If you are reading this article, you may need to repair your external disk. If it’s not responding to the USB connection or you can’t access the files, you may have a problem.
We know that the use of external disks is becoming more and more common due to their practicality and this ends up causing a certain dependence on their content.
If this is the case, you can relax because there are several solutions to get your disk working perfectly again. So, if you have very important files stored, you will probably recover them.
In this article, you will learn about some solutions to your problem. Let’s go?
What can cause external disk problems?
Before we talk about how to repair an external disk, we need to understand why this happens. Is it common?
Actually, it is not common for an external disk to have problems, as it is a stable device and there are good brands on the market. But instabilities can happen, making it difficult to access content.
And why does this happen? There are various reasons, the main ones being listed below:
Virus attack
Many computers still don’t have antivirus software and the fact that the external disk can be connected to other machines can encourage this invasion.
The virus can corrupt the files on the external disk, making it impossible to access.
Device defect
The external disk itself may be having problems and because of this the computer may not recognize it or be able to carry out file transactions.
Corrupted files
The files stored on the external drive are not in their proper state, causing the computer not to recognize them or simply not be able to access them.
There are a number of reasons for this, including physical problems (such as a defective input or a screw that has come loose, causing the connection of parts to be lost).
Is it possible to repair an external disk?
So the question comes up: is it really possible to repair an external disk?
If you don’t have any affinity with this type of technology, repairing the device yourself can be quite challenging. However, there are some very simple options that you can do.
If these steps don’t help you recover your external disk or the files stored on it, the best option really is to go to a professional.
Remember that storage devices, especially external disks, can contain very important data, information and programs.
If something irreversible is done, there is a risk of losing all these files, causing a huge damage. So if you don’t know what you are doing or have any doubts, be sure to contact a professional.
In this article we will give you some simple solutions to try at home, depending on the problem your disk presents. Let’s go?
What to do when the device doesn’t work?
If your external disk doesn’t work, don’t panic! You don’t necessarily need to repair the external disk or take it to a service center, as there are some very simple steps you can take yourself.
Here are two ways you can test whether or not your external disk works again.
Recovering information with a USB or a new computer
If you still don’t know whether or not the external disk or even its USB port is defective, one alternative is to try connecting the device to a new computer or even another USB port.
If it reads, then you can use the data on the hard disk directly in this way.
However, if you are unsuccessful and the disk is still not found, then you will need a tool to recover the data.
Recovering data from a corrupted external disk
You will need software to recover your external disk, ensuring that your device is properly recovered.
There are two ways to go about this: you can download a program that has this function yourself, or you can send your external drive to professionals.
When repairing an external disk becomes a little more “complex”, the option of leaving it in the hands of professionals may end up being more interesting to ensure the best chances of recovering your data.
Retrieving information
What if you need to recover data and information from your external disk? If your disk is connected and recognized by a computer, but the files are all corrupted, there are a few options.
First, you will need to open your computer’s Command Prompt. To do this, open the Start menu and in the Search tab type CMD and then press ENTER. The panel will open automatically.
Then copy and paste the following code: chkdsk g:/f. It’s worth noting that the letter “g” refers to the Hard Disk Drive, so check that the letter “g” is actually the corresponding one.
After typing, press ENTER again. The machine will try to fix the corrupted files. If this method doesn’t work, don’t worry, we have other ways of repairing an external disk.
How do I repair a corrupted external disk?
Well, if your external disk still isn’t responding the way it should, the next step is to try to repair the device. To do this, you can try a few methods, such as those described below:
Formatting
- The first step is to connect your corrupted device to your computer;
- Then right-click on the item corresponding to your disk;
- Select the FORMAT option;
- Configure the system;
- Click OK.
These steps will format your device back to its original format. Often the problem is solved with this action, but in return, files are deleted, so only do this procedure if you are aware that your data could be permanently lost.
Partition software
Another option for repairing your external disk is to download one of the partition software programs. In this article we will use EaseUS Partition Master as an example. After downloading this software, you should follow these steps:
- Connect the hard disk to your computer;
- Run EaseUS Partition Master (you can use the free version);
- Right-click on the icon that corresponds to your device;
- Click on CHECK PARTITION and then select CHECK PARTITION PROPERTIES, SURFACE TEST and WINDOWS CHKDSK.EXE;
- Select Fix and Repair;
- Then select OK.
This option will also format your device. Therefore, if you have very important files, you may want to consider other options
How to repair a corrupted external disk without formatting?
The best course of action is always to try to repair the external disk without formatting it. Below you will see two possibilities of what you can do.
Partition software
You can use Partition Software without necessarily formatting the external disk.
One option is the EaseUS Partition Master software, which is able to solve problems without erasing the information on your device.
If you have access to the program, you will need to follow the steps below:
- Check the disk and repair it if it is corrupted;
- Clean the data from the device;
- Leave it unallocated;
- Use Disk Manager for a new partition
This process is in fact more complex. However, if you don’t succeed or it still doesn’t work, there is another option.
Using the Command Prompt
You can also try to repair the external disk using the Command Prompt. As explained before, you should go to Start on your computer, then Search and then type CMD.
After pressing ENTER, you will type in a series of codes. However, each time you do this, you have to press ENTER again:
- Diskpart;
- list disk;
- select disk X (X is actually the letter of your corrupted disk);
- clean;
- create partition primary;
- exit.
However, there is a very important detail to this method. It will not format your External Disk, but it will perform a cleanup. Therefore, it is important to copy the data so that it is not lost.
Conclusion
As you have seen, there are different ways of repairing an external disk, as well as different reasons that can cause problems.
You can use a number of methods to try to access your disk and its files, even without having to format it.
However, if the disk doesn’t correspond to the simplest recovery methods or if the content is extremely important, it is definitely best to leave it in the hands of professionals.
In some cases, the problem may even be with the machine, requiring a more technical assessment.
We hope this article will help you repair your external disk, but if you have any doubts or fears, be sure to contact a good team of professionals.
If even after all your attempts you still can’t solve your problem or you need Data Recovery, Bot can help.
You have two options: (1) bring or (2) send your device to one of our units, so that the technicians can analyze the problem and quote for data recovery.
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We work with two methods for receiving your device: free collection or delivery to one of Bot’s receptions.
Bot is present in several cities across the country. You can check which one is closest to you at this link. After completing the form, you can deliver the device directly to Bot.
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