
Conclusion
Having an external hard drive become unresponsive can be scary at first. But there are a number of techniques available to recover data from even a drive that does not show up or mount anymore. The key is avoiding anything that could overwrite existing data. Make sure to stop using the drive right away.
Try basic troubleshooting steps first to see if the drive regains functionality. Power cycling, changing ports, and updating drivers may get an external drive working again. If not, use data recovery software designed to retrieve files from non-responsive drives. And as a last resort, data recovery specialists have Cleanroom capabilities to repair and image failing drives.
With the right approach, there are great chances to get important photos, documents, and other files back from an unresponsive external hard drive. Just stay calm, avoid overwriting data, and use technical options at your disposal. With some luck your valuable data is likely recoverable.