File Recovery from External Hard Drive: Steps to Retrieve Your Lost Data

The need for file recovery from external hard drive

External hard drives are popular storage devices for backing up and storing important files. Files stored on external hard drives often consist of important documents, cherished memories in the form of photos or videos, or critical business data.

However, data loss from the external hard disk can occur for various reasons, such as accidental deletion, formatting errors, file system corruption, or hardware malfunctions. Losing data can be distressing and may have significant consequences.

File recovery from the external hard drive aims to retrieve these lost files and restore them to their original state, minimizing data loss and preserving your valuable information. Go ahead, let’s talk about the work in detail.

Common Causes of Data Loss from External Hard Drives

Data loss from external hard drives can occur due to several reasons, including:

➹ Accidental deletion or formatting: Accidentally deleting files or formatting the external hard drive without proper backup can lead to irreversible data loss. Such actions can occur due to human error or mistakenly selecting the wrong options.

➹ File system corruption: File system corruption can render files inaccessible or cause them to disappear from the external hard drive. This can happen due to sudden power outages, improper ejection of the drive, or malware infections.

➹ Hardware or software issues: Hardware malfunctions, such as a faulty USB port or a failing hard drive, can result in data loss. Similarly, software issues like conflicts with the operating system or incompatible file system formats can contribute to the loss of files.

Precautions before attempting file recovery from your external hard disk

Before you start the file recovery process, it's important to take some precautions to maximize the chances of successful data retrieval:

★ Stop using the external hard drive
As soon as you realize data loss, stop using the external hard drive to prevent any further data overwriting. Continued usage may overwrite the deleted or lost files, making them harder or impossible to recover.
★ Avoid storing new data on the drive
Do not save or write any new data to the external hard drive from which you want to recover files. Writing new data increases the risk of overwriting the lost files, reducing the likelihood of successful recovery.
★ Prepare a suitable data recovery environment
Create a suitable recovery environment by connecting the external hard drive to a reliable and secure computer system. Ensure that the system has adequate storage space and is equipped with reliable file recovery software.

How to recover external hard drive data

When it comes to external hard drive file recovery, there are two practical methods that can be taken by computer enthusiasts to retrieve lost or inaccessible files.

▶ Method 1. Recover files from external hard drive with Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery, developed by Microsoft, is a practical data recovery tool that allows users to retrieve deleted photos from various storage devices such as SSDs, HDDs, SD cards, and USB drives. This tool supports different file systems, including NTFS, exFAT, FAT, and more.

To utilize this helpful tool, please ensure that your Windows OS is version 20H1 Build 19041 or newer. If it meets the requirements, you can proceed to recover your permanently deleted photos using the following steps.

Step 1. Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and install it with administrative privileges.

Tips:

✿ The command syntax is as follows: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
✿ You can choose between two scanning modes: Default and Extensive, depending on your specific situation.

The Extensive mode can be further categorized into two modes: Signature and Segment. In Signature mode, you can recover all lost files under the file system using file headers. In Segment mode, you can restore lost files with file record staging specifically for NTFS.
✿  Here are some switches you can use to customize the recovery task.

✿  Please exercise caution while entering commands, as incorrect commands can result in irreversible data loss.

Step 2. Select the Default mode and input the command "winfr C: D: /n *.docx" to search for all DOCX files on the C drive and copy them to the D drive. Press "y" to proceed. Remember to replace "C:" with the appropriate source drive and "D:" with the destination drive as per your requirements.

 ▶ Method 2. Try the best external hard drive file recovery software

To successfully perform file recovery from external hard drives, AOMEI FastRecovery is a standout software solution. It combines powerful functionality with user-friendly features, making it an ideal choice for efficiently retrieving lost files. Here are the key highlights of this software when it comes to recovering files from external hard disks:

✌ Extensive external disk support: It is specifically designed to handle the complexities of external hard drives. It provides support for various external disk brands and models, ensuring compatibility regardless of your drive's specifications. Whether you're using a SATA, NVMe, M.2 SSD, or a different HDD brand, this software has you covered.
✌ Advanced data recovery skills: It employs advanced algorithms to locate and recover files from external hard drives, even in challenging scenarios such as TRIM-enabled drives and wear-leveling algorithms. It conducts a thorough scan of the external hard disk, identifies recoverable data fragments, and successfully reconstructs your files.
✌ Data security service: The software prioritizes the safety of your recovered files by operating in read-only mode. This approach minimizes the risk of further data loss or corruption during the recovery process. It respects the integrity of your external hard disk and ensures that no modifications are made.

Let’s see how to use this external hard drive file recovery software.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Conclusion

Performing file recovery from external hard drive can be a difficult experience, but with the right steps and precautions, you can increase the chances of successful file recovery. In the post, we provided two tools for you. If you want to recover data easily, AOMEI Partition Assistant will meet your needs.