How to Repair External Hard Drive | Full Information

Ever wonder why your external hard drives malfunction and become unusable? The external hard drive's driver is missing or out-of-date, the file system is corrupted, or physical damage might render the disk unusable and, worst of all, result in data loss. We underestimate how critical the lost data issue is.

Do not give up, though. A few useful techniques can help you fix your external drive and avoid total data loss. This article explains how to fix a damaged external hard disk and several methods for recovering data from it.

1. Recover Data from Failed External Hard Drive

With a few clicks, you can retrieve data from your external hard drive, even if it is inaccessible, RAW, or has other unusual characters, as long as Windows Disk Management can find it.

Here, we would like to suggest that you give EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard a try. It works with Windows 11/10/8/7 and lets you recover lost data from any storage device, especially the external hard disks. Just download and install it from the official website, then use the instructions below to retrieve important data from the external hard drive that is connected to your computer:

Step 1: Install the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard after downloading it.

Step 2: Attach your laptop or PC to the corrupted external hard disk.

Step 3: Click "Scan" after choosing your drive from the list of external drives.

Step 4: This software will begin sequentially with fast and deep scans.

Step 5: To complete the recovery of the corrupted external hard disk, preview and recover files.

You can also contact EaseUS data recovery services when you cannot fix the disk error yourself, and our professional data recovery engineers will help you restore data from an external HDD.

Here's a video that can help you learn more information about external hard drive repair.

2. Repair External Hard Drive with Disk Check Tool

Disk Check Tool is a feature of Windows that checks your external hard drive for damaged files, fixes glitches, and problems, and frees up disk space to keep your computer running well.

Step 1: Click "This PC," then right-click on the drive that has damaged sectors. Select "Properties."

Step 2: Select the "Tools" menu item.

Step 3: To scan and perform disk repair, click "Check".

3. Run CHDSK Command to Fix the External Hard Drive

Optionally, you can use the chkdsk command with administrator rights to permanently delete problematic sectors. The Windows tool and the Command Prompt both work in the same manner.

Be aware that while doing disk repair, the CHKDSK command may result in data loss. Therefore, make sure that EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is used first to recover data.

Step 1: Type cmd and press Enter after simultaneously pressing the Windows and R keys.

Step 2: Type the command and press Enter: chkdsk E: /f /r /x. (Use your own drive letter in place of E.)

4. Update the External Hard Drive Driver to Fix the Issue

To make an external hard disk appear, you should use this option. Reinstalling the external hard disk driver might help resolve the issue if it's the primary cause of a hard drive malfunction.

Step 1: Choose "Properties" > "Device Manager" by right-clicking "This PC."

Step 2: Select "Disk drives" and then "Uninstall device" from the context menu by right-clicking on the hard drive that Windows is not displaying. Verify that the USB device you have chosen is the right one.

Step 3: Click "OK" when prompted to confirm the removal.

Step 4: Connect the drive back to the PC after restarting it. The driver will install itself when the machine resumes.

5. Run SFC Command to Fix External HDD

An uncommon set of symptoms on a hard disk can occasionally be attributed to missing or corrupt system files. This typically happens when there's an issue with the file-saving procedure. Consequently, you may need to fix the crashed system files first if your hard disk appears damaged and you cannot access it.

Step 1: To open a Command Prompt Window, open Start, type cmd, and press Enter.

Step 2: If drive g is the external hard disk, type chkdsk g:/f and hit Enter.

Step 3: Press Enter after typing sfc /scannow.

6. Format the External Hard Drive in Disk Management

Sometimes, you’ll encounter errors that ask you to format the disk. If the methods before this one cannot work anyway, you should try to format your external hard drive to fix the problem.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon from the taskbar.

Step 2: Choose “Disk Management” and find your external hard drive,

Step 3: Right-click the target external disk and choose “Format…”.

Step 4: Then, just follow the instructions to format the disk.

7. Assign a New Drive Letter for the External Hard Disk

If you're not sure if the device is having problems, try connecting it to a different USB port or even another computer to see if it detects anything. You can utilize the external hard disk to access and use your data if it can be read.

Check the hard drive's status in Windows Disk Management if it cannot be identified on the other machine. Next, in an attempt to make it appear, try modifying the drive letter and path.

To change the drive letter, just go to Disk Management > right-click the disk > choose “Change Drive Letter and Path…”> assign a new drive letter for your external hard disk.

Main Reasons of External Hard Drive Corruption

Physical damage: External hard drives are vulnerable to physical damage such as being dropped, bumped, or exposed to extreme temperatures. This can cause the internal components of the hard drive to become damaged or misaligned, leading to corruption.

Power surges: Sudden power surges or fluctuations can cause the external hard drive to malfunction and corrupt data. This can happen if the hard drive is not properly protected with a surge protector or if it is disconnected improperly from the power source.

File system errors: File system errors can occur due to improper ejection of the external hard drive, software bugs, or other issues. These errors can lead to data corruption and loss.

Virus or malware infection: External hard drives can become infected with viruses or malware if they are connected to an infected computer or if malicious files are transferred to the drive. These infections can corrupt data and make it inaccessible.

Software or firmware issues: Issues with the software or firmware of the external hard drive can also cause corruption. This can happen if the drive's firmware is outdated, incompatible with the operating system, or if there are software bugs that cause data corruption.

Overuse or overloading: Using the external hard drive beyond its capacity or constantly transferring large files can put strain on the drive and lead to corruption. It is important to properly manage the storage space on the drive to prevent corruption.

Improper handling: Rough handling or improper usage of the external hard drive can also cause corruption. It is important to handle the drive carefully and follow proper procedures for connecting and disconnecting it from devices.

How to Prevent Data Loss on an External Hard Disk

Regularly back up your data: The most effective way to prevent data loss on an external hard drive is to regularly back up your important files to another storage device or cloud storage. This ensures that even if the external hard drive fails or becomes corrupted, you still have a copy of your data.

Safely eject the external hard drive: Always safely eject the external hard drive from your computer before unplugging it to prevent data corruption. This ensures that all files are properly closed and saved before disconnecting the drive.

Protect the external hard drive from physical damage: Handle the external hard drive with care and avoid dropping, bumping, or exposing it to extreme temperatures. Consider using a protective case or sleeve to prevent physical damage.

Use a surge protector: Protect the external hard drive from power surges or fluctuations by using a surge protector when connecting it to a power source. This helps prevent damage to the drive caused by sudden voltage spikes.

Keep the external hard drive clean: Dust and debris can accumulate on the external hard drive, potentially causing overheating and damage. Regularly clean the drive with a soft, dry cloth to remove any dirt or dust.

Update software and firmware: Ensure that the software and firmware of the external hard drive are up to date to prevent any compatibility issues or software bugs that could lead to data corruption.

Avoid overloading the external hard drive: Do not exceed the storage capacity of the external hard drive or constantly transfer large files to prevent strain on the drive. Properly manage the storage space on the drive to prevent data loss.

Scan for viruses and malware: Regularly scan the external hard drive for viruses and malware to prevent data corruption caused by infections. Use reputable antivirus software to detect and remove any threats