Is It Possible to Get Files from Corrupted Hard Disk?

Is it possible to get files from corrupted hard disk?

Yes, it is possible to recover files from a corrupted hard disk, but the chances of success depend on the severity and type of corruption. Corruption can occur due to physical damage, file system errors, bad sectors, or malware. In many cases, the data on the corrupted disk may be inaccessible or lost, but not necessarily permanently. If the disk is physically damaged, such as with a mechanical failure, the recovery process becomes much more complicated, and professional help may be required.

On the other hand, logical corruption, which affects the file system or partition, can often be resolved with software tools designed to repair or recover lost files. However, the success of recovery depends on factors like the extent of corruption, the actions taken after the corruption (e.g., attempts to overwrite data), and the disk's overall condition. In some cases, partial recovery of data is possible, but not all files may be retrievable.

How to get files from corrupted hard disk

Data loss or file corruption can occur if your hard drive becomes damaged. Fortunately, a professional data recovery tool can help you restore lost or corrupted files.

However, it's important to note that not all recovery software will do the job. To successfully recover data from a corrupted drive, you need a trustworthy and secure tool. In this case, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery stands out as an excellent option.

This software is designed to recover files from a wide range of storage devices, including USB drives, flash drives, hard drives, and even digital cameras that have encountered issues like system crashes or data corruption. It is highly reliable and can efficiently restore a variety of file types from damaged storage devices.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find 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.

How to fix a corrupted hard disk on Windows 11/10

While recovering your lost files is important, a corrupted hard drive still needs to be repaired to regain its full functionality. To help, we've outlined nine of the most effective methods to fix a corrupted hard drive on Windows 10/11 and make it usable once more.

Way 1. Use the Command Prompt

Windows includes a built-in command-line tool that can help repair your hard drive. By running the CHKDSK command in the Command Prompt, you can check for and fix errors on your drive automatically.

Here's how to use Command Prompt to repair a corrupted hard drive:

Step 1. Press the Windows key and type "Command Prompt" in the search bar.

Step 2. Right-click the program and select Run as administrator.

Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

chkdsk F: /f /r /x (Replace F with the letter of your hard drive.)

The tool will scan your corrupted drive and automatically repair any errors.

Way 2. Use SFC and DISM

If your corrupted hard drive is preventing your PC from booting, your system files might be damaged. You can use the SFC and DISM commands to check and repair these files. The SFC command scans and replaces damaged system files, while the DISM command can fix the underlying system image through Windows Update.

Follow these steps to repair your hard drive with SFC and DISM:

Step 1. Right-click the Windows icon and select Command Prompt(Admin).

Step 2. In Command Prompt, type the command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

Step 3. If the SFC scan doesn't resolve the issue, try running the following command:

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

These commands will help repair your system files and underlying image, potentially fixing your corrupted hard drive.

Way 3. Update disk drivers

Disk drivers typically update automatically, but if your hard drive is corrupted, outdated drivers may be the cause. Updating them can often resolve the issue.

To update your hard disk drivers, follow these steps:

Step 1. Press the Windows key and type "Device Manager" in the search bar.

Step 2. Open Device Manager and locate Disk drives.

Step 3. Expand the Disk drives section and find your corrupted hard drive.

Step 4. Right-click on your hard drive and select Update Driver Software.

Step 5. A dialog box will appear. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Step 6. Windows will then search for and install any available driver updates for your hard drive.

Way 4. Change the drive letter

Drive letter conflicts can lead to hard drive corruption. If your corrupted hard drive is visible in Disk Management but not in File Explorer, it may be missing a drive letter. Reassigning it can resolve the issue.

Here’s how to change the drive letter for your hard disk:

Step 1. Hit Windows Key + X on your keyboard, and select Disk Management from the menu.

Step 2. Right-click the USB drive to which you want to assign a persistent drive letter and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths”.

Step 3. In the pop-up window, click “Change”.

Step 4. In the next window, choose a proper drive letter for your USB drive using the drop-down menu and click “OK”.

✐ Tips: You may choose a rarely-used drive letter like M-Z, thus avoiding possible drive letter conflicts.

Step 5. You will get a prompt that some programs might rely on drive letters to run properly. Click “Yes” to continue as long as the drive letter you assign here is not occupied by another drive where the programs are installed.

Conclusion

If you've observed your hard disk becoming slower, missing files, frequent freezing, error messages, or other unusual behaviors, it's likely corrupted. Hard disk corruption can be caused by various factors, including physical damage or firmware issues.

Is it possible to get files from corrupted hard disk? Thankfully, you can repair your corrupted hard drive using the four methods mentioned earlier. However, if your files are still missing, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to recover data from the corrupted disk.