Dealing with a corrupted or damaged external hard drive can be a frustrating experience, but there are several methods you can try to repair it without losing your valuable data. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore various techniques, including using Windows built-in tools and command prompt commands, to fix corrupted external hard drives and recover your files.
Repairing Corrupted External Hard Drives with Windows Tools
One of the easiest ways to address a corrupted external hard drive is by utilizing the built-in Windows tools. Follow these steps:
Using the Disk Check Tool
Open “This PC” and right-click on the drive with the issue.
Select “Properties” and navigate to the “Tools” tab.
Click the “Check” button to initiate a scan and repair process.
Repairing with the Command Prompt
You can also use the powerful Command Prompt (CMD) to repair a corrupted external hard drive. Here’s how:
Press the Windows R keys, type “cmd,” and hit Enter to open the Command Prompt.
In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk E: /f /r /x
Replace “E” with the letter of your external hard drive.
This command will scan the drive, fix any errors, and recover data from bad sectors. Note that this process may cause data loss, so it’s essential to back up your files beforehand.
Updating the Disk Driver
Sometimes, a corrupted external hard drive can be caused by a faulty or outdated disk driver. You can try updating the driver to resolve the issue:
Right-click on “This PC” and select “Properties.”
Click on “Device Manager” and expand the “Disk Drives” section.
Right-click on the external hard drive and choose “Uninstall device.”
Restart your computer, and the driver should be automatically reinstalled.
Repairing Corrupted System Files
Corrupted system files can also lead to external hard drive issues. You can use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan and repair any damaged system files:
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
This will scan your system for any corrupted files and attempt to fix them.
Recovering Data from a Corrupted External Hard Drive
If the above methods fail to repair your corrupted external hard drive, you may need to resort to data recovery software or services. One reliable option is Wondershare Recoverit, which boasts a 98% success rate in retrieving lost or deleted files.
Using Data Recovery Software
Download and install Wondershare Recoverit on your computer.
Connect the corrupted external hard drive to your computer.
Launch Recoverit and select the external hard drive as the location to scan.
Choose the appropriate data recovery mode and let Recoverit scan the drive.
Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files and select the ones you want to restore.
Click the “Recover” button to save the files to a different storage location.
Remember, data recovery should always be the last resort, as it may not always be successful, especially in cases of severe physical damage to the hard drive. It’s crucial to regularly back up your important data to prevent such situations in the future.