Hard drives are the modern-day portable vaults for the modern currency known as data. Although the operational life of an HDD is long, there could be instances where an HDD becomes corrupted.
What are the Reasons that Result in an HDD Becoming Unusable?
Many reasons can render an external HDD unusable. Some of the most common reasons are mentioned below.
- An EHDD or an IHDD can be rendered useless if the device has surpassed its operational life.
- An EHDD or an IHDD can also become unusable if debris has found its way into the platter of the device.
- Software bugs can also render an IHDD or EHDD unusable.
- The presence of malware or VIRUS on the HDD or on the computer that is being used to access the HDD can also render the storage device unusable.
Signs that may Indicate an HDD is Corrupted
The reader should also keep an eye out for two of the most common signs that an HDD would show that ultimately means that the device is nearing the end of its operational life and is surely going to become corrupted.
- If the external HDD makes strange sounds as soon as it is connected to the computer and especially when reading or writing data then it is time to replace the HDD or at least backup all the data it has to a new HDD.
- In case the HDD is not recognised by the computer then the user should make redundant copies of the data they have on the HDD to a fresh device.
How to Repair Corrupted External Hard Drives without Formatting them?
As per the professional opinion of a data recovery expert associated with a data recovery HDD service provider, users can go for the following processes to repair a corrupted external HDD without formatting it.
Using System File Checker
The first process is using the command line tool known as System File Checker which is programmed to repair corrupted system files that often come in the way of letting users access an EHDD.
Steps
- The user would need to type “cmd” in the search box on the taskbar of their Windows PC. The user has to make sure that they are running ‘cmd’ as an ‘administrator’.
- The next step is to enter the command sfc /scannow and then press enter.
- The last step is to wait for the System File Checker to complete its work.
Using the CHKDSK Tool and Fixing System File Errors
External hard disk recovery can also be performed without formatting when one uses the CHKDSK command line tool. The CHKDSK tool not only figures out what is wrong with a disk but also repairs them. After the work assigned to the CHKDSK tool is completed by the same, the user can access the previously inaccessible drive.
Steps
- The user would need to again head over to the search box located at the taskbar of their Windows PC and type “cmd”.
- After that, one would need to type the following command chkdsk X: /R (here X should be replaced with the letter designated to the affected EHDD) and then one would have to press enter.
- Now, the user would have to wait for the CHKDSK to finish the work assigned to it.
Scanning the Computer for Malware and Viruses
An EHDD can become inaccessible if the computer that the drive is connected to is packed with malware or viruses. Hence, the best step in such a case is to scan the computer using third-party antivirus software. Or one can use the Windows Defender tool.
Steps
- To activate the scanning process of the Windows Defender tool, one would have to type “windows security” in the search box of their Windows PC taskbar.
- In the Windows Defender window, one has to click on the ‘Virus & threat protection’ option.
- After that, one has to choose the scan options under the ‘Quick scan’ button. It is highly recommended that the user clicks on the ‘full scan’ option. The next step is to click on the ‘scan now’ button.
- The final step is to wait for Windows Defender to check the computer.
Conclusion
If the affected HDD is still acting out of order then it is time to consult a reputed data recovery service provider and let the experts take over, for the best results. To learn more, the reader should consult a data recovery firm today.
