How to repair external hard disk drive​?

External hard drives serve as vital storage devices, used for everything from backing up important files to providing extra space for applications and media. However, like any piece of technology, external hard disk drives (HDDs) can encounter problems. Issues range from simple, fixable errors like bad sectors to more complicated problems such as mechanical failures or corrupt file systems.

When a drive starts to malfunction, it can be incredibly frustrating, especially if critical data is stored on it. Knowing how to repair an external HDD can save time, money, and the headache of potentially losing valuable files. In this guide, we’ll discuss the common causes of external hard disk failure and how you can attempt to repair them.

The process involves troubleshooting the drive’s connection, checking for physical or logical damage, and performing data recovery if necessary. You’ll also learn when to seek professional help if your repair attempts fail.

1. External Hard Drive Issues

Before diving into repairs, it’s important to recognize the potential causes of failure in external hard drives. These can include:

Physical Damage: External hard drives are susceptible to physical damage from dropping or mishandling, which can lead to mechanical failure in the drive’s internal components.

File System Corruption: The file system on an external hard drive can become corrupted, making it unreadable or unresponsive. This can occur due to improper ejection, virus attacks, or system crashes.

Bad Sectors: A bad sector occurs when a part of the drive becomes damaged or unreadable, which can cause slow performance, data loss, or file system errors.

Connection Issues: Sometimes, the issue may not lie with the hard drive itself but with its connection, such as a faulty USB cable, port, or driver issues.

Power Problems: If the external hard drive isn’t getting enough power, it may not function correctly. This is especially common with portable drives that don’t have a separate power supply.

2. Preliminary Troubleshooting Steps

Before attempting repairs, start with some basic troubleshooting steps to rule out simpler issues.

2.1. Check the Cable and Port

Sometimes, the problem may not be with the hard drive but with the cable or port. Begin by:

Changing the USB cable: The cable may be damaged or worn out. Try a new, compatible cable.

Testing a different USB port: If the drive is connected via USB, try using a different port on the computer to rule out a faulty connection.

Testing the drive on another computer: If the drive doesn’t work on your primary computer, try it on another device to see if the issue is with the computer itself.

2.2. Listen for Sounds

External hard drives are mechanical devices, and if there is physical damage, you may hear abnormal noises like clicking, beeping, or grinding. These sounds typically indicate serious hardware failure, such as problems with the motor, heads, or platters.

If you hear clicking noises, stop using the drive immediately. Continuing to use a failing drive can cause more damage, leading to permanent data loss.

3. Repairing a Corrupted File System

If your external hard drive is physically intact but is showing signs of file system corruption (such as being unreadable or showing as “RAW”), you can attempt to repair it using the following steps:

3.1. Use CHKDSK (Check Disk Utility)

For Windows users, CHKDSK is a built-in tool that can check for file system errors and bad sectors on the drive.

Open the Command Prompt (search for it in the Start menu).

Type the following command, replacing “X” with the letter of your external hard drive:

bash

chkdsk X: /f /r

Press Enter. The /f option tells CHKDSK to fix errors, and /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Wait for the scan to complete. This could take a long time, depending on the size and condition of the drive.

3.2. Use Disk Utility (Mac)

For Mac users, Disk Utility is the equivalent tool to check and repair disks:

Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities.

Select your external hard drive from the list on the left.

Click the First Aid tab and then click Run to check and repair the drive.

Disk Utility will check for and attempt to fix any disk errors it finds.

3.3. Formatting the Drive

If the file system is beyond repair, you may need to format the external hard drive. Be aware that this will erase all data on the drive, so it should only be done after all data has been recovered (if possible).

On Windows, go to This PC, right-click the external drive, and choose Format.

On Mac, open Disk Utility, select the drive, and click Erase.

Choose the correct file system (NTFS for Windows, HFS+ or APFS for Mac) when formatting.

4. Dealing with Bad Sectors

Bad sectors can cause performance problems and data loss on an external hard drive. Here’s how to handle them:

4.1. Use CHKDSK to Fix Bad Sectors

As mentioned earlier, CHKDSK has a function to scan for and repair bad sectors. Running the command with the /r parameter will help recover data from bad sectors.

4.2. Use Third-Party Tools

If CHKDSK doesn’t fully address the bad sectors, there are third-party utilities that can provide more in-depth scanning and repair, such as:

HDD Regenerator: A tool designed specifically to fix bad sectors on hard drives.

Victoria: A tool that allows you to test and repair bad sectors.

These tools can help repair the sectors or map out areas that are beyond repair.

5. Repairing Physical Damage

If the issue is physical damage, such as a clicking noise or the drive not spinning up, repairs can be significantly more complex. Here are some steps you can take:

5.1. Check for Loose Connections Inside the Drive

If you’re comfortable opening the external hard drive case (and the warranty is no longer an issue), you can check for any loose cables or connections inside the drive. However, this requires technical expertise and should be done carefully.

5.2. Freezing the Drive

While this method is not scientifically proven and should be a last resort, some users have had temporary success by freezing a hard drive in an airtight bag for several hours. The idea is that the freezing can temporarily shrink components that might have expanded due to heat. This may allow the drive to run for long enough to recover important data.

5.3. Professional Repair Services

If the drive is physically damaged, such as with motor or head failure, the best option is to contact a professional data recovery service. These services have specialized tools and cleanrooms to repair hard drives and recover data. However, they can be expensive and may take some time to complete.

6. Recovering Data from a Failed External Hard Drive

If you’ve tried repairing the external hard drive but still cannot access the data, the next step is to focus on data recovery.

6.1. Use Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is a versatile data recovery tool that can also help repair and recover data from external hard disk drives (HDDs) that are facing issues such as corruption, file system errors, or partition problems. Whether your external hard drive has become unreadable, has lost files, or is showing signs of failure, Panda Assistant can offer solutions to recover and repair the drive effectively.

Data Recovery: Panda Assistant’s powerful data recovery features can restore files from a corrupted external hard drive. Whether the drive is experiencing logical errors like file system corruption or more severe problems like accidental formatting, the software can help recover lost or deleted data.

File System Repair: If the external hard drive has become unreadable due to file system issues, Panda Assistant can assist in scanning the drive for errors and repairing them. This includes recovering data from drives that show as “RAW” or have become inaccessible due to corruption.

Partition Recovery: In cases where partitions on an external hard drive are missing or damaged, Panda Assistant can help you rebuild or recover the partition structure, allowing you to access the data that was previously unreachable.

Bad Sector Repair: Panda Assistant can detect and isolate bad sectors on the drive. While it may not physically repair them, it can bypass or mark them, ensuring that your data remains intact and minimizing further data loss.

6.2. Contact a Data Recovery Professional

If the drive is physically damaged and recovery software is unable to help, a professional data recovery service is your next option. These services can recover data from drives with hardware issues but can be quite costly.

7. Preventing Future Issues

Once your external hard drive is repaired, consider taking steps to prevent future issues:

Back up regularly: Always back up your data to another drive or cloud service to minimize the risk of losing data.

Use proper ejection procedures: Always eject your external hard drive properly before disconnecting it from your computer to prevent file system corruption.

Avoid physical damage: Handle your external hard drive carefully, avoid dropping it, and store it in a protective case.