[Tutorial]: How to Restore Previous Versions of External Hard Drive?

Can I restore previous versions of external hard drives?

An external hard drive is a portable storage device used to store large amounts of data. Unlike built-in drives in computers, external hard drives are connected with devices through interfaces and easy to maintain and replace if they go wrong. They are regarded as a perfect way to back up important data while working.

However, it is not totally risk-free to use external hard drives. For instance, when you accidentally delete certain files or format the drives without other backups, you risk losing data. So, can I restore my external hard drive in that situation?

Yes, it’s possible. You are allowed to restore previous versions of external hard drives to get your essential files back.

How to restore deleted files from external hard drives?

File deleting is one of the most common issues that we may encounter when using external hard drives. Fortunately, there are several easy-to-follow solutions that can help you restore deleted files from external hard drives. This article will give you a detailed insight into all these solutions. 

Solution 1: Restore deleted files with recovery software

When talking about restoring previous versions of external hard drives, the first solution that comes to mind is using professional recovery software. Actually, the method for recovering files deleted from external hard drives may vary depending on the specific scenarios. Fortunately, third-party software can help you address various deletion issues and recover files that you want with ease.

There are numerous recovery products on the market, but I strongly recommend AOMEI FastRecovery. As a professional recovery expert, AOMEI FastRecovery allows you to retrieve various types of deleted or corrupted files from multiple storage devices, including external&internal hard drives, PCs, USD drives, and more.

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Handles diverse data loss scenarios, recovering your files quickly and efficiently.

Features a user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those with minimal experience.

Provides file preview before recovery, ensuring that you select the correct one.

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Here is how to restore deleted files from external hard drives with AOMEI FastRecovery:

Step 1: Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery, and then choose the external 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.

Solution 2: Restore deleted files from the Recycle Bin

Can I recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin on external hard drives? Yes, of course you can. Typically, deleted files are stored temporarily in the Recycle Bin. However, external hard drives work a bit differently. Each external hard drive has its own Recycle Bin folder. When you open the Recycle Bin on your desktop, what you see is a combined view of all Recycle Bin folders on your computer. The folder for the external hard drives is default hidden in the drive’s root directory. You can check it to recover your deleted files.

Follow these steps below to restore your deleted files from the Recycle Bin:

Step 1: Open the File Explorer first, and click View > Options in turn.

Step 2: Click View, then select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and disable Hide protected operating system files.

Step 3: You can see the Recycle Bin folder on your external hard drive.

Step 4: Right-click the desired files and select Restore to get them back.

Solution 3: Restore lost files through CMD

Additionally, restoring lost files through the Windows Command Prompt can also be a practical method. Sometimes, you fail to find your files since they are hidden for improper operations. In such a situation, you can apply the attrib commands to restore the lost files on your external hard drive. However, it is important to know that this method only works when your files are hidden or appear to be missing on the external hard drives. If you are sure that your files have been deleted, please try other recovery ways.

Here are the detailed steps to recover lost files through CMD:

Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to your device first.

Step 2. Press the Win + R keys to launch the Run tool, type cmd, and hit Enter to open the command prompt.

Step 3. Type the following command and press Enter: attrib -h -r -s X:\*.* /s /d. Here, replace X with the letter of your external hard drive.

After running the command, the files that have been hidden by the system or applications will be visible for you.

Solution 4: Restore deleted files via File History

Is there another way to restore previous versions of files? Recovering deleted files via File History is also a viable way. File History (available in Windows 8 and later versions) is a practical feature on Windows that aims to help users back up files regularly and offer recovery service when the files are deleted by accident. It allows you to store multiple versions of files with just a few setup steps, offering a flexible recovery option.

If you have enabled File History in advance, follow these steps to get your missing files back:

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel, and select System and Security > File History in turn.

Step 2: Click Restore personal files.

Step 3: Choose the files you want to recover, and then click the Recover button.

Reasons for data loss from an external hard drive

Knowing the causes of data loss on external hard drives can help you choose an appropriate solution to fix the issue of how to restore previous versions of external hard drives. This section outlines several common reasons, including:

♦ Accidentally deleting or overwriting essential files on the external hard drive while dealing with or managing them.

♦ Unexpectedly formatting the drive without having any backups.

♦ Virus or malware attacks can damage the data stored on your external hard drive, making your files inaccessible or lost.

♦ Physical or environmental damage can also result in significant data loss.

How do I prevent file loss?

Can we take measures to prevent unnecessary file loss? Here are several useful strategies you can refer to.

Double-Check before Acting: Be careful when handling and managing files on your external hard drive. Ensure that your actions do not lead to the unexpected loss of important data. 

Back Up Your Data Regularly: Implementing a regular data backup can greatly reduce the risk of losing data. It is advisable to back up your essential files to another storage device or cloud storage service.

Maintain Drive Health: Take essential steps to keep your drives in good working condition. For example, use tools like CrystalDiskInfo or HDDScan to monitor and protect your drive from potential threats.

Avoid Physical Damage: When using your external hard drive, avoid dropping it or exposing it to moisture. Besides, each time you disconnect the drive, make sure to safely eject it through the "Safely Remove Hardware" option in the operating system.

Final Words

An external hard drive is a widely used storage device for storing data. Sometimes we may lose essential data while using it. How do I restore previous versions of external hard drives? This article covers the common reasons for file loss and how to restore deleted files from external hard drives. If you are still struggling with this issue, consider trying the solutions mentioned in this post. What’ more, taking the right measures to prevent data loss is equally significant for us.