How to Recover Data from External Hard Drive [Full Solutions]

External hard drive recovery is the process of retrieving deleted, formatted, corrupted, RAW, or inaccessible files from an external HDD or SSD. In most situations, users can recover data from an external hard drive as long as the lost files have not been overwritten by new data.

Common External Hard Drive Data Loss Scenarios

Here are common data loss situations that occur on an external hard drive; most of the data loss scenarios here are recoverable.

Scenario	Recovery Chance	Recommended Solution
Accidentally Deleted Files	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Data Recovery Software
Formatted External Hard Drive	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Deep Scan Recovery
RAW External Hard Drive	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Recover Data Before Formatting
Corrupted File System	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Recovery Software + Repair
Virus or Malware Attack	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Virus Removal + Recovery
External HDD Not detected	⭐⭐⭐	Recovery + Drive Repair
Physical Damage	⭐⭐	Professional Recovery Service

How to Recover Data from an External Hard Drive

When data loss occurs, stop using the drive immediately. Continued use can overwrite recoverable files and significantly reduce recovery success.

Method 1. Recover Data with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

✅Best for: deleted files, formatted drives, RAW partitions, corrupted external hard drives, inaccessible files, and lost partitions.

When you lose files on an external hard drive, the easiest way to recover data from an external hard drive is to turn to the best data recovery software for Windows for help. Professional hard drive recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can help.

This external hard drive recovery software supports restoring data from an external hard drive lost due to accidentally formatting, deleting data, virus attacks, or other reasons on all brands of devices, such as Buffalo, WD, Seagate, Toshiba, Samsung, LaCie, Silicon, ADATA, and more. Watch the video guide for external hard drive data recovery:

Step 1. Choose and scan the external hard drive

• Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery on your PC or laptop. 
• Connect the external hard drive to your computer.
• Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and choose the external drive from External drives list. Then, click "Search for Lost Data". 

Step 2. Check the scan results

• EaseUS data recovery software will immediately scan the selected drive for all data, including deleted, corrupted, and existing data.
• You can use the Filter feature to quickly locate the files of one kind, such as Pictures, Word, Excel, PDF, videos, emails, etc.

Step 3. Preview and recover data

• Double-clicking a file from the scanned results to preview.
• Choose the files you want and click "Recover".
• Select a different drive to save the recovered files instead of the original one.

💡Tip: You can restore data on the local disks, external hard drives, and also the cloud storage.

Here's a video that you can learn more about external hard drive recovery with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard:

Don't forget to share this reliable recovery guide on social media to help more external hard drive users!

Method 2. Recover External HDD Data Using TestDisk

TestDisk is a free open-source recovery utility that can recover lost partitions and restore damaged partition tables.

• Free to use
• Powerful partition recovery
• Supports multiple file systems
• Requires command-line knowledge

Step 1. Download and launch "TestDisk" on your Windows PC. Click the "Create" button and then press "Enter". TestDisk will start scanning for all available hard disks.

Step 2. Choose the appropriate disk from the list using the arrow keys and select "Proceed".

Step 3. Select the Intel partition table type and click "Enter".

Step 4. Select "Analyze" and press "Enter" to begin analyzing the selected hard disk.

Step 5. After analyzing the disk, utilize the "Quick Search" option for lost data files.

Step 6. Go through the list of lost files, choose the ones you want to recover, and then hit "C" to copy them. Select the destination folder for copying, hit "Y" to begin, and wait for the "Copy Done!" message to appear.

Method 3. Recover Files from External Hard Disk Using PhotoRec

PhotoRec specializes in recovering photos, videos, and documents from damaged storage devices using file carving technology.

• Open-source software
• Supports hundreds of file formats
• Effective for severely corrupted drives
• No original folder structure recovery

Step 1. Download and install PhotoRec when you are using the administrator account. Then, to select the disk you want to work with, use the Up/Down arrows. To proceed, press "Enter".

Step 2. Select "Search > data recovery" and press "Enter" to begin the file recovery procedure.

In order to recover lost files, PhotoRec requires knowledge of the file system type used to store the files. Choose Other if the file system is not ext2, ext3, or ext4.

Step 3. Select a location to save the recovered files using the Up/Down arrow keys. To begin recuperation, press "C".

Method 4. Use Professional External Hard Drive Data Recovery Services

If your external hard drive has suffered physical damage, professional recovery services may be the only safe solution.

Seek professional assistance if your drive:

• Makes clicking noises
• Will not spin up
• Has water damage
• Was dropped
• Is not detected at all

Recover Deleted Files from an External Hard Drive

Deleted file recovery is one of the most successful forms of external hard drive recovery because deleted data usually remains on the storage device until overwritten.

• Stop using the drive immediately.
• Connect it to your computer.
• Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
• Perform a full scan.
• Preview deleted files.
• Recover them to a different location.

To recover deleted files from an external hard drive, try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and scan your hard disk as soon as possible.

Recover Data from a Formatted External Hard Drive

A quick format often removes file references but leaves the actual data intact. Recovery software can scan the storage sectors and reconstruct lost files. To recover a formatted hard drive, you should move fast and choose reliable data recovery software.

Format Type	Recovery Difficulty	Recovery Chance
Quick Format	Easy	Very High
Full Format	Moderate	Lower
Secure Erase	Very Difficult	Low

Recover Data from a RAW External Hard Drive

A RAW external hard drive appears when Windows cannot recognize the file system.

Common symptoms include:

• "You need to format the disk in drive"
• RAW file system errors
• Drive inaccessible in File Explorer
• Missing partition information

Recover Data from a Corrupted External Hard Drive

File system corruption can prevent access to files even when the actual data remains intact.

Typical symptoms:

• Access denied messages
• CRC errors
• Missing folders
• Slow performance
• Drive freezes

Recover Data from an External Hard Drive Not Recognized

If your external hard drive is not recognized, perform these checks:

1. Try another USB cable.
2. Connect to another USB port.
3. Test on another computer.
4. Check Disk Management.
5. Recover data before repairing the drive.

Recover Data from a Dead or Physically Damaged External Hard Drive

Physical damage significantly increases recovery complexity.

Signs of physical damage include:

• Clicking sounds
• Grinding noises
• Burning smell
• Water exposure
• No spinning activity

Best External Hard Drive Recovery Software Comparison

Here are some external hard drive recovery programs you can try, and get further information from the following chart:

Feature	EaseUS	TestDisk	PhotoRec
Beginner-Friendly	✅	❌	❌
GUI Interface	✅	❌	❌
Deleted File Recovery	Excellent	Good	Good
Formatted Drive Recovery	Excellent	Moderate	Excellent
RAW Recovery	Excellent	Moderate	Good
Preview Before Recovery	✅	❌	❌
Technical Skill Required	Low	High	Medium

How to Prevent External Hard Drive Data Loss

• Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule.
• Safely eject the drive before disconnecting.
• Monitor drive health regularly.
• Use antivirus protection.
• Replace aging hard drives proactively.
• Keep multiple backups of critical files.

Conclusion

External hard drive recovery is possible in most logical data loss situations, including accidental deletion, formatting, RAW partitions, file system corruption, and inaccessible drives. The key is to stop using the drive immediately and begin recovery before lost data becomes overwritten.

For the highest recovery success rate, use professional recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to scan, preview, and restore lost files safely. If your drive has suffered physical damage, seek professional data recovery services instead of attempting DIY repairs.

FAQs About External Hard Drive Recovery

1. Can data be recovered from a formatted external hard drive?

Yes. In many cases, recovery software can restore files after a quick format because the actual data remains on the storage device until overwritten.

2. How much does external hard drive recovery cost?

Software recovery is usually the most affordable solution. Professional recovery services for physically damaged drives can cost significantly more depending on the extent of the damage.

3. Can I recover data from an external hard drive without software?

If you have a backup, File History, or cloud storage copy, you may recover files without software. Otherwise, recovery software is typically required.

4. Can a RAW external hard drive be recovered?

Yes. RAW drives are among the most common recovery scenarios and often have high recovery success rates when handled correctly.

5. What is the best external hard drive recovery software?

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a popular option for recovering deleted, formatted, RAW, corrupted, and inaccessible files from external hard drives.

6. Can I recover data from a dead external hard drive?

Yes, but physically damaged drives often require professional recovery services equipped with clean-room technology.

7. How long does external hard drive recovery take?

The recovery process may take from several minutes to several hours depending on drive capacity, condition, and scan depth.

8. Can CHKDSK recover lost files?

CHKDSK repairs file system errors but is not designed as a dedicated file recovery solution. Recover important files first before running CHKDSK.

9. Why is my external hard drive recognized but inaccessible?

This issue is often caused by file system corruption, permission problems, bad sectors, or partition damage.

10. What should I do immediately after losing files?

Stop using the drive immediately and perform recovery as soon as possible to maximize recovery success.