Are There Chances of Recovering Data from Hard Drive?

Hard drive and SSD are normal tools to store data on a computer. However, when the system boot fails or some other issues happen to cause data loss, are there any chances of recovering data from hard drive? If you sadly have lost data from your hard drive or external storage devices, try the methods in this post, you may save your data files before all is late.

How is the data stored on your HDDs and SSDs?

Although data storage on HDDs and SSDs differs significantly because of their underlying technologies, both disks help us keep our data safe. HDDs use mechanical components to store and access data.

In HDDs, data is stored magnetically on spinning platters made of materials like aluminum, glass, or ceramic. These platters rotate at high speeds, typically 5,400 RPM or 7,200 RPM, while a read/write head on an actuator arm moves across the surface to access or modify the data. The data is organized into concentric tracks, divided into sectors, and managed through file systems such as FAT32 or NTFS.

While SSDs rely on electronic circuits, these differences affect each storage device's performance, durability, and efficiency. SSDs store data electronically in NAND flash memory cells without any moving parts. Data is organized into pages, which are grouped into blocks. SSDs come in variations like SLC (Single-Level Cell), MLC (Multi-Level Cell), TLC (Triple-Level Cell), or QLC (Quad-Level Cell), which impact their storage density, speed, and durability.

To ensure longevity, SSDs use wear-leveling algorithms to distribute write cycles across memory cells evenly.

What could cause data loss from hard disks?

Data loss from hard disks can occur due to various reasons, ranging from hardware issues to human errors. Understanding these causes can help in preventing and mitigating data loss effectively.

▌ 1. Physical Damage

Hard drives contain moving parts, making them vulnerable to impacts, drops, or shocks. For example, a sudden drop can cause the read/write head to crash into the platters, damaging the surface where data is stored. Exposure to extreme heat, moisture, or dust can also harm the components, while regular wear and tear can lead to mechanical failures over time.

▌ 2. Logical Errors

Logical damage can lead to data loss, even if the hard disk’s hardware is intact. File system corruption, often caused by improper ejection or interrupted file transfers, can make the disk unreadable. Bad sectors, which develop over time, can cause certain files to become inaccessible. Malware, including ransomware or viruses, can delete, encrypt, or corrupt data, compounding the problem.

▌ 3. Software Issues

The software you installed can also cause data loss. Failed updates, system crashes, or errors during cloning and backup processes can overwrite or corrupt files. For external hard drives, theft or misplacement can also result in permanent data loss if no backups exist.

How to recover data from hard drive on Windows PC

As we’ve mentioned, there are different problems that may cause hard drive data loss, so the solutions also need to be sorted.

Case 1. Recover data from damaged hard drive

Data can often be recovered from a damaged hard drive, although this is dependent on the extent and type of damage. When a hard disk is physically destroyed, the data on it is in danger. However, when the damage is more logical, such as corrupted files, inadvertent deletion, or faulty sectors, data recovery can be easier.

✔ Solution 1. Restore from a hard drive backup

If you regularly back up your data, you may be able to restore your files from a previous backup. Many operating systems and cloud services offer automatic backup options.

Step 1. Open the backup software or service you use (Windows Backup, Time Machine, or a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox).

Step 2. Locate the backup that contains your lost files.

Step 3. Choose the files or folders you want to restore.

Step 4. Follow the prompts to restore the files to their original location or a new folder.

✔ Solution 2. Use CHKDSK tool

The CHKDSK utility can repair file system problems on a damaged drive. It is a built-in Windows tool that assists in identifying and resolving issues that may restrict data access.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator by searching for "cmd" in the start menu, right-clicking it, and selecting Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command:

chkdsk C: /f /r  (Replace "C" with the letter of the damaged drive)

Step 3. Press Enter and allow CHKDSK to scan and fix the drive.

Step 4. After the scan finishes, check if your files are accessible or if data has been restored.

Case 2. Recover data from external hard drive

External hard drives have been normally employed for the purpose of transferring files between various devices, expanding storage capacity, generating backups, and transporting data. The more data you store on it, the more vulnerable the data becomes, and the longer you use it.

You can also try CMD to recover lost data from external hard disk.

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2. Press Win + R to open the Run window.

Step 3. Type "CMD," and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 4. Type "attrib -h -r -s /s /d F:\*.*" and hit Enter.

(Replace "F" with the exact letter of your external hard drive.)

Case 3. Recover files from formatted hard drive

The operating system is unable to locate data on the disk when a hard drive is formatted. Therefore, there is still a possibility of recovery until specific sectors of the drive are overwritten.

✔ Solution 1. Recover files from formatted hard drive via Previous Versions

Step 1. Find the file or folder you want to recover in File Explorer. Right-click and choose "Restore Previous Versions". Then pick the right version from the list under "Previous Versions".

Step 2. Click "Restore" to recover it to its original location.

✔ Solution 2. Recover formatted hard drive with File History

Step 1. Type "File History" in the search box and choose "Restore your files with File History" from the result.

Step 2. Next, search for the file you want to restore, confirm the file, and tap on the green "Restore" button.

Step 3. Then select "Replace the file in the destination" to begin the recovery.

Try a professional data recovery tool for all hard drive data loss cases

Various situations may cause hard drive data loss on your computer, if it’s a little difficult for you to deal with every case along, the best choice is to use an all-around data recovery tool to handle all data loss problems.

AOMEI FastRecovery is such a tool that can tackle most lost data recovery on Windows computer. This powerful and user-friendly tool designed to retrieve lost data from damaged or corrupted hard drives efficiently in Windows 11/10/8/7 and All Windows Servers. Known for its intuitive interface and robust recovery algorithms, it ensures quick and accurate results, making it a top choice for both novices and professionals.

Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery, and then choose the target hard drive.

Step 2. Scan your drive to find the deleted files. It offers two modes, Quick Scan and Deep Scan, supporting thoroughly scanning your storage devices for finding lost data.

Step 3. After scanning, all missing files will be displayed. Kindly choose the specific files and then click Recover.

Step 4. Specify a path for these files and wait for the process to complete.

Conclusion

Of course, you have chances of recovering data from hard drive on your computer. So, don't worry when your hard drive is failing, once you find some sign of hard disk dying. You can quickly try system tools to recover the data, or if you're not sure how to choose, directly try AOMEI FastRecovery to fix the problem.