Welcome to a helpful article that will guide you on how to recover files from corrupted external hard drive on Mac. Losing precious files saved on your external hard drive can be frustrating, challenging, and sometimes impossible. It can happen due to various reasons such as virus attacks, power failures, physical damage, or software malfunction. However, don’t lose hope in recovering your files because, in this article, we will provide you with comprehensive steps and explanations on how to retrieve them.
Steps to Recover Files from Corrupted External Hard Drive Mac
Step 1: Disconnect the External Hard Drive and Stop Using It
When your external hard drive gets corrupted, the first thing to do is to disconnect it from your Mac and avoid using it further. Continued use may worsen the problem leading to permanent data loss.
Step 2: Check the Connection and Power Supply of Your External Hard Drive
After disconnecting your external hard drive, check the connection and power supply to ensure that it’s not the cause of the problem. Also, ensure that the USB port and cable are not damaged.
Step 3: Use Disk Utility to Repair the Corrupted External Hard Drive
Disk Utility is a built-in macOS tool that enables you to verify and repair hard drive errors. Use it to repair your corrupted external hard drive by First Aid.
Step 4: Use Terminal Commands to Repair the External Hard Drive
If Disk Utility fails, you can try repairing using Terminal utility with sudo commands. This option is technical, and you should seek the assistance of an expert if not conversant.
Step 5: Use a Data Recovery Software to Retrieve Lost Data
A data recovery software is a tool that helps you retrieve lost or damaged data from external hard drives. It’s suitable for a corrupted hard drive with no physical damage.
Step 6: Professional Data Recovery Services
You can seek the services of professional data recovery centers if all the other options fail. Though expensive, it’s a sure way to retrieve your lost data.
Step 7: Restore from a Time Machine Backup
If you had previously created a Time Machine backup, you can restore your lost data from it.
Step 8: Restore from iCloud
If you had saved your files on iCloud, you can recover them by logging in to your iCloud account and restoring the files from there.
Step 9: Recover from Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive
If you had stored your files on cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive, you can recover them by logging into your account and locating the files.
Step 10: Try Photo Recovery Software
If the lost data includes photos, you can try a photo recovery software that helps retrieve deleted or formatted photos from external hard drives or digital cameras.
Step 11: Consider Your Options Before Formatting the External Hard Drive
If none of the above options work, and you still need to use the hard drive, you can format it to solve the problem. However, remember that formatting will erase all data stored in it, making data recovery impossible.
Step 12: Backup Your Data Regularly
Prevention is better than cure. The best way to avoid the frustration of losing your data is by creating regular backups. It’s the most effective way of ensuring you retrieve your data in case of loss.
The Explanation
What Causes a Corrupted External Hard Drive?
Several reasons can cause an external hard drive to get corrupted. Some of these reasons include:
1. Virus attack
2. System crashes
3. Power failure
4. Physical damage
5. Faulty software
6. Human error such as accidentally deleting files or formatting the drive
7. Disk failure due to aging
When any of these reasons happens, your external hard drive may become unreadable, and you can’t access the saved files.
How to Prevent External Hard Drive Corruption
1. Use reliable power sources to avoid unexpected power failures
2. Avoid bumping or dropping your external hard drive
3. Use anti-virus software to avoid virus attacks
4. Regularly back up your data to avoid losing it in case of damage or loss
Tips & Tricks
1. Protect your External Hard Drive
Use a protective cover or case when carrying your external hard drive to avoid bumps and scratches.
2. Use Reliable Anti-Virus Software
Install reliable anti-virus software to protect your hard drive from potential virus attacks.
3. Always Eject Your External Hard Drive
Always eject your external hard drive before disconnecting it from your Mac to avoid data loss.
4. Keep Your External Hard Drive Dry
Avoid exposing your external hard drive to water as it could lead to permanent damage.
5. Never Try to Open Your External Hard Drive
Opening your external hard drive is risky and can lead to permanent damage, which makes data recovery impossible.
6. Avoid Overloading Your External Hard Drive
Avoid overloading your external hard drive beyond its storage capacity to avoid physical damage.
7. Regularly Check the Health of Your External Hard Drive
Use external hard drive monitoring software to check the health of your hard drive regularly.
8. Keep Your External Hard Drive Away from Magnetic Fields
Keep away from magnetic fields to avoid the corruption of stored data.
9. Use a Professional to Recover Your Hard Drive Data
If all the above solutions fail, seek the services of a professional data recovery company to help you retrieve your lost data.
10. Regularly Update Your Software
Regularly update your operating system, anti-virus software, and other programs to avoid software malfunction and possible data loss.
Finally, recovering files from a corrupted external hard drive in a MAC requires patience, technical knowledge, and the right tools. The above steps are effective in most cases of data loss, but to avoid experiencing it again, regularly back up your data and protect your external hard drive from damage.
Advantages and Disadvantages: How to Recover Files from Corrupted External Hard Drive Mac
Advantages
1. Recovering data from a corrupted external hard drive can save you time and money compared to purchasing a new one.
2. It can help you retrieve important files that may not be replaceable.
3. You can recover files that were accidentally deleted or formatted.
4. Using a data recovery software can be done at home and does not require professional help.
5. There are numerous software options available depending on your specific needs and budget.
6. Some software options offer a free trial to ensure the software works for your particular situation before purchasing.
7. Most software options have user-friendly interfaces and are easy to use for those who are not tech-savvy.
8. By only recovering specific files, you can save disk space and only retrieve what is necessary.
9. Data recovery from a corrupted external hard drive can help prevent data loss and allow you to back up important files.
10. Some data recovery software can also recover files from damaged or inaccessible partitions.
Disadvantages
1. Data recovery is not always guaranteed, and some files may not be recoverable.
2. Some data recovery software options can be expensive depending on the level of recovery needed.
3. Recovering files from a corrupted external hard drive can be time-consuming, depending on the size of the drive and the amount of data recovered.
4. It is important to stop using the external hard drive immediately when corruption is suspected to prevent further data loss.
5. While some software options offer a free trial, purchasing the full version can be a risk if the software does not work for your particular situation.
6. In rare cases, data recovery software can cause further damage to the corrupted external hard drive.
7. Recovering files from a corrupted external hard drive may not be necessary if the files are backed up elsewhere.
8. It is vital to regularly back up important files to prevent loss in the event of a corrupted external hard drive or other failure.
9. Some data recovery software may require advanced computer knowledge, making it difficult for those who are not tech-savvy to use.
10. Recovering files from a corrupted external hard drive can be an emotional and frustrating process if important files are not able to be recovered.
FAQ
1. What is a corrupted external hard drive?
A corrupted external hard drive is a storage device that has suffered damages, errors, or malfunctions, causing it to become inaccessible or unreadable. The issues can be caused by physical damage or software problems.
2. Can a corrupted external hard drive be fixed?
It is possible to fix a corrupted external hard drive, but it depends on the extent and nature of the damage. Some problems can be resolved through simple troubleshooting, while others may require professional data recovery services.
3. What causes external hard drive corruption on Mac?
External hard drive corruption on Mac can be caused by various factors, including improper ejection, power failures, virus attacks, file system errors, physical damage, and software conflicts.
4. How to know if my external hard drive is corrupted?
You may experience symptoms such as slow file transfers, unusual noises, sudden disconnections, or error messages when accessing the external hard drive. Also, the Mac may fail to recognize or mount the drive.
5. Can I recover files from a corrupted external hard drive on Mac?
Yes, you can recover files from a corrupted external hard drive on Mac using appropriate data recovery tools and techniques. However, the success rate may vary depending on the extent of the damage and the time of intervention.
6. Can I use Time Machine to restore files from a corrupted external hard drive?
If you have a backup of the corrupted external hard drive through Time Machine, you can restore files from it. However, if the backup is corrupt or incomplete, you may need to use other data recovery options.
7. Can I repair a corrupted external hard drive on my own?
If the external hard drive is physically damaged, it is not recommended to repair it on your own as further damage can occur. However, if the problem is due to software issues, you can try basic troubleshooting steps first or seek professional help.
8. What are the basic troubleshooting steps for a corrupted external hard drive on Mac?
You can try disconnecting and reconnecting the drive, restarting the Mac, using a different USB cable or port, or using the Disk Utility tool to verify and repair the disk.
9. What if the Disk Utility tool cannot repair the corrupted external hard drive?
If the Disk Utility tool fails to repair the external hard drive, you can try using other third-party disk repair or data recovery software. You may also consider seeking professional data recovery services.
10. Is it safe to use data recovery software on a corrupted external hard drive?
Yes, it is safe to use data recovery software on a corrupted external hard drive as long as you use reputable and reliable software. However, it is recommended to stop using the drive immediately and avoid further data writing to prevent further damage or overwrite of existing data.
11. Can I recover files from a physically damaged external hard drive?
Yes, it is possible to recover files from a physically damaged external hard drive by seeking professional data recovery services. However, the success rate and cost may vary depending on the severity of the damage and the type of data recovery process needed.
12. How to prevent external hard drive corruption on Mac?
You can prevent external hard drive corruption on Mac by taking precautionary measures, such as ejecting the drive properly, avoiding abrupt power loss, scanning for viruses regularly, and avoiding overloading the drive with too much data or running too many applications simultaneously.
13. Can I recover files from a stolen external hard drive on Mac?
If your external hard drive has been stolen, it is recommended to contact the authorities and report the theft. Unfortunately, data recovery from a stolen external hard drive may not be possible unless you have a backup of the data stored elsewhere.
How to Recover Files from Corrupted External Hard Drive Mac
Dealing with a corrupted external hard drive on your Mac can be a nightmare, especially if you need the files urgently. This issue can cause data loss, which can affect your work or business significantly. However, the good news is that there are a few things you can do to recover files from a corrupted external hard drive on your Mac. In this article, we will explore some of the steps you can take to recover your files safely and quickly.
Conclusion and Closing
During this digital age, data corrupt, get lost, or accidentally deleted. Losing files important to us can be frustrating especially when it’s something that’s not replaceable. With the above solutions, you can rest easy knowing that you can easily recover your files from a corrupted external hard drive on your Mac. Although some techniques can be costly, they’re worth the effort in the long run. However, it’s advisable to ensure that all your data is backed up either in the cloud or an external storage device. This is an excellent way of safeguarding important files before disaster strikes. Remember that prevention is always better than cure. Good luck!
See you soon!