Data loss from external hard drives like Seagate is an unfortunate but common issue that many computer users face. Studies show that around 20% of external hard drives fail each year, often leading to data corruption or loss. When your external Seagate hard drive becomes corrupted or fails, it can be stressful trying to recover your important files and data.
The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the most effective methods to recover your data from a corrupted Seagate external hard disk. We will outline the causes of corruption, how to diagnose it, and step-by-step guides for DIY data recovery, professional services, data recovery software, and more. With the right approach, you can successfully restore your valuable data from a Seagate external drive.
Causes of Corruption
There are several common causes that can lead to data corruption on Seagate external hard disks.
File System Errors
Issues with the file system, such as inconsistencies or corruption in the file table or directory structure, can prevent access to data on the drive. This can happen from improper drive removal, power outages, or file system bugs [1].
Bad Sectors
Bad sectors are parts of the disk that have become physically damaged and unable to store data properly. As more bad sectors develop, data becomes increasingly inaccessible [2].
Disconnecting Improperly
If the external drive is disconnected from the computer during a read or write operation, it can cause corruption. Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before disconnecting.
Malware/Viruses
Malicious programs like viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware can damage or corrupt data on external drives.
Symptoms of Corruption
There are a few key symptoms that indicate your Seagate external hard drive may be corrupted or failing.
One of the most common is the hard drive not being recognized by your computer. When you plug in your external drive, it may not show up in File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. You’ll get no response when trying to access the drive. This indicates the file system or partition table has become damaged and unreadable (Source).
You may also encounter access denied errors when trying to open files on the external drive. The data seems to still be there, but you can’t actually get to it. This points to logical corruption where the file system is having issues reading the drive’s contents and directory structure.
Another sign is your files seeming to go missing from the external drive. You know you saved data to it previously, but now those folders or files are nowhere to be found. This suggests physical damage to the drive platters where portions storing your data have failed.
Overall, if your Seagate drive isn’t being recognized properly, can’t be accessed, or has missing data, it likely has some level of corruption that will require recovery steps.
Back Up Your Data
It is extremely important to regularly back up your data to prevent permanent data loss in case of hard drive failure or corruption (source). Backups allow you to easily restore your files should anything happen to the originals. There are many options for backing up your data:
-Backup software like Apple Time Machine or Windows File History make automated backups seamless. They will continuously save new versions of your files whenever changes are made.
-External hard drives provide local backups you can store offsite for redundancy. Services like Backblaze and Carbonite offer unlimited cloud storage for affordable annual fees.
The key is to implement regular, automated backup procedures. This way your important data will always be protected from unexpected disasters or failures. It’s a simple step that gives great peace of mind.
Try Restoring with Disk Utilities
Disk Utility is a built-in app on Mac that can help restore corrupted external hard drives. Here are the steps to try using Disk Utility’s options for restoring your Seagate external hard disk:
1. Open Disk Utility on your Mac. You can find it by searching in Spotlight or going to Applications > Utilities.
2. In the sidebar, click “Show All Devices” to list all connected drives.
3. Select your corrupted Seagate external hard drive from the sidebar.
4. Click the “First Aid” tab and then click “Run” to check for and repair errors.
5. If First Aid is unable to repair the errors, click “Restore” to overwrite your drive with a new empty filesystem.
This will erase all data but may fix underlying filesystem corruption issues. You can then attempt data recovery using specialized software.
For more details, refer to Apple’s guide on using Disk Utility to restore a disk.
Send for Professional Data Recovery
If DIY methods have failed to recover your data, it may be time to turn to professional data recovery services. These services are trained experts who use specialized tools and techniques to attempt recovering data from severely damaged drives.
Professional data recovery is recommended when the hard drive has experienced physical damage or corruption that prevents you from accessing data. This includes problems like:
- Hard drive makes beeping or clicking noises indicating mechanical failure
- Hard drive has been physically damaged from drops, water, fire, etc.
- Partition structures or file systems are severely corrupted
- DIY software solutions have repeatedly failed
The process involves a diagnostic evaluation, followed by data extraction in a clean room using specialized equipment. Expect 1-2 business days for diagnostics, and 5-10 business days for full service depending on complexity.
Costs vary based on the specific issue and level of damage, but average between $100 to $2000+. Larger drives or those requiring rebuilding or advanced techniques cost more. According to Hard Drive Recovery Group, recovering a hard drive can cost anywhere from $99 to $2000 depending on severity. Provendata says basic recovery averages $100-$700 based on factors like damage level and capacity.
While expensive, professional data recovery services offer the best chance of recovering data from a severely corrupted Seagate drive. With proper handling and diagnostics using advanced tools, trained specialists can often recover data when DIY options have failed.
Use Data Recovery Software
Specialized data recovery software can often salvage data from corrupted external hard drives. Some top options to try include:
- Stellar Data Recovery (https://www.techradar.com/best/best-data-recovery-software)
- Disk Drill (https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-data-recovery-software)
- Ontrack EasyRecovery (https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-data-recovery-software)
These programs can scan the drive and rebuild corrupted partitions and file systems. They may be able to recover deleted or lost files as well. Follow these steps when using data recovery software:
- Download and install the software on a separate healthy drive, not the corrupted drive.
- Connect the corrupted drive to the computer.
- Open the software and select the corrupted external drive to scan.
- Select file types or full drive recovery options.
- The software will scan and display recoverable files.
- Select the files you want to recover and restore them to a healthy drive.
Recovery success depends on the severity of corruption. But specialized software gives you the best chance of salvaging data from a damaged external hard drive.
Try a Format/Initialization
Formatting the Seagate external hard drive can potentially fix corruption issues and recover data in some situations. This should be done carefully to avoid permanent data loss.
Formatting the drive erases all data and resets the file system. If the corruption is located in the file system or partition tables, this can fix the issue and make the data accessible again. However, if there is physical damage to the disk, formatting will result in permanent data loss.
Here are the steps to carefully attempt formatting the Seagate external drive:
- Connect the Seagate external drive to your computer.
- Go to Windows File Explorer.
- Right-click on the corrupted Seagate drive and select “Format”.
- Choose the file system – exFAT or NTFS.
- Check the “Quick Format” box.
- Click “Start” to begin formatting.
The quick format just resets the file system, without fully scanning the disk for errors. This has the best chance of recovering data if the issues are located in the file system rather than physical parts of the disk.[1]
After formatting, scan the Seagate drive again using data recovery software to see if the files can now be accessed. If not, more invasive disk repair may be required.
Replace Circuitry
One option to recover data from a Seagate external hard drive with a failed PCB is to replace the control board. This involves opening up the hard drive enclosure and swapping out the damaged circuit board with a matching donor board.
To open the hard drive, you’ll need a small Phillips head screwdriver. Carefully remove all screws from the enclosure and separate the two halves to expose the internal drive (cite this page for opening HDD case info: https://www.donordrives.com/pcb-replacement-guide). Locate and detach the PCB from the drive.
When choosing a replacement board, it’s crucial to get an exact match based on the drive model number printed on the label. Even minor differences in PCB revisions can cause compatibility issues. Look for a donor board in good condition from a working drive with identical specs (cite this page on control board swapping: https://superuser.com/questions/1583652/is-data-from-hard-disk-with-damaged-pcb-recoverable).
After the swap, reconnect the drive and power it on. With luck, the new circuitry will allow data access. However, a mismatch in firmware or chipset between boards can prevent the drive from functioning normally. In that event, professional data recovery assistance may be required.
Conclusion
As the guide above demonstrates, there are several options for attempting to recover data from your Seagate external hard disk if it becomes corrupted. The most important thing is to first try less invasive software-based options, like using data recovery software or disk utilities, before attempting more advanced options like replacing the circuitry. This will help avoid permanently damaging or overwriting your data. Throughout the process, remember the critical importance of having a backup in the first place to avoid data loss.
To review, first check for symptoms of disk corruption and run diagnostics. If the disk seems repairable, try restoring with disk utilities built into your OS or from Seagate. Applying updated firmware or drivers may also help get the disk recognized again. If that fails, use data recovery software to scan and extract data from the drive.
As a last resort before replacing hardware, you can attempt a format or initialization to reset the drive. However, this will likely erase your data if it can’t be read. At any point if DIY software solutions don’t work, consult a professional recovery service to physically repair and extract your data.
Following proper backup practices is essential to avoid relying on recovery methods in the first place. Always maintain at least one backup copy of your important data, preferably on another physical drive and/or cloud storage. With reliable backups, you don’t have to worry about data loss when storage devices fail.