How to Recover Files From a Crashed Hard Disk on Your Own

How to Tell If a Hard Drive Has Crashed

Identifying a hard drive crash early on can save you from potential data loss and allow you to take immediate steps toward recovery. Here's a breakdown of common signs that indicate a hard drive has crashed or is on the verge of failing:

• Strange Noises: A hard drive making clicking, grinding, or whirring noises that you haven’t noticed before can be a telltale sign of mechanical failure.
• Frequent Crashes: If your computer crashes often, especially during the boot-up process, it's a clear sign that your hard drive may be failing.
• Slow Access Times: While occasional slowdowns can be attributed to various factors, consistent slow performance, frequent freezes, and long access times can be associated with a dying hard drive.
• Missing Files: If you suddenly can't find files or folders that were previously stored on the disk, or if files are corrupted without any other apparent reason, it could be a sign of hard drive problems.
• Error Messages: Constant error messages while moving files or attempting to open folders can hint at hard drive problems.
• S.M.A.R.T. Status: Many modern hard drives have a built-in monitoring system known as Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.). When this system starts showing a "bad status", it's a clear indication of potential drive issues. You can use various software tools to check the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive.
• Disk Check Failures: Running a disk check (using tools like "chkdsk" for Windows) and encountering numerous bad sectors or unrepairable errors is a strong indication of a dying or crashed drive.
• Incorrect Drive Size: If your operating system suddenly shows an incorrect storage capacity for your hard drive, it might be a sign of a drive malfunction.
• Unrecognized Drive: If your BIOS or UEFI does not recognize the hard drive upon startup, or if the drive does not appear in the operating system's disk management, it could be due to a hard drive crash.
• Persistent Operating System Errors: Frequent 'blue screens of death' (BSOD) or similar critical errors on other operating systems can sometimes be attributed to hard drive failures.
• Odd Behaviors: Applications failing to open, frequent system freezes, and random restarts can also be signs of a hard drive issue.
• Corrupted Data: Files that appear corrupted or unreadable for no apparent reason might indicate hard drive problems.

If you suspect your hard drive has crashed, it's crucial to stop using it immediately to prevent further damage. Seek professional assistance or use trusted software tools for data recovery. Remember, regular backups are your best defense against data loss due to hard drive failures.

How to Recover Data from Crashed HDD

1. DiskInternals - Crashed Hard Drive Data Recovery Software

The first thing to do is to recover the data, and only then proceed to repair the hard disk. If you do the opposite, most likely you will lose some data or the entire contents of the hard disk.

Do you want such an outcome of events? Of course not! Therefore, let's deal with the recovery of information first.

For this, you need good professional software. And the best is DiskInternals Partition Recovery. This software tool works on each hard disk partition separately and can do deep data scanning (due to rebuilding the file system of the disk inside of the program).

The tool supports the following file systems: FAT12, ReFS, UFS, HFS, NTFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4, XFS, Ext2/3/4, etc. With the free preview function, you can be completely sure of the final result.

Download the free trial version of DiskInternals Partition Recovery before you buy a license and see how easy it is to use when the recovery wizard helps you at all stages of the process.

Instructions for recovering data from a hard disk using DiskInternals Partition Recovery:

1. 1. Download and install DiskInternals Partition Recovery.

1. 2. The recovery wizard starts automatically. You only need to select the logical disk and the recovery mode: “reader”, “unerase” or “recovery”. It is recommended to choose the recovery mode (full recovery), since that is what you want to do now. Click Next.

1. 3. Scan. This process will take some time. Relax for a while, and the goal will be achieved.

1. 4. Preview. Right-click on the file and select "Preview in New Window." Recovery will occur automatically.

1. 5. Preservation. To do this, you just need to purchase a license and enter the license key. No rescan and no reinstall required! It is better to save the recovered documents in another safe place to protect yourself from overwriting with new data.

Video tutorial on how to recover files from a crashed hard drive

3. Recover Data using the CMD Prompt

Using the Command Prompt, you can attempt to recover files from a problematic drive by utilizing a few built-in commands. One of the most common methods involves using the chkdsk utility, which can find and repair file system errors on the drive.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. 1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Press Win + S to open the search bar.
   • Type "cmd" or "Command Prompt".
   • Right-click on the Command Prompt from the search results and select "Run as administrator".

2. 2. Use the chkdsk Command:

   • Let's assume the problematic drive letter is E:. Type the following command:
   bash Copy code

   chkdsk E: /f /r
   • The /f parameter tells chkdsk to fix any errors it finds.
   • The /r parameter tells it to locate bad sectors and recover any readable information.
   • Wait for the process to complete. It might take some time, especially if the drive is large or has many errors.

3. 3. Check the Drive:

   • Once the chkdsk process is complete, navigate to the drive in File Explorer and check if you can access your files.

4. 4. Using attrib Command for Hidden Files:

   • Sometimes files might be hidden due to malware or other reasons. To unhide these files, you can use the attrib command.
   • Navigate to the root directory of your problematic drive by typing E: (assuming E is the drive letter).
   • Then type:
   bash Copy code

   attrib -h -r -s /s /d *.*
   • This command will unhide files and folders that were set as hidden or system files.

5. 5. Other Utilities:

   • If you're comfortable using the Command Prompt, there are other third-party command-line utilities designed for data recovery. These tools are often more powerful than built-in Windows utilities but require more expertise to use effectively.

Caution: When using Command Prompt to deal with disk issues, always ensure you type commands correctly. A wrong command can cause more harm than good.

If the data is crucial and none of the methods seem to work, it's advisable to consult with a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and techniques to retrieve data from even severely damaged drives.

Method 2: CheckDisk

CheckDisk (often referred to as "chkdsk") is a built-in utility in Windows designed to scan and repair disk errors, including logical file system errors and bad sectors. It can be a useful tool when dealing with a crashed or malfunctioning hard drive. Here's how to use CheckDisk:

1. 1. Command Prompt:

   • Click on the Start menu or press the Windows key, type "cmd" or "Command Prompt".
   • Right-click on "Command Prompt" from the search results and select "Run as administrator" to run it with elevated privileges.

2. 2. Enter the CheckDisk Command:

   • In the command prompt, type:
     bash Copy code

     chkdsk C: /f /r
     • C: is the letter of the drive you want to scan. Replace C with the appropriate drive letter if you're scanning a different drive.
     • /f tells chkdsk to fix errors on the disk.
     • /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

3. 3. Scan Might Start After Reboot:

   • If you're trying to scan the system drive (typically C:), chkdsk might tell you that it can't run because the volume is in use by another process. You'll be asked if you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you restart your computer. Type Y and press Enter. Then, reboot your computer to start the chkdsk process.

4. 4. Let CheckDisk Run:

   • The process can take several hours, especially if you have a large drive or if there are many errors to fix. Let it complete without interruption. You'll see the progress and status directly in the command prompt window.

5. 5. Review Results:

   • Once chkdsk completes, it will provide a summary of its findings. Take note of any reported errors or bad sectors.

6. 6. Restart Your Computer:

   • After chkdsk finishes, it's a good idea to restart your computer to ensure everything loads correctly.

7. 7. Backup Your Data:

   • If chkdsk reported bad sectors, it's a sign that your hard drive might be failing. Make sure to backup any important data immediately, as the drive's condition could worsen.

8. 8. Consider Disk Monitoring Tools:

   • If you're concerned about the health of your drive after running chkdsk, consider using third-party disk monitoring tools that provide insights into the health and performance of your hard drive.

Using chkdsk is a straightforward method to address logical errors and some physical issues on your hard drive. However, remember that no tool can repair a severely physically damaged drive. If chkdsk doesn't solve your issue, or if your hard drive shows signs of significant physical damage, consulting with a data recovery specialist or considering a replacement might be necessary.

Tips to Avoid Data Loss from a Hard Drive

Avoiding data loss is crucial for both individuals and businesses. Here are several tips to prevent data loss from a hard drive:

1. 1. Regular Backups:

   • Make regular backups of your important data. Consider both local backups (like external hard drives) and off-site backups (like cloud storage or remote servers).
   • Use automatic backup software that periodically saves your data without manual intervention.

2. 2. Use RAID for Redundancy:

   • In critical systems or servers, consider using RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations that allow for data redundancy. If one drive fails, another in the array can take over, preventing data loss.

3. 3. Install Antivirus and Anti-malware Software:

   • Keep your computer protected from malware and viruses that can corrupt or steal data. Regularly update and run scans using these tools.

4. 4. Keep Your Software Updated:

   • Regularly update your operating system and all software, especially any software that interacts directly with your hard drive or file system.

5. 5. Power Protection:

   • Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect against sudden power outages, surges, or brownouts. These can corrupt data and damage hard drives.

6. 6. Regular Health Checks:

   • Periodically run utilities like CheckDisk (on Windows) to detect and repair potential logical issues on the drive.
   • Use SMART monitoring tools to keep an eye on your hard drive's health.

7. 7. Be Cautious with Downloads:

   • Only download files and software from trusted sources. Malicious software can corrupt or delete your data.

8. 8. Physical Care:

   • Avoid moving your computer, especially laptops, while they are running, as sudden jolts can damage the hard drive.
   • Ensure proper ventilation around your computer to avoid overheating, which can shorten the lifespan of a hard drive.

9. 9. Secure Against Threats:

   • Use firewalls and secure your network to protect against unauthorized access and potential threats that can lead to data loss.