

- EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE RECOVERY NO FORMATTING HOW TO
- EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE RECOVERY NO FORMATTING MAC
- EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE RECOVERY NO FORMATTING WINDOWS
Then, right-click on it and select the Run as administrator option. You can run chkdsk using the command prompt and repair a corrupted hard disk without formatting.
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE RECOVERY NO FORMATTING WINDOWS
Windows offers the chkdsk utility to help you scan for logical errors and bad sectors on the external hard drive. Let it complete and check if it found any threats on the drive.

Windows Defender will begin the virus scan.Select the external hard drive and click on the Select folder button. The app will ask you to select a location to scan. Click the Scan now button located at the bottom.Then select the Customized scan option on the next page. Scroll down and click on the Scan options label.Click on Virus and Threat Protection option on the home page. Press the Win key and search for Windows security.You can scan for virus presence on your external hard drive using Windows Defender. So, you need to remove the virus from the external hard drive to make it accessible again. If data transfer happens between an infected computer and an external hard drive, the external hard drive will also become infected. Method 1: Scan for virusesĪ computer virus can seep into the external hard disk without much difficulty. Let’s explore each of these methods in detail. These methods include scanning the external hard drive for viruses, updating the drivers, and using built-in Windows tools like Check Disk and SFC scan to fix the hard drive. There are multiple methods that you can use to recover files from an external hard drive without formatting.
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE RECOVERY NO FORMATTING HOW TO
How to Fix External Hard Drive on Windows without Formatting Bad sectors can accumulate over time which leads to files and folder corruption. A sudden drop in read/write speed means something is wrong with the head or other parts of the drive. You can physically examine the hard drive and check for any clicking or tapping noise.Įxternal hard drives have varying read/write speed and capacity. Despite passing numerous quality checks, it is possible to have manufacturing defects. So, you won’t be able to access the data unless you remove the malware from the hard drive.Ī poorly manufactured hard drive will encounter problems when you use it. Malware can corrupt, encrypt, or even delete the data stored on the hard drive. All these habits and unfeasible working conditions lead to data corruption and sometimes even hard drive failure.ĭata on hard drives, like on any other storage device, can become inaccessible due to malware. Moreover, never unplug the connecting cable without ejecting the hard drive. They cannot withstand excessive temperature or humidity. ProblemsĮxternal hard drives are expensive yet fragile in construction. Here are some common problems with explanations that lead to data corruption on an external hard drive. It is an absolute state of dismay because you cannot access the data present on the hard drive.īut don’t fret! This article will discuss the methods to fix a corrupted external hard drive without formatting and losing all the data.Ĭommon Problems with External Hard DrivesĮxternal hard drives can become corrupted due to malware infestation, improper usage habits, and other factors. But even external hard drives are susceptible to corruption. Most of us use them for creating backups of files and folders that hold importance. If the Security Options button is not available, Disk Utility cannot perform a secure erase on the storage device.Reading Time: 7 minutesExternal hard drives are lifesavers. Secure erase options are available only for some types of storage devices. (Optional) If available, click Security Options, use the slider to choose how many times to write over the erased data, then click OK. If the Scheme pop-up menu isn’t available, make sure you selected the storage device you want to erase-it’s at the top of the hierarchy.Ĭlick the Format pop-up menu, then choose a file system format. Ĭlick the Scheme pop-up menu, then choose GUID Partition Map.

In the sidebar, select the storage device you want to erase, then click the Erase button. If you want to erase any other type of storage device: Double-click Disk Utility in the /Applications/Utilities folder.
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE RECOVERY NO FORMATTING MAC
Note: If you want to get your Mac ready to trade in, sell, or give away, and your computer is a Mac with Apple silicon or an Intel-based Mac with an Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase Assistant.
