External hard drives have become an essential part of modern digital life. These portable devices hold valuable data, whether used for personal backups, storing large files, or business purposes. However, like all technology, they can fail or malfunction, potentially losing important files.
If you’ve accidentally deleted something or find that your external drive has become inaccessible, don’t panic. It’s often possible to recover data from an external hard drive.
This in-depth guide will explain why people lose data, how to get them back, how much it costs, and how to prevent it from happening again. Whether you’re dealing with accidental deletions, corrupted drives, or even physical damage, you’ll find the right solution here.
Is it possible to recover data from an external hard drive?
The answer to this question depends on the nature of the problem you’re facing, but in most cases, it’s possible to recover data from an external hard drive. There are different ways to get back data that has been lost because of things like accidental deleting, file corruption, or even physical damage.
Common scenarios for data loss on external hard drives include:
- Accidental Deletion: One of the most common reasons people seek data recovery is unintentional deletion. If you’ve deleted a file from your external hard drive, you might be surprised to learn it hasn’t truly disappeared. Most operating systems don’t immediately erase files when they’re deleted—they merely mark the space they occupied as “free,” meaning new data could eventually overwrite it.
- File Corruption: Corruption can occur when an external hard drive isn’t ejected properly or there’s a power failure while writing data. Corruption can also happen due to virus or malware infections. In most cases, the data remains on the drive, but it’s no longer accessible through the normal file system.
- Formatting: Formatting your external drive, whether intentional or accidental, seems like a disaster, but the data might still be recoverable. Formatting rewrites the file system, but the data can remain intact until new files overwrite it.
- Physical Damage: External hard drives can get broken by being dropped, getting wet, or having hardware problems. If your drive has been physically damaged, professional recovery services are typically required to extract the data safely.
Different ways to recover data from an external hard drive:
Stop Using the Drive Immediately: The first and most important thing to do after realising you’ve lost data is to stop using the drive. Continuing to write data on the drive will increase the chances that your deleted or lost files are overwritten and become unrecoverable.
Use Data Recovery Software: If you delete something by mistake, format it, or damage the file system, recovery software can usually fix the problem. Programs like Recuva, Disk Drill, EaseUS, and Stellar Phoenix are popular tools that scan the drive for lost files. They work by identifying files that the system marked as deleted but still exist on the physical storage until overwritten.
Step-by-step for data recovery software:
- Download and install your chosen software.
- Get your portable hard drive hooked up to your computer.
- Run a scan on the drive.
- Review the recoverable files and restore them to another location (preferably not the external drive itself to avoid overwriting more data).
Professional Data Recovery Services: If software recovery fails or the drive is physically damaged, you’ll need professional help. We’ve listed five signs to help you know when you need professional data retrieval in Brisbane. Physical damage, such as a broken connector, water damage, or a dropped drive, requires a controlled environment to repair the drive and retrieve the data. Experts use specialised tools and a clean-room environment to safely open the drive and extract the data.
Professional IT providers here at ChoiceTel offer services like Data Recovery, Onsite Computer Repairs, Computer Repairs, and Backup Solutions, ensuring that your data can be retrieved and your devices maintained even when disaster strikes.
How much should it cost to recover data from an external hard drive?
How much it costs to get back data from an external hard drive depends on how much data was lost and what method is used to get it back. Data loss due to logical failures (like accidental deletion) will generally be cheaper to recover than physical failures (such as broken parts or water damage).
Cost breakdown of data recovery options:
DIY Software Recovery: Data recovery software is the most affordable option for simple logical data loss scenarios—such as file corruption or accidental deletion. High-quality software can range from $50 to $150, with some free versions offering limited functionality. These programmes can look through your drive for lost files and get them back for you, as long as they haven’t been changed.
- Recommended software: EaseUS Data Recovery, Disk Drill, Stellar Phoenix, and Recuva.
Professional Data Recovery Services (Logical Issues): If DIY software doesn’t work or you’re unsure how to proceed, professional services for recovering data from logical issues (like formatting, corruption, or deleted files) typically cost between $300 and $600. These services can recover data even when the file system is corrupted, as professionals use advanced tools and techniques to locate and restore lost files.
Physical Damage Recovery: When your external hard drive has suffered physical damage (like water exposure, a fall, or mechanical failure), the cost of recovery increases. Physical damage requires specialised equipment and skilled technicians to repair the hardware before data recovery occurs. This process can cost anywhere from $700 to $2,000, depending on the damage’s severity and the recovery’s complexity.
Factors that affect cost:
- Type of damage: Physical repairs, such as fixing the read/write heads or platters, are more expensive than logical repairs.
- Data size: Some recovery services charge based on the amount of data recovered.
- Turnaround time: Expedited services for urgent recoveries will cost more than standard recovery services.
Companies like us here at Choice Tel specialise in Data Recovery and offer services like Backup Solutions, iMac Repairs, and Laptop Repairs, helping you with all your IT repair needs.
Can you recover permanently deleted files from an external hard drive?
Permanently deleted files can often be recovered from an external hard drive. When a file is “permanently” deleted from your external hard drive (for example, by emptying the Recycle Bin), it doesn’t immediately disappear. The file’s space on the hard drive is marked as available for new data but remains on the drive until new data overwrites it. The file can be recovered using the right software as long as the space hasn’t been reused.
How to get back files from a portable hard drive that is broken?
File corruption is one of the most frustrating problems users face when dealing with external hard drives. Corruption can occur for various reasons, including improper ejection, virus infections, or file system errors. When an external hard drive is corrupted, it may become unreadable or inaccessible, but that doesn’t mean the data is lost.
How to get back things from an external hard drive that has become damaged:
Use CHKDSK on Windows: If your external hard drive becomes corrupted, one of the first things you can try is using CHKDSK, a built-in Windows utility that scans your drive for file system errors and attempts to fix them.
How to use CHKDSK:
- Open Command Prompt (in Administrator mode).
- Type chkdsk X: /f (replace “X” with the letter of your external drive).
- Press Enter, let the system scan, and attempt to repair the drive. If CHKDSK can fix the file system errors, your drive may become readable again, allowing you to access your files.
Use Data Recovery Software: In case CHKDSK doesn’t work, you can use data recovery tools to get your info back. These tools bypass file system errors and retrieve your data, even if the drive remains corrupted.
Recommended tools: Stellar Data Recovery, EaseUS, Disk Drill, and Recuva. These tools will scan your drive sector-by-sector to recover your files, even if the system is damaged.
Test the Drive on Another Computer: Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the external hard drive but the computer. Try connecting your external drive to another device to see if it works. Incompatibility with your current system is causing the drive to appear corrupted when it’s fine.
Seek Professional Help for Physical Damage: Professional recovery services will be necessary if the corruption is severe or related to hardware failure. Experts in data recovery, Internet and networking, and onsite computer Repair can assess your drive for physical damage and recover your files using specialised tools.
Choice Tel provides a wide range of repair and recovery services to ensure that your data is recovered safely, whether you’re dealing with corruption or physical damage.
Best Practices to Recover Data from External Hard Drive Safely
It can be stressful to try to get data back from an external hard drive. But if you follow these tips, you’ll have a better chance of doing it and be less likely to lose the data forever.
Best practices to follow:
- Stop Using the Drive Immediately: If you suspect data loss, stop using the drive to prevent overwriting. The more you use the drive, the more likely the deleted or corrupted data will be permanently erased.
- Always Use Reliable Recovery Software: When dealing with logical failures (e.g., accidental deletion or corruption), use well-reviewed and trusted software like EaseUS or Stellar Phoenix. These programs have proven success rates and user-friendly interfaces.
- Back up Your Data Often: One of the best ways to keep your data safe is to back it up often. Use a cloud-based Backup Solution or another external drive to ensure you always have copies of your important files. Regular backups will reduce your dependency on recovery tools and services.
- Eject Your Drives Properly: A common cause of data corruption is improper ejection of external drives. Always safely eject your drive before unplugging it to avoid file system errors.
- Seek Professional Help for Physical Damage: If your external hard drive has suffered physical damage, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. Opening a damaged hard drive in a non-professional setting can cause irreversible damage. Instead, consult a professional service like Choice Tel, which specialises in laptop repairs, iMac repairs, and data recovery.
Recovering from Data Loss
When dealing with data loss, time is of the essence. Whether recovering deleted files, dealing with file system corruption, or facing physical damage, there are several ways to recover data from your external hard drive. Using data recovery software is often sufficient for minor issues, but for more complex problems, professional services are required.
Companies like us at Choice Tel offer comprehensive solutions, including Data Recovery, Backup Solutions, Computer Repairs, and more. They ensure that your devices are maintained and your data is protected, giving you peace of mind in case of future failures.
In the end, the best defence against data loss is prevention. Regularly backing up your files, keeping your devices in good shape, and following best practices for using external drives will help you avoid problems in the future and keep your data safe.
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