How to Recover Data from a Crashed External Hard Drive

Written by: Mark Muller • Edited by: Bill Bunter
Updated May 17, 2011 • Related Guides: Data Recovery | Google | Windows

If you need to recover data from a crashed external hard drive check out this article which covers both, logical as well as mechanical disk failures. Here you find valuable tips & tricks for recovering data residing primarily on external disks, but the information is also useful for internal disks.

Introduction

When an external hard disk crashes your next step depends on whether the disk is still working mechanically. If you are “lucky” the disk works, but it has lost the index of the data on it.

To find out attach the external hard disk to your computer and make sure the disk gets power if it has its own power device. If your computer recognizes the disk but does not show data (e.g. disk not formatted) do NOT format it and continue with section Software Data Recovery.

If, on the other hand, the external hard disk does not seem to get powered attach the disk internally in your computer. If the disk is recognized chances are high you see all your data intact, and all you have to do is dash to your computer hardware retailer to buy a new cage or power supply. If the disk is dead read on in section Lab Data Recovery.

Software Data Recovery

In case of logical failures, such as when Master File Table (MFT) in Windows has been corrupted your data is still there but the index to it is missing. The first important step is that you stop writing data to the disk.

Now you need you another hard drive with the same capacity as the crashed disk, or bigger, plus specialized recovery software such as GetDataBack, ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro or EasyRecovery (Standard Edition) for example, which cost between $49.95 and $199. Alternatively you can try the free excellent tool featured in Bright Hub’s article Recuva – Top Free Recovery Tool: Undelete Files.

If you’re not satisfied with Recuva’s results then use the paid software, or perhaps even better consider outsourcing the data recovery process to an IT professional in your neighborhood as this may reduce total costs for this incident.

Depending on disk size the data recovery process can take days during which the recovering computer should not be turned off. Chances are good that you will get your data back, or at least a large part. If the index (MFT) cannot be reconstructed you will get your data in the form of individual files without the folder structure.

Lab Data Recovery

In case your external disk does not spin or work mechanically you should not try to fix it yourself. Never open the hard disk unless you are absolutely sure about what you are doing. Instead get in contact with a specialized lab like Ontrack Data Recovery Services or google the web for a similar company with a track record.

The Bottom Line

Try to prevent data recovery actions and costs by safely removing external disks and making regular backups - very large disks have become incredibly cheap. You can simply use another external disk for you backup as it is very unlikely that both the primary disk as well as the backup drive fail at the same time.

Reference

GetDataBack - http://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro - http://www.paretologic.com/products/datarecovery/pro/index.aspx

EasyRecovery - http://store.krollontrack.com/

Ontrack Data Recovery Services - http://www.krollontrack.com/data-recovery/data-recovery-services/hard-drive-recovery/

References

Author's own experience

lastimer Nov 28, 2011 10:44 AM

RE: How to Recover Data from a Crashed External Hard Drive

you'd better find some professonal person

dakota Aug 21, 2011 3:19 AM

1TB WD EXTERNAL

Hi to all I.T. PROFESSIONAL,

I have 1TB WD EXTERNAL.I have a lots of files inside. When I plug into my computer . Cannot detect in to my desktop or laptop. I've changed usb cable for how many times and also power adapter ,still not working. (My HDD EXTERNAL have power on.)
Is there any way that I can recover my data? Please help me..
thank you , your help is highly appreciated.

Mark Muller Apr 8, 2011 2:09 PM

@rajdev

Rajdev,
your HD may have a mechanical defect. I suggest you consult a qualified technician.

rajdev Apr 8, 2011 3:20 AM

external hard drives

i just want to make my external hard drive in a working condition so that i can store data in it
it is not damaged ,it just fell down and crashed and windows is saying that i have to format it before use but when i format it thruogh windows it says format unsucessful
what can i do

Mark Muller Mar 27, 2011 7:05 PM

@Ahmed

Ahmed, if you don't have a backup I recommend consulting a qualified technician.

Ahmed Mar 27, 2011 3:30 PM

External Drive Crash

I have a seagate Momentus 5400.5 160GB HD, it was in a plastic external case. It dropped from my laptop bag. And now its not working. When i connect it the light with the casing turns on and there is beeping sound from the HD, but it is not detectable on my laptop. Please suggest what is wrong or what item may be broken and replaceable. Much of my office work and some private data is stored in the HD which I really need.

Nikunj Mar 14, 2011 10:07 AM

ehd recognizing not showing as disk..

i have same problem as karim n ghanshyam sarode ahve...i too dont wanna format it kindly help me out.the hard disk is spinning

Mark Muller Feb 14, 2011 2:14 PM

@karim

Hi Karim,
Check out the tools linked below, yet free Recuva might not be capable to the job. In any case make sure NOT to format the external HD.
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/reviews/37487.aspx
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/reviews/46698.aspx
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/articles/42446.aspx

Cheers,
Mark

karim Feb 14, 2011 7:01 AM

original HD as external HD not appearing

my hard drive crashed so i removed the hard drive, put it in an external USB reader so now it is an external USB. i put in a new HDD, reinstalled windows and now i am trying to get back some of the data. I dont think the HD drive is damaged but probably some files were corrupted. now when i plug it into the USB the computer recognizes it but it does not appear as a drive. any suggestions or softwares to help me read whats on it?

Ghanshyam Sarode Dec 20, 2010 5:20 AM

External Hared disk drive data recovery

It si the great news for me that at least there is such software and guidance from experts to recover the data .
But it will only proove when it will happne n to recover data from my external hard drive.So reuqest please advise what to do to recover data .My drive is recognised but sometiem pop up Drive needt o formatted.SInce it is important data ,I would like to recover it.Please suggest and hepl me please.
Regards

Natalie Dec 13, 2010 9:34 AM

I should try this.

My Gosh!! I should try this!

I have a problems with my ehd, the computer does not recognize it and ask to format it. I don't want to because important data are stored there. I need to retrieved it back.

srinivas Dec 13, 2010 4:26 AM

hard disk space reduced

hi. every body please help me by answering this question
my hard disk space is reduced to 20gb and originally it is 160gb ide hard disk. after installing a fresh copy of win xp os my hard disk is showing only 20gb
it is not showing full spce in disk manager
i hav imp data in lost partitions suggest me a best way to recover my data back.

lynn smith Aug 11, 2010 6:13 AM

Data Recovery

Wonderful article post and i get good information for Missing and deleted folder that contain files and data can now be recovered in the simple manner with Kernel for NTFS software.

Mike Jul 6, 2010 8:54 AM

External Hard drives

Great post and thanks Dorothy for letting me know about safecopy backup.When i was reading this web page, i had to read the comments too and i picked interest on safecopy online backup.I have just viewed the link and everything about this system is so great.
I backup my files on my hard drive too.

Dorothy Jun 9, 2010 5:57 AM

Hard drives

This was a great article indeed.Regular backups are good too but i prefer online because backs can not get damanged and everything is done automatically.That is why i use safecopy online backup as my alternative backup link for all the backups i need.

ExternalHardDriveRecovery.net Sep 21, 2009 1:52 PM

External Hard Recovery

This is a great article very sharply writern about external hard drive recovery. I think your point about making regular backups is key. One thing I notice is people think it's a wise to back things up on cheap jump drives this is far from the case it's better to make regular backups on a full functional external hard drive. Save yourself the trouble!