If you encounter a slow operation, a randomly lost file or inaccessible information on your external hard drive, it may be a sign of damage. It is important to fix the situation quickly while ensuring that you recover important files first. In the next section I will describe how to  fix a corrupted external hard drive.

How to recover corrupted external hard drives without losing data

To recover data from damaged external hard drives without losing any files, you will need to use a third-party data recovery program. However, before proceeding, you need to make sure your computer can detect damaged drives. To check its comments, just press Windows Key + R, then type “diskmgmt.msc” and press Enter in the disk management window. Check that your external drive is on the list.

If your drive is visible and does not appear as “no media”, you can proceed with the recovery process. However, it is important to note that your disk may be physically damaged or have major problems requiring professional help with data recovery.

A third-party program can help to recover data from a faulty external hard drive through two main steps:

• Disc imaging: This step is important because direct scanning can lead to data loss and damage to the drive. Disk imaging creates a virtual clone of the drive for safe and comprehensive scanning and recovery.
• Scan backups or disk images with data recovery software: Many data recovery programs exist. Some apps can’t make disk images or work with external hard drives. A trustworthy software that meets your demands is crucial.

After considering several options, I recommend WinfrGUI, a free file recovery software for data recovery. This Windows 10 and 11-specific software features an easy-to-use interface for non-technical users.

Let’s examine WinfrGUI’s steps for recovering files from empty recycling tanks:

Step 1: First, image the disk

• Install WinfrGUI on Windows.
• Start WinfrGUI and connect your drive to recover files.
• Enter WinfrGUI’s “Disk Image” section.
• Choose where to save drive images.
• Create a disk image by clicking “Start”. This process may take a long time depending on drive capacity. 

Step 2: Scan and Recover Files

• When the disk image is created, go to the “File Recovery” tab in WinfrGUI.
• Select a newly created disk image from the list
• Select a location to save the recovered files
• Start the scan process by selecting “Start”
• Wait for WinfrGUI to scan disk images for recoverable files. The length of this process depends on the size of disk images and the number of files.
• After scanning, there will be a list of recoverable files.
• Go through the list and select the file you want to recover.
• Click on “Recover” to start the file recovery process.
• Select the folder to save the recovered file and confirm the selection.
• WinfrGUI will reset the selected file to the specified location.

With WinfrGUI’s user-friendly way of recovering files, users can effectively locate deleted files, providing valuable protection against data loss. It can also recover files from formatted hard drives.

How to fix a corrupted external hard drive

To fix a corrupted external hard drive, there are several ways you can try. In most cases, it is possible to repair a drive without formatting unless the file system of the disk is severely damaged. Try exploring 5 common ways. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully:

Method 1: Physical diagnosis of external hard drive.

If you suspect physical damage to your drive due to impact or fall, it is important to undergo a physical examination. Follow these steps:

• Check for disturbing clicks or strange sounds from the drive. If you hear these sounds, it means that the internal components are damaged. Stop using the drive and seek professional data recovery services.
• Check the cables and connectors on your hard drive. If you notice any damage such as stretched wires or broken ports, you will need to remove the external hard drive and connect it to your computer using a SATA cable. Just try doing this if you feel comfortable working with your PC hardware. Otherwise, seek professional help. Inappropriate handling may lead to data loss or damage to the drive.

Method 2: Repair corrupted partitions on external hard drives.

If you have problems accessing a specific partition on your external hard drive, or find an error message such as “Access denied” or a partition that does not appear in Windows Explorer, the partition may be corrupted. It is possible to repair it using a third-party tool called TestDisk, which has a high success rate in fixing corrupted partitions on external drives. Please note that TestDesk does not have a graphical user interface (GUI), which may make navigation to new users difficult. Follow the steps below:

• Download and extract TestDisk content
• Open “testdisk_win.exe” file
• Choose whether you want to create a log for reference.
• Navigate using the arrow keys and confirm the selection with Enter
• Select damaged external hard drive and confirm
• TestDisk will automatically detect the partition table type, so press Enter on that screen.
• Select “Analyze” and press Enter.
• Select “Fast Search” and press Enter.
• Find “P” at the beginning of the partition type. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate.
• Press Enter
• Select the “Write” option and press Enter.
• Confirmed by typing “Y” as requested.
• TestDisk will recover damaged partitions.

To repair a boot part of a damaged hard drive using TestDisk, follow these additional steps:

• Open TestDisk and decide whether to create a log file.
• Select your drive and confirm.
• Enter the partition table selection screen
• Select “Advanced” and press Enter
• Select the partition that appears as RAW on your PC
• Select “Boot” and press Enter
• Finally, select “Create a new BS” and press Enter.
• In the next screen, select “Write” and press Enter.
• Reboot your PC and you should be able to access previously corrupted hard drives.

Method 3: Fix the corrupted hard drive error.

Windows has a built-in tool called CHKDSK which can detect and fix file system errors on your external hard drive. While CHKdSK is a main command line tool, you can access the basic GUI version through Windows Explorer, which is called an error scanner. Here are two ways to fix errors in your corrupted hard drive:

Using Disk Error Checker:

• Connect corrupted external hard drive to your PC
• Open Windows Explorer (Windows Key + E)
• Right-click on the external hard drive and select “Properties”
• Go to the “Tools” tab and click “Check” under Error Checking.

Use CHKDSK:

• Enter “cmd” in Windows Search (Windows Key + S)
• Right-click Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator” from the search results.
• Print “chkdsk X: / f” in the instructions instead of “X” with the letters of your external hard drive.
• The process may take a long time depending on the size of your hard drive.

Method 4: Bad sector repairs on external hard drives with full format.

While the previous methods allow repairing damaged external hard drives without formatting. If they don’t work or you’re experiencing severe problems, it may be necessary to use full format. Keep in mind that full format will delete all data on your damaged outside hard drive and repair any bad sections. Procedure carefully and make sure you have a backup. Follow these steps to run full format in Windows:

• Press Windows Key + R and type “diskmgmt.msc” in the Run dialog.
• Press Enter
• In Windows Disk Management, right click on your external hard drive and click on “Format”.
• In the Format Options window, please uncheck the “Fast Format” option.
• Click OK

Signs of hard drive failure and confirmation methods

While external hard drives may fail unexpectedly, it is not uncommon to check the condition of your hard drive, you can check the properties of S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology)

There are programs that can analyze the status of S.M.A.R.T. of your external hard drive. It is recommended to use these programs to receive detailed reports. Alternatively, you can view the comprehensive Windows Central manual on S.M.A.R.T. status checks. Using the built-in Windows tool

Conclusion

To ensure your data is secure, it is recommended to maintain multiple backups using physical and cloud storage options. S.M.A.R.T. status checking. Regular of your disk can help identify potential problems. If your data is critical and you can’t fix your external hard drive, please consider using a professional data recovery service.