Data Recovery External Hard Drive: 3 Effective Methods

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Visit us if you need external hard drive recovery help. Here are three proven techniques to restore data from your external drive after removing formatting, virus attacks, and other troubles, including using WinfrGUI software. Find valuable files fast with these steps.

Overview of external hard drive recovery

External hard drives, which are called external hard disks, are large storage devices for both Windows and Mac users. It allows easy file transfer, large data storage and important personal backup. However, like any storage device, external drives are at risk of data loss due to various factors.

What causes data loss on external hard drive?

In order to be able to effectively recover data from external hard drives. It is important to understand the causes behind file loss on your device. Here is a list of common data loss situations:

  • Inadvertently deleting or formatting files
  • Loss or damage of critical file system structure
  • System shutdown or program failure unexpectedly
  • Partition structure damaged or missing
  • Damage caused by power failure or impact.
  • A virus attack or other unknown reason.

What to do when you lose data on an external hard drive

If you find yourself in a situation where data loss occurs, do not be afraid. Follow these two important tips to increase your chances of successful data recovery:

  • cease utilizing external hard drives immediately: To avoid rewriting lost files, cease using them. Continued drive use may erase lost files.
  • Reliable Data Recovery Solution again: WinfrGUI data recovery program is suggested for external hard disk recovery. This app finds misplaced files from storage devices using a simple interface.

In the next section we will explore three different ways of recovering data from external hard drives, dealing with different situations and levels of damage.

How to recover data from external hard drive [3 ways]

Method 1: File Recovery with Software

This method is ideal for scanning and recovering data from external hard drives affected by deleting RAW formatting problems, operating system failures, power errors, loss of partitions and hidden files. WinfrGUI was developed by Microsoft Corporation as a suitable solution for reliable, accessible data recovery. Best of all, it’s free to use.

Here’s a simple breakdown of how WinfrGUI was convenient to the recovery process:

Step 1: Select and scan external hard drive

  • Download and install WinfrGUI on your PC or laptop
Download WinfrGUI Free
  • Connect an external hard drive to your computer
  • Start WinfrGUI and select an external drive to scan.

Step 2: Check the scan results.

  • WinfrGUI performs a thorough scan, recovering deleted and existing files. Use the filtering feature to find specific file types.

Step 3: View sample and recover data.

  • Double-click a file in the scan result to view it.
  • Select the file you want to recover and click on “Recover”.
  • Select different target drives to store recovered files

With WinfrGUI, data recovery from external hard drives becomes a smooth and hassle-free process to ensure efficiency and peace.

Method 2: Show hidden files

If you hide certain files on your external hard drive for privacy purposes, this method will guide you on how to disclose them. Please note that these steps are exclusively for Windows 11 or 10 users.

Step 1: Open Windows File Explorer

  • Press the Windows + E buttons at the same time

Step 2: Folder Access Options

  • Go to Folder Options or File Survey Options
  • Click on “See”

Step 3: Show hidden files

  • In the Hidden Files and Folders section, select the “Show hidden files, files and drives” option.
  • Click “Application” and then “Okay”.
  • The hidden files on your external hard drive are visible.

Method 3: Repair damaged external hard drive

If your external hard drive is damaged due to a virus or malware, use this method to recover your files. Please be careful and make sure you type the correct command because any errors may lead to further problems. It is recommended to do a data recovery before trying CMD method.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

  • Press “Win + R” and type “cmd”. Press “Enter” to open Command Prompt.

Step 2: Enter the required command

  • Type “chkdsk F: / f” (replace “F” with the drive letter of your external hard drive)
  • Click Enter Type “Y” and press Enter Type” F” and click Enter type “F:>attrib -h -r -s /s /d” and then press Enter

Step 3: Wait until the operation is complete.

  • When the process is complete, type “out” to close the command.
  • Restart your computer and reconnect to external hard drive
  • You should be able to view and access all your information.

If the Command Prompt method does not work on your computer, you can refer to Method 1 and use the WinfrGUI software for help with data recovery.

Bonus Tip: Protect external hard drive data and prevent data loss.

Protect your external hard drive data after recovering it to prevent further loss. Consider these tips:

  • Format the external hard drive before saving the recovered files. Access your PC. Launch File Explorer. Right-click the drive and choose “format”. Select “Quick Format” under NTFS before clicking “Start”.
  • Extra backup: Backup your external hard drive files to cloud drivers. Use free backup software to create an image file of the contents on your outside hard drive. This helps protect your important data twice.
  • Scan your device regularly with antivirus software: Install antiviral software on your computer and scan your device every time for viruses and malware. This is an anti-infection that may lead to data loss.

Do not hesitate to share these useful tips with others to help them avoid losing data on their external hard drives.

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we have talked about what external hard drives are, what are the common causes of data loss, and three effective ways to recover data from external hardware. We also have valuable tips for protecting your files and preventing further loss. Keep in mind that enabling WinfrGUI for data recovery is a smart choice because it allows the recovery process to be faster and reduce your losses.

Frequently Asked Questions: External Hard Drive Recovery Questions

While this manual covers most of the data recovery issues, it is important to answer the frequently asked questions:

How much does it cost to recover data from external hard drive?

Data recovery costs for external hard drives usually range from $500 to $1000. However, if the drive has no physical damage and the problem is mechanical failure, you can try free data recovery software such as WinfrGUI.

How can I recover data from an unknown external hard drive?

First, test the drive on another computer to undo USB port problems if it works. Please focus on fixing the USB port. If the problem persists. Check the external hard drive connection in Disk Management and rely on WinfrGUI for recovering data from unknown drive.

By following the above instructions, you will be ready to face the challenge of recovering external hard drives and successfully speeding up your valuable data.

Also Read: How to Recover Microsoft Word Document