Damaged external hard drive, data recovery
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osmoz-one
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JessimPortier167o Posted messages 1 Status Membre -
JessimPortier167o Posted messages 1 Status Membre -
Hello,
I would like to find a solution because I am currently crying lol
So, a few days ago, I intentionally dropped my Western Digital 1TB external hard drive (USB powered, without external power).
When I plug it in, the light comes on, then an icon appears at the bottom telling me that a USB port is connected, but the computer does not detect it. When I go into the disk management, it appears (of course not really any information on it), and when I click on "properties," it tells me "the hardware is functioning normally"...
Is there a way, in your opinion, to recover the data or part of the data considering that I have already bought a new drive to put the data in once retrieved?
Thank you
Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 16.0
I would like to find a solution because I am currently crying lol
So, a few days ago, I intentionally dropped my Western Digital 1TB external hard drive (USB powered, without external power).
When I plug it in, the light comes on, then an icon appears at the bottom telling me that a USB port is connected, but the computer does not detect it. When I go into the disk management, it appears (of course not really any information on it), and when I click on "properties," it tells me "the hardware is functioning normally"...
Is there a way, in your opinion, to recover the data or part of the data considering that I have already bought a new drive to put the data in once retrieved?
Thank you
Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 16.0
15 réponses
Hello,
First, open the MSdos console (Windows key + R) and type
If it tells you it can't check the drive and will do so at the next startup, respond positively.
That's it
EDIT: If this option doesn't work, you can use a Linux Live CD to try to access the content of the hard drive or use data recovery software: https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37640569-recuperer-des-donnees-sur-disque-dur-et-cle-usb
First, open the MSdos console (Windows key + R) and type
CHKDSK X: /f /r(the drive letter representing your external drive followed by /f /r)
- /f is actually a way to fix the volume
- /r will attempt to recover bad sectors.
If it tells you it can't check the drive and will do so at the next startup, respond positively.
That's it
EDIT: If this option doesn't work, you can use a Linux Live CD to try to access the content of the hard drive or use data recovery software: https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37640569-recuperer-des-donnees-sur-disque-dur-et-cle-usb
osmoz-one
Thank you for your reply, but where can I find MS-DOS on Windows 7?
Anonymous user
Click on start, and in the search bar, type CMD.
Hello,
when I enter the command "CHKDSK E:/f/r" I get the following message:
"The type of file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives."
What should I do?
Thank you in advance.
when I enter the command "CHKDSK E:/f/r" I get the following message:
"The type of file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives."
What should I do?
Thank you in advance.
Hello Rozy,
I just noticed your comment in this discussion thread :)
Very often chkdsk does a good job. However, it's not uncommon for chkdsk to fail to check a RAW volume. There are different scenarios, and sometimes this command cannot be executed, and you might see a message like the one you mentioned.
I suggest you boot your computer using a Linux Live CD to try to access the contents of the hard drive and recover what you can. Otherwise, reformatting the hard drive is necessary to resolve the situation (via Disk Management > right-click on the hard drive space > Format). Keep in mind that this last action will wipe the information you have on the hard drive to put a new format on it and make it usable again.
While browsing the forum, I came across a discussion thread where the information shared would interest you (regarding data recovery in such cases). A look here: https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-2257138-partition-ntfs-transformee-en-raw would give you some good leads.
Let me know how you are doing :)
@+
I just noticed your comment in this discussion thread :)
Very often chkdsk does a good job. However, it's not uncommon for chkdsk to fail to check a RAW volume. There are different scenarios, and sometimes this command cannot be executed, and you might see a message like the one you mentioned.
I suggest you boot your computer using a Linux Live CD to try to access the contents of the hard drive and recover what you can. Otherwise, reformatting the hard drive is necessary to resolve the situation (via Disk Management > right-click on the hard drive space > Format). Keep in mind that this last action will wipe the information you have on the hard drive to put a new format on it and make it usable again.
While browsing the forum, I came across a discussion thread where the information shared would interest you (regarding data recovery in such cases). A look here: https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-2257138-partition-ntfs-transformee-en-raw would give you some good leads.
Let me know how you are doing :)
@+
Hello, I ran chkdsk and it’s fine, I reconnect my external hard drive, my computer detects it, it says there are 467 GB left out of 650 to use, so I open the file on the hard drive and it says it’s empty????
Thank you
Thank you
Hello Beliie,
CHKDSK is a Windows tool that provides information about the integrity of a hard drive and can repair certain logical errors.
To run it: click on Start > Command Prompt > chkdsk #: /F/R (where # should be replaced by the drive letter)
@Beliie, I would like to warn you that CHKDSK repair (/F) may cause damage to data stored on bad sectors because it tries to recover them, and if it fails, it eliminates them. It's not mandatory, but I prefer to let you know.
If you decide to create your own thread detailing the situation you are encountering, please post the link here :) I'd like to take a look to better understand the situation you are facing.
A+
CHKDSK is a Windows tool that provides information about the integrity of a hard drive and can repair certain logical errors.
To run it: click on Start > Command Prompt > chkdsk #: /F/R (where # should be replaced by the drive letter)
@Beliie, I would like to warn you that CHKDSK repair (/F) may cause damage to data stored on bad sectors because it tries to recover them, and if it fails, it eliminates them. It's not mandatory, but I prefer to let you know.
If you decide to create your own thread detailing the situation you are encountering, please post the link here :) I'd like to take a look to better understand the situation you are facing.
A+
Thank you.
Now start -> right click on computer -> manage -> disk management. And please paste me the information you find.
Now start -> right click on computer -> manage -> disk management. And please paste me the information you find.
Hello Antoine de Caumartin, I followed all your steps to get my PC to recognize my hard drive that has crashed and I am now at disk management, so if I give you the information that is there, can you help me?
Regarding the volume, there is nothing marked, the layout is simple, the type is basic, the file system has nothing marked and the status is healthy (OEM Partition).
Thank you in advance
Hélène
Regarding the volume, there is nothing marked, the layout is simple, the type is basic, the file system has nothing marked and the status is healthy (OEM Partition).
Thank you in advance
Hélène
Hello, I have pretty much the same problem, my laptop crashed. So I took out the internal hard drive and put it in a casing that now serves as an external hard drive.
The computer to which I connected it via USB recognizes the hard drive, says that it’s quite full, but as soon as I open it, it shows "Empty folder." So how can I recover all my data, considering that I have all my photographs and in quotes, my whole life on it?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
The computer to which I connected it via USB recognizes the hard drive, says that it’s quite full, but as soon as I open it, it shows "Empty folder." So how can I recover all my data, considering that I have all my photographs and in quotes, my whole life on it?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Hello,
the best thing to do is to create a system image and boot from it; this way you can access your disk.
Download the Ubuntu, Fedora, or other ISO,
burn it to a CD or put it on a USB stick, boot from your DVD drive or USB stick; so you can start from the burned system;
once on the desktop, all you have to do is go to your disk and recover your folders and files.
You can also download Gparted (ISO), burn it or put it on a USB stick; boot from it; and if your disk is recognized with Gparted,
it will indicate its partitioning system as well as its capacity.
Otherwise, you can also try with Recuva, which is a data recovery software.
;)
the best thing to do is to create a system image and boot from it; this way you can access your disk.
Download the Ubuntu, Fedora, or other ISO,
burn it to a CD or put it on a USB stick, boot from your DVD drive or USB stick; so you can start from the burned system;
once on the desktop, all you have to do is go to your disk and recover your folders and files.
You can also download Gparted (ISO), burn it or put it on a USB stick; boot from it; and if your disk is recognized with Gparted,
it will indicate its partitioning system as well as its capacity.
Otherwise, you can also try with Recuva, which is a data recovery software.
;)
Well then, unplug your drive and connect it to a USB port where you’ve never plugged it in before. Then go to Device Manager.
Click on the View tab and select the Device by connection option, identify your drive, go to USB Root Hub, click on the uninstall icon (or double-click), then unplug your USB and restart everything.
Click on the View tab and select the Device by connection option, identify your drive, go to USB Root Hub, click on the uninstall icon (or double-click), then unplug your USB and restart everything.
Hello,
In the case where the external drive is no longer recognized, with no drive assigned even if a connection sound is heard when it is plugged in, the chkdsk command is useless.
It is only used to diagnose the state of a disk or partition recognized by the system.
And since your drive is no longer recognized, the command will have no effect.
I think, as is my case, it’s more likely a problem with the read head on the external drive or at least an electronic or physical issue with the drive.
So apart from going through a specialized company for this kind of repair, I think I'm out of luck with my drive. Like most people on this site, unfortunately.
In the case where the external drive is no longer recognized, with no drive assigned even if a connection sound is heard when it is plugged in, the chkdsk command is useless.
It is only used to diagnose the state of a disk or partition recognized by the system.
And since your drive is no longer recognized, the command will have no effect.
I think, as is my case, it’s more likely a problem with the read head on the external drive or at least an electronic or physical issue with the drive.
So apart from going through a specialized company for this kind of repair, I think I'm out of luck with my drive. Like most people on this site, unfortunately.
Hello, a while ago I had a problem with a MAXTOR hard drive that was no longer recognized, no noise, nothing at all. I had a friend with the same one, and we had the idea to temporarily swap the electronic boards of the hard drives, which allowed me to recover all my data... if that can help someone...
I have the same problem, my external "iomega" drive slipped off my bed and fell, and since then, the light on the case is on but my PC doesn't recognize it anymore, nor does any other PC for that matter..
I have all my data on it, everything from my PC that I regularly transfer onto it, I can't afford to lose it all..
HELP!
I have all my data on it, everything from my PC that I regularly transfer onto it, I can't afford to lose it all..
HELP!
Hello everyone, I have a similar problem: an external hard drive that lights up but is not "recognized" by the computer. It knows that I've plugged something in (a little music when I connect and disconnect it) but the drive does not appear in Computer. I tried the CHKDSK command that was suggested earlier, but I'm also being told that I don't have the required privileges.
I went to disk management. I am being offered to initialize disk 1. I'm afraid of losing all my data. Should I do it? If so, what type of partition should I choose?
Thank you,
I went to disk management. I am being offered to initialize disk 1. I'm afraid of losing all my data. Should I do it? If so, what type of partition should I choose?
Thank you,
Hello,
I typed the command:
CHKDSK G:\/f/r
and I got the following message:
unable to open the volume for direct access
if anyone has received the same message and managed to resolve it
also, when I plug the drive in via USB it makes strange noises that are hard to describe, it sounds like a mechanical music repeating in a loop for a few seconds, one low note, then a mid-range note, and a few high notes.
I typed the command:
CHKDSK G:\/f/r
and I got the following message:
unable to open the volume for direct access
if anyone has received the same message and managed to resolve it
also, when I plug the drive in via USB it makes strange noises that are hard to describe, it sounds like a mechanical music repeating in a loop for a few seconds, one low note, then a mid-range note, and a few high notes.
In your case, the problem with your disk is purely mechanical. First, the machine needs to be powered on. Then, we look to recover the data. Due to the fall, and after powering on, there are likely to be defective sectors. A direct data recovery seems compromised. Therefore, we need to go through cloning and then data recovery from the clone. With your manipulations, you are bypassing all these steps for safe data recovery. It’s like in medicine; when you have a broken or fractured leg, you are not asked to run. First, it needs to be fixed, then you wait, and afterwards you can run. If your data is important, be careful.
Good evening,
I also have this problem, when I connect my hard drive, it only asks me to format it. I cannot access the folders.
I ran CHKDSK F:/f/r
it tells me:
the file system is FAT 32
unable to read the boot sector
Does anyone have a solution for me, and/or for others who will read these posts, so that I can recover my data??
Thank you for the responses and help you can provide.
Best regards.
I also have this problem, when I connect my hard drive, it only asks me to format it. I cannot access the folders.
I ran CHKDSK F:/f/r
it tells me:
the file system is FAT 32
unable to read the boot sector
Does anyone have a solution for me, and/or for others who will read these posts, so that I can recover my data??
Thank you for the responses and help you can provide.
Best regards.
Do as you feel. Just know that this method I gave you costs absolutely nothing and cannot damage the hard drive. At worst, you will receive a message informing you that a certain file is unrecoverable.
Normally, the location is the letter that designates the drive. Try CHKDSK with the letter O. This could be a letter used by the system to designate a problematic drive, since it's usually E or F.
It's already a good sign, it means that it recognizes the disk. If it didn't recognize it, I would say that it would be worrying.
You can try:
CHKDSK C: /X /F
/X will force the release of exclusive access currently on the disk before performing a full disk check and setting its status to: healthy
If that doesn't resolve it, you'll need to try the CHKNTFS command
CHKNTFS allows an administrator to prevent checking the status of a disk at startup (it's somewhat the ostrich policy)
the syntaxes:
CHKNTFS C: <-- informs us about the status of the disk (integrated or not)
CHKNTFS /X C: <-- prevents checking C: at each boot
CHKNTFS /D <-- D=default, there is no disk letter in this case. The command allows reverting to normal situation - check disk status at each boot
You can try:
CHKDSK C: /X /F
/X will force the release of exclusive access currently on the disk before performing a full disk check and setting its status to: healthy
If that doesn't resolve it, you'll need to try the CHKNTFS command
CHKNTFS allows an administrator to prevent checking the status of a disk at startup (it's somewhat the ostrich policy)
the syntaxes:
CHKNTFS C: <-- informs us about the status of the disk (integrated or not)
CHKNTFS /X C: <-- prevents checking C: at each boot
CHKNTFS /D <-- D=default, there is no disk letter in this case. The command allows reverting to normal situation - check disk status at each boot
Hello everyone, I have a similar problem: an external hard drive that lights up but is not "recognized" by the computer. It knows that I have plugged something in (little sound when I connect and disconnect it) but the drive does not appear in My Computer. I tried the CHKDSK command that was suggested earlier but I'm also told that I don’t have the required privileges.
I went to disk management. It suggests initializing disk 1. I’m afraid of losing all my data. Should I do it? If so, what type of partition should I choose?
Regarding free data recovery software, which one is the most reliable?
Thank you,
I went to disk management. It suggests initializing disk 1. I’m afraid of losing all my data. Should I do it? If so, what type of partition should I choose?
Regarding free data recovery software, which one is the most reliable?
Thank you,
Hello, I have a problem too :(
Yesterday my external hard drive (Samsung M3) fell on the floor, and since then the computer doesn't detect it anymore. In fact, the little blue light comes on when I plug it in, but there’s no sound indicating that the computer has recognized it, and it doesn't show up in the list of my drives either. I also don't hear the drive spinning, and it's not warm :( How can I recover my data? I tried using the MS-DOS console, but it doesn't work. I'm devastated :(
Yesterday my external hard drive (Samsung M3) fell on the floor, and since then the computer doesn't detect it anymore. In fact, the little blue light comes on when I plug it in, but there’s no sound indicating that the computer has recognized it, and it doesn't show up in the list of my drives either. I also don't hear the drive spinning, and it's not warm :( How can I recover my data? I tried using the MS-DOS console, but it doesn't work. I'm devastated :(