We all rely heavily on technology, especially when it comes to backing up information. In this sense, a computer offers many advantages when it comes to organizing and accessing your digital documents. But what happens if one day this fails?
One of the most terrifying scenarios for any user today is undoubtedly a hard drive failure. This hardware is the storage hub of the entire computer; It stores each and every file that makes up the operating system and all the videos, documents, and movies you download..
However, technology itself offers us multiple solutions to deal with this situation. In this article we'll show you how to repair an external hard drive and recover all the data on it., both on Windows and MacOS.
Why do external hard drives often get damaged? Causes
One of the things we must always keep in mind is that, however well manufactured they are, computer components do not last forever. There comes a time when these simply reach the end of their useful life and need to be replaced.. OSometimes we may mistreat them and they may begin to malfunction:
Wear
To reiterate what I said before; components don't last forever. They wear out with each use, and hard drives are among the most frequently used. Because basically, while the computer is turned on, it is working, as are the processor and RAM..
Modern SSDs have been optimized to improve in this regard, and with proper use they could easily last more than 5 yearsBut after that time, you should be aware that it can fail at any moment. So the wisest thing to do would be to back up your information to it.
Electrical overloads
An SSD is a component of a computer, which in turn is an electrical device, so any failure in your computer's power system that causes a Overloading will be quite damaging to the team's healthA severe overload could directly damage the circuits that make up the disk, as well as its capacitors, and affect its entire operation.
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is a reality. All electrical devices have their own magnetic field; even living beings have one. This means that anything that affects this field will also affect the device. If you're someone who uses their phone near a computer, you're likely to experience this. You should prepare yourself now, as this could damage your hard drives. at any time.
Bumps and falls
If you recently dropped your laptop or removed the SSD and it accidentally slipped out of your hands, the impact could have serious consequences. A hard disk is a very delicate component, and a hard fall could damage the read/write heads. allow it to connect to the motherboardmaking it difficult to use it as before.
What types of damage do hard disks usually sustain? Are they all repairable?
This point is closely related to the previous one, but it will be fundamental for you to identify what type of damage your SSD has and, most importantly, whether there is a solution or notsince it will not always be possible to repair them.
Physical damage
Physical damage is damage that occurs superficially, that is, damage related to the tangible part of the disc. This can include: any type of damage to the disk head or its circuitry, like the one we mentioned that happens when you accidentally drop it. This type of error can be catastrophic and render the storage device unusable.
logical damage
Logical damage is that which is related to the operation and programming of the physical diskThis is related to errors caused by viruses or corrupted files that can directly affect the component's firmware.
mechanical damage
Finally, there is mechanical damage, which is related to physical failures These can occur when any of the components that make up the disk begin to fail individually. Unlike physical failures, these can usually be repaired by an expert.
Steps to easily and quickly repair an external hard drive with logical damage in Windows or MacOS
Now that you know the main reasons why your hard drive might have failed, it's time to learn how to repair it. It's important to note that the methods we'll teach you below are only useful for repairing logical errors. To fix a physical or mechanical problem, you will need to seek help from a professional:
With CHKDSK
CHKDSK CheckDisk is a native Microsoft Windows tool that lets you scan storage drives for logical errors, repair them, and even recover readable data. It's a fairly easy method to use and should be your first choice for troubleshooting. To repair a disk with it, simply do the following:
- Type in the Windows Start menu "CMD" and you right-click and select "Execute as an administrator" in the only option that appears to you.
- Later it will open "Symbol of the system"Once it's open, simply type "CHKDSK" and click "Enter".
- Now you must wait for the analysis to finish. After that, you should see a screen like the one below.
In the case of the image, the result was positive, but if you find an error after running the CheckDisk scan, you can repair it yourself. What you need to do is open the window... "Symbol of the system" while still open, execute the command "chkdsk G: /f /r /x".
Afterwards, all logical errors on the disk should be resolved, and if this is not the case, you may need to have a more in-depth diagnosis done by a professional.
Using Disk Utility (MacOS)
On macOS, the process is slightly different because Disk Utility, the equivalent of CHKDSK on Apple computers, runs from the BIOS, not from the operating system desktop. However, it is It's quite easy to do if you follow these steps:
- Restart your computer and hold down the keys "Command+R" until you enter the computer's BIOS.
- Once in the BIOS you must select "Disk Utility", after "Continue" and follow the route "Display" > "Show all devices".
- Select the drive you want to repair and click on “First Aid” and then “Run”.
Later on, you should be able to use the damaged hard drive without any problems. If not, the failure is likely due to a hardware issue rather than a software problem, and you will need to seek professional help.
With an Easeus Partition Master
If the built-in tools in Microsoft and Apple operating systems don't work for you, you can turn to a more powerful option. The paid external tool EaseUS Partition Master is one of the best available.
With it, you simply need to follow these steps:
- The first thing is to download the program (You'll find the link below).
- Once inside Master Partition, Select the disk that is causing problems and then the option "Check partition."
- Next, we select the option “Require Windows CHKDSK.exe” and later "Okay" and we expect the tool to run.
Later, absolutely all logical errors on the physical disk will be eliminated. However, we warn you that it is not infallible, and if there is another type of error, it will not be able to help you. Fortunately You will always be able to recover all the information inside., which we are going to teach you next.
Steps to recover information from a damaged hard drive
If the tools we recommended weren't enough to fix your disk error, you may need to consult a professional for repairs. If your main concern is data recovery, you can easily do this using the same programs mentioned above. We'll show you the process for each one below:
With CHKDSK
Windows CheckDisk includes some parameters specifically designed to recover readable information from damaged physical disks. It's very easy to use, and here's what you need to do:
- Open the Windows terminal and start CHKDSK as shown above.
- Once the tool analysis is complete, proceed to execute the command "CHKDSK c: /r".
It should be noted that this will only work if you have another external hard drive connected to the computer to store the data.
Using Disk Utility
Disk Utility is designed to analyze and troubleshoot external drives, but not to recover data from them. If you want to recover data, you'll need to use an external tool. We'll show you how in the next step. How to do it from one that works on both Windows and MacOS Apple.
With EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Okay, if you haven't been able to recover the information contained on the physical disk so far, what you should do is use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, one of the best tools for providing data storage and retrieval solutions.
It's a paid app, but it has a free version that will allow you to recover a limited but sufficient number of files. Here's what you need to do:
- Download the tool with the link we left you after explaining the process.
- Once the tool is open, select the disk partition that is faulty and then do the same with "Scan".
- When the scan is complete, a file explorer similar to Windows will appear, from which you must click on the section "Deleted files."
The scan will take a couple of hours or more depending on the size of the disk and the amount of information, but it will all be in the « sectionDeleted files"What you should do is migrate it to another SSD or USB drive to back it up."
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Windows
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard macOS
Unconventional methods for repairing an external hard drive depending on the type of damage
Have you ever heard of those home remedies that supposedly work for everything? Well, similar methods exist for electronic devices. There's no conclusive proof that these actually work. But they don't generate much doubt either, so some people continue to have faith in them:
Freeze the SSD
It's the oldest method in the book, but it works perfectly. All you have to do is put the hard drive in the refrigerator and leave it overnight until its components freeze. Then take it out, wait for it to dry, and reconnect it to your computer.
It is a technique used to repair mechanical errors, based on the logic that these are caused by plates warping due to overheating. Therefore When frozen, they return to their natural state thanks to the intense cold.It might sound like a joke, but millions of people have been able to repair their SSD this way.
A couple of blows
Another commonly used underground method is to give light taps on the discHowever, this has its limitations; it can't always be applied. You can only do this if you hear the disc playing but the computer can't identify it. The theory is that this happens because one of the cables is caught between the platters and is preventing the disc from spinning properly.
So what you should do is simply tap it a few times with the palm of your hand on the sides, so that the cable comes loose and the platter is released.
List of the best programs to repair damaged storage drives
Well, if the tools mentioned earlier don't work for you, you can use other programs that offer a different alternative. There are many on the market. But when it comes to repairing storage units, these are undoubtedly the best.
Hiren's Boot
This is a very powerful free tool that gives you a full range of functions to repair virtually any logical error on an SSD, as well as to recover its contents. This program must be installed in boot mode. Therefore, you will need to boot from a USB or installation CD to be able to use it from your computer's BIOS.
Download Hiren's Boot Windows
AVG TuneUp
Developed by one of the world's most popular cybersecurity firms, this tool boasts one of the most comprehensive feature sets for repairing SSD storage drives. It specializes primarily in logical errors and offers continuous disk health monitoring on a daily or weekly basis, as you specify.
Its only drawback is that it doesn't recover files, but it's still a pretty powerful alternative:
Download AVG TuneUp for Windows
Cloud System Booster
We continue our tour with this interesting and Simple tool for repairing physical storage drivesHowever, its true identity is that of a computer optimizer, but it has several functions to fix broken units easily and quickly.
Download Cloud System Booster Windows
CrystalDiskInfo
As with the previous one, this program is primarily designed to provide error reports or simply to keep the equipment 100% optimized, but it also has functions to repair errors found in its diagnostics. This makes it one of the best applications for offering optimization solutions and desktop storage.
Download CrystalDiskInfo Windows
EASIS DriveCheck
We conclude this list with an excellent program that will allow you to optimize your entire computer and repair any errors that may be found on its physical disks and in Other important components such as the processor or RAM are just as important as the SSD.Its interface is simple and easy to use, completely beginner-proof.
Download EASIS Drive Check Windows
Tips for taking care of your SSDs so they have a longer lifespan
As everyone says, "prevention is the best cure," and this also applies to physical hard drives and basically any computer component. If you really want to solve a problem, the best thing to do is prevent it from happening.Therefore, in this section we bring you a short list of useful tips to increase the lifespan of your SSD.
Update Firmware
Firmware is a programmatic element of all digital devices and components. It contains all the logic of the device, indicating what its main function is. In other words, this is the component that tells a USB drive to store information, a printer to print, or a mouse to move the pointer. It's a basic element that's often overlooked.
Manufacturers usually perform updates of its components annually, so every year There will be a more recent version of your firmwareIt is important, very important, that you always have the most up-to-date version, so that the bugs in the previous version don't affect you now.
defragment disk
As we fill our SSD with files, it fragments them as a way to find the most efficient route to them. However, When there are too many fragmented files, the opposite effect occurs, and instead of faster access The information, the process becomes slower.
Many people say that defragment a disk It's not good, but that's not entirely true. When there are too many fragments, it becomes absolutely necessary to do it; otherwise, files will eventually start to get corrupted, leading to an annoying logic failure.
Have an updated OS
Another thing you should always keep in mind is your operating system version. You must understand that These are performed to resolve system malfunctions and programming errors.Therefore, despite the tedious nature of downloading them, it will always be necessary to perform the updates that your Windows requests. or macOS.
Never have a full hard drive
Finally, we recommend that you do not completely fill the disk, as this can be detrimental to its operation, especially with regard to data exchange speedThis will, in turn, slow down the entire system. Therefore, it's always best to have at least 20% free space.
List of the best programs to recover data from damaged SSD drives
If it's too late and you find yourself with an SSD that can no longer be repaired, the only thing left to do is simply recover the information contained within it, which is quite vitally important in many cases.
Therefore, we are going to present you with a short list of programs that can help you with this task:
Recuva
Recuva is free software that allows you to Recover a huge amount of GB of lost or deleted files on faulty physical storage drives. You simply need to install it, select the faulty drive and scan it, very similar to how it works. Recovery Wizard from which we teach you how to do the process above.
Download Recuva for Windows
DISK DRILL
As we mentioned earlier, Disk Utility does not allow to recover lost files, but there is a program on MacOS specifically developed for this purpose.DiskDrill is an expert when it comes to recovering and extracting deleted data from damaged drives. It offers a free version that can help you the first time, but if the amount of data on the drive is very large, it's best to upgrade to the Pro version.
Download Disk Drill for macOS
Restoration
This is the king of freeware for data recovery in WindowsIt is by far the most powerful free alternative currently available on the market, competing even with many paid tools. It is very easy to use and recovers every last bit of information from the disk.
Download Restoration Windows
Recovery
We can't finish without mentioning you This is an excellent tool for recovering information.It is a giant in providing data storage and recovery solutions, used by large companies such as Samsung, IBM, Sony, and HP.
Download Recoverit Windows
PC Inspector File Recovery
We've reached the end of the road, and we're introducing you to this free software that will allow you to recover the data trapped on that annoying, broken SSD. Here's how it works: basically identical to the app we explained aboveSo you won't have any problems using it for the first time, although there will always be a lifesaver tutorial on YouTube.
