How to recover data from a external hard drive

My external hard drive has been broken, can I retrieve data from it?

The answer is absolutely “Yes”.

First, analysis of specific case.

1. Data loss caused by deleting files or folder permanently, formatting or re-partition hard disk. 

You can recover the missing data in this case via using a professional data recovery software or seeking help from professionals.  

2. Data loss caused by storage media damaged, like hard disk broken or unreadable, bad track of hard disk, etc. 

Though data loss could be more seriously in this case, it has a high possible of retrieving.

Pay attention: Once data got lost you should stop all the unnecessary operations on the computer. Do not write new data to the hard disk error deleted or formatted; do not charge the hard disk that are broken; do not read the disk repeatedly if there are bad tracks.

Second, main reasons leading to data loss from a external hard drive.

1. Low security awareness of users.

Neither enterprise nor individual users have a strong security awareness. People all think that everything will be OK if anti-virus software has been installed on the computer. With this thought of over-reliance on anti-virus software, users will neglect the importance of protecting data itself and ensure that the anti-virus is everything until data disaster happens. And that is very dangerous.

2. Got infected.

Virus or hacker attacks is the chief man-made cause for data loss. The technology of attacking arises along with the continuously upgrading of anti-virus software, hackers could easily break into computer equipped with firewall, and spread virus in a few minutes.

3. System failures.

Faults in hard disk, system or hardware can also lead to data loss, with its behaviors like missing data, unreadable hard disk, noise in the hard disk, not-working computer. But sometimes these symptoms could be aroused by the installed software.

4. Natural reasons.

Though the minimal likelihood, natural disaster like lightening, storm, or sudden cut of power could lead to data loss too.

Third, means of data recovery caused by different reasons.

Sometimes people think there is little hope of data restoration, but we can retrieve it through proper means.

1. We could take advantage of a third-party professional data recovery software to recover the missing data caused by logical errors like virus attacking or mistaken deletion.

2. We have to seek help from professional for data recovery if it is caused by physical errors, like damaged hard disk or hardware burned out.