Quick Overview
There are a few potential reasons why an external hard drive may not be detected by your computer – the USB port could be damaged, the hard drive could be corrupted, there could be a driver issue, etc. The good news is that there are steps you can take to try and recover the data yourself before taking it to a professional data recovery service.
First, try connecting the hard drive to another USB port and computer. If it is still not recognized, you can try using data recovery software like Recuva or TestDisk to scan the drive and recover files. Applying the “deep scan” option with data recovery software can help locate more files.
If the drive is still not detected, you can remove the hard drive from its enclosure and connect it directly to your computer’s motherboard via SATA cable. This bypasses any USB/enclosure issues. If detected, recover data quickly onto another drive.
As a last resort, seek help from a professional data recovery company. They have specialized tools to repair drives and recover data. But be prepared to pay a high cost.
Determining Why Your External Hard Drive Is Not Detected
When your external hard drive is not detected by your computer, there are a number of possible culprits that could be causing the issue:
Damaged USB Port
If you have been using the same USB port for a long time, it may have become damaged through frequent use. Try plugging your external hard drive into another USB port on your computer. If it works in the new USB port, the original port is likely damaged.
Corrupted Drive
The file system or partition table of your external hard drive may have become corrupted. This could happen for a number of reasons – sudden power loss, improper ejection of the drive, file system errors, etc. Corruption prevents your computer from properly recognizing the drive.
Outdated Drivers
Your external hard drive requires drivers to function properly on your computer. If the drivers are outdated, that can prevent the operating system from detecting the drive. Update your USB drivers and external hard drive drivers to see if that resolves the detection issue.
Dead Hard Drive
In some cases, the hard drive itself has failed or is dead. No amount of software manipulation can rescue a dead drive. Typically, you will hear clicking or buzzing noises from a dead drive when you plug it in. Data recovery services may be able to rescue data in some cases.
Not Enough Power
If your external hard drive requires a power connection in addition to USB, make sure it is properly connected. Insufficient power can cause the drive to not function optimally. Try connecting the drive to a wall outlet or powered USB hub.
Connecting Your External Hard Drive to Another Computer
Start troubleshooting by testing your external hard drive on another computer. Connect the drive to another computer via USB cable.
If the drive works on the second computer, the issue lies with your original machine – it could be a hardware problem, driver problem, or OS issue. Investigate the original computer further.
However, if the drive still fails to display on the second system, the fault likely lies with the drive itself – either a corrupted file system, damaged port, or failed drive.
At this stage, you can begin data recovery efforts on the drive directly using recovery software before sending it off for professional recovery.
Test on Different Operating Systems
For further troubleshooting, test your drive on computers running different operating systems like Windows, Linux, and Mac.
An external hard drive formatted for Mac may not work on Windows without reformatting. Or vice versa. Test your drive on each OS to isolate the issue.
Connect Drive to Alternate USB Ports
Try out all of the different USB ports on the second computer as well. Use ports on both the front and back of the machine. Connect your drive directly to the USB port rather than through a hub.
USB issues could still occur on specific ports. Testing different ports helps determine if your drive’s USB connection is faulty or damaged.
Using Data Recovery Software
If your external hard drive is still not recognized after trying the steps above, you can attempt to use data recovery software to access the data.
Data recovery software scans the drive and attempts to reconstruct the file system and directory data in order to recover your files. Popular data recovery programs include:
Recuva
Recuva is free data recovery software from Piriform. It supports FAT, exFAT, and NTFS file systems. Recuva can recover files even if they have been deleted or the drive reformatted.
Run a deep scan on your undetected external drive with Recuva. This may take a while, but will search the drive thoroughly for recoverable data.
TestDisk
TestDisk is an open source data recovery app. It primarily focuses on partition recovery, but can also find and restore lost files. TestDisk can rebuild corrupted partition tables and locate partitions that aren’t detected correctly.
This can be helpful if your drive’s partitions are damaged or missing, causing the drive to not show up. Rebuilding the partitions may make your files accessible again.
Ontrack
Ontrack is paid data recovery software with more advanced capabilities, including specialized RAID recovery features. It has deep scanning abilities to thoroughly search for lost data.
The file previewer allows you to determine if recovered files are intact and worth saving. This software offers a free trial for you to test it out.
Opening the External Enclosure
If you have exhausted software solutions, the next step is to remove the hard drive from its external enclosure.
Open the enclosure carefully with a screwdriver. Then, you can access the internal hard drive and attempt connecting it directly to a desktop computer.
Connect Drive Internally
Connect the hard drive from your external enclosure directly to your desktop computer using internal SATA cables. This bypasses any USB/enclosure issues.
If the drive is then detected, you can simply recover the data directly while bypassing the enclosure. Just be sure to safely remove the internal drive afterwards.
Check for Physical Damage
When the enclosure is open, check the drive for any signs of physical damage or broken parts. If there are damaged components, recovery becomes difficult or impossible.
Problems like degraded read/write heads, failed PCB boards, and motor issues can render data recovery efforts useless without specialized repair.
Sending to a Professional Recovery Service
If all else fails, and your technical skills have been exhausted, you may need to seek help from a professional data recovery service.
Data recovery labs possess commercial data recovery tools that are more powerful than consumer software – though this comes at a steep price.
Logical Recovery
Logical recovery involves repairing the file system corruption so the drive can be accessed normally again. The data itself is not reconstructed.
Logical recoveries can be performed remotely over a network by the company. Less invasive, so generally cheaper!
Physical Recovery
Physical recoveries involve physically repairing or bypassing failed drive components like motors or read heads. The drive is then cloned and data extracted using specialized tools.
Physical recoveries require the drive to be shipped to the company for invasive procedures. Far more expensive but necessary if there is physical damage.
Clean Room Recovery
For the most difficult recoveries, a clean room recovery may be required. The drive is disassembled and repaired in a dust-free clean room environment to avoid further contamination.
Clean room recovery has the highest chances for data recovery, but is the most expensive option starting around $1000 or more depending on the drive.
Preventing Hard Drive Data Loss
While send drive failures are unavoidable, there are things you can do to help minimize your risk of data loss:
Backup Regularly
Backup your data, whether to cloud storage or a secondary physical drive. This gives you a copy in case of failure, theft or natural disaster. Backup your files on a regular basis to keep them up to date.
Handle Drive Properly
External hard drives are fragile! Avoid bumping or jostling it while powered on. Disconnect using the “Eject” function before transport. Store your drive in a secure, climate controlled location.
Check Drive Health
Use a disk utility like CHKDSK or DriveDx to monitor your drive for potential issues before they cause failure. Watch for warning signs like bad sectors.
Replacing a damaged drive before failure occurs can save your data!
Avoid Excess Heat
Heat causes electronic components to wear out more quickly. Store your drive in a cool area and keep the vents uncovered to allow air circulation.
If you notice your drive getting excessively warm, it could be a sign of impending failure. Move data immediately!
Recovering Data From an External Hard Drive: In Summary
– Try connecting the undetected drive to different computers and USB ports to isolate the issue.
– Use data recovery software like Recuva or TestDisk to scan and restore data.
– Open the enclosure and connect the hard drive internally via SATA as a workaround.
– Consider hiring a professional recovery service if DIY options fail – costs start around $1000.
– Prevent drive failure by backing up your data, handling gently, monitoring health, and keeping cool.