Need to recover data from a dead hard drive? Find out how to do that!

• Frequent system errors displayed on your monitor. These could manifest in various forms, such as errors in programs, issues opening files, or the infamous “blue screen of death” followed by an unplanned system reboot.

• Your hard drive is no longer recognized without any clear reason.

• The computer has trouble starting up or does so unpredictably.

• Unusual noises emanating from your computer, such as clicking, rattling, or other new and unfamiliar sounds. These are often caused by wear or damage to the disk's moving parts.

• Noticeable issues with your files, like disappearing files or altered file names. This is a significant warning sign that should not be ignored, as it risks the loss of important data, including precious photos and videos.

Step 1. Make your internal disk external storage

Do you need this operation, you ask? You do need it. Because, if the hard drive dies, you need to worry about its data. A dying disk can crash at any time when you work with it, and the safest way to work with it is as external storage.

In order to get data off a dead hard drive from external storage, use the IDE/SATA cable, if you have an IDE/SATA connection. USB is also suitable. In addition, you can purchase a USB case, if you want to connect through the appropriate port.

If this method of recovering data from a dead hard drive is not suitable for you, steps 2 and 3 may be more useful.

Step 3. Check if your disk is “Online” or make it “Online”

You need to check if the status of the disk is “online”. Go to Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start button. Now notice what is written under the disk. These can be the following options: Online (in this case, everything is fine), "ONLINE (ERRORS)", "Not initialized", or "Missing". These latter cases, need to be fixed and here's how to do it.

"ONLINE (ERRORS)": check all connections to see if they are in order; the best solution is to duplicate the data and change the disk since it is unlikely that you can do anything with it.

"Not initialized": In that case, you need to be careful because the Initialization will erase all your data. If "Not initialized" is still on and there are no other options - right-click on a disk and select Initialize. Wait a couple of minutes; the status should change to Online.

"Missing": Right-click on the hard drive as before. Only now, select the option "Reactivate the disk." The status “Online” should be displayed on the monitor screen.

What to Do If the HDD Is Not Online

Sometimes, your computer may not recognize the hard drive, and it will show up as 'Offline' in the Disk Management tool. This status means that the disk is not accessible by the system. If your HDD is not online, follow these steps to make it online and accessible:

1. 1. Open Disk Management: Right-click on 'This PC' or 'My Computer' and select 'Manage.' Then, go to 'Disk Management' under 'Storage.'

2. 2. Locate your HDD: Find the hard drive that is listed as 'Offline.'

3. 3. Make it Online: Right-click on the disk labeled as 'Offline,' and then click on 'Online.'

If the disk doesn’t come online or there is an error, it is likely that there are issues with the disk. There can be various reasons for this, like a conflict with the signature of the disk, hardware issues, or corruption. Here's what you can do in each case:

• Disk Signature Conflict: If there is a signature conflict, Windows will mark the drive as offline. To solve this, you need to change the disk signature. Right-click on the offline disk and choose 'Properties,' then go to the 'Volumes' tab and click on 'Populate.' Note the Disk number. Open the command prompt as an administrator and type diskpart, then list disk, then select disk x (replace 'x' with your disk number), and then uniqueid disk. This will show you the current disk ID. To change the ID, type uniqueid disk ID=[NEW ID].
• Hardware Issues: If there are hardware issues, it might be necessary to physically check the connections of the hard drive or try connecting the HDD to another computer to see if it is recognized.
• Corruption or Other Issues: If the drive is corrupted or there are other issues, you may need to use third-party software to recover the data. There are several reliable software available for this purpose, like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Stellar Data Recovery, etc.

1: The HDD Shows "ONLINE (ERRORS)"

If your HDD shows 'Online (Errors)' in the Disk Management tool, it indicates that there are some issues or corruption on the disk that need to be addressed. Here are some steps you can follow to try and rectify the issue:

1. 1. Check Disk Utility: The first step is to run the Check Disk utility. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type chkdsk /f X: (replace 'X' with the drive letter of the affected disk) and press Enter. This command will check for and attempt to repair errors on the disk.

2. 2. Run SFC: System File Checker (SFC) is a Windows utility that can repair corrupted or missing system files. To run SFC, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

3. 3. Use Disk Error Checking: Open 'This PC' or 'My Computer,' right-click on the affected drive, and select 'Properties.' Go to the 'Tools' tab and under 'Error checking,' click on 'Check.'

4. 4. Repair Using PowerShell: Open PowerShell as an administrator and type Repair-Volume -DriveLetter X (replace 'X' with the drive letter of the affected disk) and press Enter. This command will check for and attempt to repair errors on the disk.

5. 5. Use Third-Party Software: If none of the above methods work, you can use third-party software to repair the disk.

2: The HDD Shows "Not initialized"

When the HDD shows 'Not Initialized' in Disk Management, it means that the disk does not have a valid disk database and it can't be accessed until it is initialized. Initializing a disk is a necessary step because it creates the necessary data structures for the file system. Here's what you can do:

1. 1. Initialize Disk: Right-click on the disk that shows 'Not Initialized,' and then click 'Initialize Disk.' You will then need to choose the partition style: Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT). Choose MBR if the disk is less than 2TB and GPT if it is larger. If you are not sure, choose GPT as it is more modern and has fewer limitations.

2. 2. Recover Data: If there was important data on the disk, do not initialize it as this will create a new file system and may make it more difficult to recover the old data. Instead, use a data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or Stellar Data Recovery to try and recover the data first.

3. 3. Check for Physical Damage: Sometimes, the disk is not initialized because of physical damage. If you suspect this is the case, it might be necessary to seek professional help for data recovery and to replace the disk.

4. 4. Check for Driver Updates: Outdated drivers can sometimes cause issues with disk recognition. Make sure all your device drivers, especially the disk drivers, are up to date.

3: The HDD Shows "Missing"

When the HDD is labeled as 'Missing' in Disk Management, it typically indicates that the disk is not communicating with the computer, either because it has been physically removed, it is not properly connected, or there is some other hardware issue preventing it from being detected. Here’s what you can do if your HDD shows 'Missing':

1. 1. Check Physical Connections: Ensure that the HDD is properly connected to your computer. Check all the cables and connections. If possible, try connecting the HDD to another computer to see if it is recognized.

2. 2. Rescan Disks: In Disk Management, click on 'Action' in the menu bar and then click on 'Rescan Disks'. This will force Windows to rescan all connected disks and may help in detecting the missing HDD.

3. 3. Reboot Your Computer: Sometimes, simply rebooting your computer can help in recognizing the missing disk.

4. 4. Check BIOS/UEFI Settings: Reboot your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure that the HDD is listed and recognized there.

5. 5. Update Device Drivers: Ensure that all device drivers, especially the disk and chipset drivers, are up to date.

6. 6. Use DiskPart: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type diskpart and then list disk. Check if the disk is listed there. If it is, try the following commands: select disk X (replace X with the number of the affected disk), and then online disk. This may bring the disk back online.

7. 7. Check Disk Health: If the disk is detected but still shows as missing, there might be issues with the disk's health. Use a third-party tool like CrystalDiskInfo to check the health of the disk.

4: The Disk Is Showing as "Foreign"

When a disk is showing as 'Foreign' in Disk Management, it usually means that the disk was created or initialized on another computer and the current computer does not recognize the disk configuration. This is common in systems that use dynamic disks, as the disk configuration is stored in the disk itself and Windows will mark a dynamic disk as foreign if it detects that the disk was previously used on another computer or a different Windows installation.

Here are the steps you can follow if your disk is showing as 'Foreign':

1. 1. Import the Disk: The easiest way to access a foreign disk is to import it. Right-click on the disk that is showing as 'Foreign' and then click on 'Import Foreign Disk'. This will import the disk configuration and make the disk accessible on your computer. However, be careful when importing a foreign disk, as it may cause data loss if the disk was part of a RAID array or other complex configuration.

2. 2. Backup Data: If possible, before importing the disk, connect the disk to the original computer and backup all the important data. This will ensure that you do not lose any data during the import process.

3. 3. Check Disk Health: Before importing the disk, it is advisable to check the health of the disk using a tool like CrystalDiskInfo to ensure that there are no hardware issues with the disk.

4. 4. Use Data Recovery Software: If you cannot import the disk or you are concerned about data loss, you can use data recovery software to recover the data from the foreign disk.

5: The Device is Unreadable or No Media

When the HDD is labeled as 'Unreadable' or 'No Media' in Disk Management, it usually indicates serious issues with the disk. The 'Unreadable' status typically occurs when the system cannot access or read the disk, whereas the 'No Media' status occurs when the system cannot detect any media on the device, usually associated with USB flash drives but can occur with HDDs as well. Here's what you can do:

1. 1. Reconnect the Disk: Disconnect the disk from your computer, wait a few minutes, and then reconnect it. Sometimes, simply reconnecting the disk can help the system to recognize it properly.

2. 2. Try a Different Port or Computer: Connect the disk to a different USB port or, if possible, try connecting it to a different computer. This can help determine if the issue is with the disk itself or with the computer or USB port.

3. 3. Check Disk in BIOS/UEFI: Reboot your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings to see if the disk is recognized there. If the disk is not recognized in the BIOS/UEFI, it may indicate a hardware issue with the disk.

4. 4. Use DiskPart: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type diskpart and then list disk. Check if the disk is listed there. If it is, try the following commands: select disk X (replace X with the number of the affected disk), and then online disk. This may bring the disk back online.

5. 5. Use Data Recovery Software: If the disk is still unreadable or shows no media, but you need to recover data from it, you can use data recovery software.

6. 6. Check Disk Health: If the disk is detected but still shows as unreadable or no media, there might be issues with the disk's health. Use a third-party tool like CrystalDiskInfo to check the health of the disk.

Step 5. Use Disk Repair Services

Using a professional disk repair service is often the last resort when all other methods to recover data from a dead or damaged hard drive have failed. These services have specialized tools and cleanroom facilities that can help recover data even from physically damaged disks.

DriveSavers is one of the leading data recovery services in the industry, known for its high success rate, advanced technology, and excellent customer service. Here are some key features and aspects of DriveSavers:

1. 1. Experience: DriveSavers has been in the business of data recovery for over 30 years. They have a team of highly skilled engineers and technicians who have extensive experience in recovering data from all types of devices and situations.

2. 2. Technology: DriveSavers uses state-of-the-art technology and tools for data recovery. They have a Certified ISO Class 5 Cleanroom, which is essential for opening and repairing hard drives without causing further damage.

3. 3. Security: Data security is a top priority at DriveSavers. They have a secure, controlled environment and adhere to strict security protocols to ensure the confidentiality of your data. They are certified to handle data from government agencies, healthcare organizations, and other industries with strict data security requirements.

Here are some things to consider when using a disk repair service:

1. 1. Cost: Professional disk repair services can be expensive, and the cost often depends on the extent of the damage and the amount of data to be recovered. Make sure to get a clear estimate of the costs before proceeding.

2. 2. No Guarantee: Even professional services cannot guarantee 100% data recovery. Some data may be permanently lost or corrupted depending on the extent of the damage.

3. 3. Shipping: If you need to ship the disk to the service provider, make sure to pack it carefully to prevent any further damage. Use anti-static packaging and pack the disk securely to prevent any movement during transit.

4. 4. Detailed Analysis: A professional service should provide a detailed analysis of the issues with the disk and a clear plan of action for the recovery process.

5. 5. Cleanroom Facilities: Professional data recovery services should have cleanroom facilities to open and work on the damaged disks. Opening a hard drive outside of a cleanroom environment can cause further damage to the disk.

Remember that using a professional disk repair service should be the last resort after all other methods have failed. It can be expensive, and there is no guarantee of complete data recovery. It is always advisable to maintain regular backups of your important data to avoid the need for data recovery services.

Is It Possible to Predict Hard Drive Failure?

Yes, it is possible to predict hard drive failure to some extent, although it is not always 100% accurate. There are several signs and tools that can help you predict hard drive failure:

1. 1. S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring: S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) is a built-in monitoring system in hard drives and SSDs that tracks various parameters such as read and write errors, temperature, and the number of power cycles. Monitoring S.M.A.R.T. data can help predict potential drive failure. Many tools are available that can help you monitor the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive, such as CrystalDiskInfo.

2. 2. Unusual Noises: If your hard drive starts making unusual noises such as clicking, grinding, or whirring, it may be a sign that the drive is failing.

3. 3. Frequent Errors: Frequent read or write errors, file corruption, or frequent crashes can also be a sign of impending hard drive failure.

4. 4. Slow Performance: If your hard drive is significantly slower than usual, it may be a sign of a problem. However, slow performance can also be caused by other factors, such as software issues or insufficient RAM.

5. 5. Bad Sectors: A few bad sectors on a hard drive are normal and can usually be fixed or marked as unusable by the operating system. However, a large number of bad sectors or an increasing number of bad sectors over time can be a sign of impending hard drive failure.

It is important to note that while these signs and tools can help predict hard drive failure, they are not always 100% accurate. Sometimes a hard drive may fail suddenly without any warning signs. Therefore, it is always advisable to keep regular backups of your important data to avoid data loss.

How can I repair an external hard drive after it was dropped?

Dropping an external hard drive can cause both physical and logical damage. Here are some steps you can take to try to repair it:

1. 1. Assess the Damage: Determine the extent of the damage. Is the drive making any unusual noises like clicking or grinding? Can the computer recognize the drive when you connect it? Is there any visible damage to the external casing or the connector?

2. 2. Check the Cables and Connections: Sometimes, the impact from a drop can loosen the cables or connections. Make sure that the cable and the connector are not damaged and are properly connected.

3. 3. Connect to a Different Computer: Try connecting the drive to a different computer to see if it is recognized. If it is, backup your data immediately.

4. 4. Run a Disk Check: If the drive is recognized by the computer, run a disk check to fix any file system errors. On Windows, you can use the built-in CHKDSK utility.

5. 5. Check Disk Health: Use a disk health checking tool like CrystalDiskInfo to check the health of the disk. This will give you an idea of whether the drive is failing.

6. 6. Recover Data: If the drive is not recognized or is making unusual noises, you may need to use a data recovery software or service to recover your data.

7. 7. Replace the External Enclosure: If the drive is not recognized, and there is no visible damage or unusual noises, the external enclosure may be damaged. You can try removing the hard drive from the external enclosure and installing it in a new one.

8. 8. Consult a Professional: If the drive is making unusual noises, or if you are not comfortable performing these steps yourself, it is advisable to consult a professional data recovery service. Physical damage to the hard drive, such as a damaged read/write head or spindle motor, will require specialized equipment and expertise to repair.