The hard disk is one of the most important components in a computer – after all, it’s where all of the user’s content and data is stored.
With physical damage, software and home repairs can make the case worse. In those cases, hard drive recovery is done in a lab, starting with a free diagnosis.
That’s why, whenever it has a problem, you need to fix it as soon as possible so as not to lose important files permanently.
Has your hard disk failed and you don’t know how to get your data back? Read on to find out why these failures happen and how to deal with the most common ones safely.
Why does the hard disk fail?
Like any other electromechanical device, your hard disk can fail at some point. There is always a reason behind the problem, and we’ve listed the main ones below.
Wear and tear
Nothing lasts forever, and hard disks are no exception. After years of use, their parts wear out, and this affects how the drive works. Worn or aging components are a common cause of failure.
Overheating
Ideally, the temperature of a hard disk should stay between 25 °C and 40 °C. When it goes above that range for long periods, the drive overheats and its components degrade, which can lead to failures.
Shutting down the computer suddenly
Another very common cause is a sudden system shutdown. Shutting the machine down abruptly can cause hardware failures, corrupt files and stop some programs from working properly.
Power outages
Although you can’t control them, power outages can cause serious problems: the computer shuts down without warning, leading to the same issues described in the previous section.
Symptoms of physical and logical hard disk failure
Before looking at how to recover data after a hard disk failure, you need to know the signs a drive gives when it can no longer do its job properly.
Here are the two main symptoms.
The operating system doesn’t recognize the drive
One of the most common signs of a failing hard drive is that the computer doesn’t detect it. In other words, the user connects the drive, but the operating system doesn’t recognize it, as if it weren’t there.
Continuous noise coming from inside the computer
Have you noticed that your hard disk is making noises? It could be a sign of failure. Although no computer is completely silent, it isn’t normal for it to make loud, continuous internal noises that weren’t there before. If you hear clicking or grinding, switch the computer off and don’t keep trying: each power-on can make the damage worse.
What to do about a logical hard disk failure
A failure is considered logical when the hard drive works physically, but the system doesn’t recognize it properly or can’t find the stored data.
For this type of problem, here are two common approaches.
Try reading the data on another computer
This is one of the simplest ways to recover data after a hard disk failure. You’ll need a second computer and a SATA-to-USB adapter.
- Connect the adapter to the hard disk and to the second computer, then look for the drive under “This PC”;
- From there, you can browse your downloads, pictures, documents and so on;
- Finally, copy the files to that computer or to another drive.
Don’t format the partition before recovering your data
Formatting the partition may get the drive working again, but it erases your files and greatly reduces the chances of getting them back. So if you have anything important on the hard disk, don’t format it: turn to data recovery specialists or, if the drive can still be read, make a backup first.
- You can open “Disk Management” (right-click the Start menu) just to check whether the drive and its partitions are detected – without changing anything;
- Don’t delete the volume or create a new one: this changes the partition table and makes recovery harder;
- Formatting or initializing the drive only makes sense once your data has been recovered and checked, so you can use the disk again.
What to do about a physical hard disk failure
A physical failure occurs when one of the hardware components has a problem. In other words, the part itself is faulty, which makes the process more difficult.
Even so, there are three things you can do:
If the drive can still be read, copy your data elsewhere
Physical failures make data recovery harder, as no software can fix this type of fault. If the drive can still be read without strange noises, the simplest answer to “how do I recover data after a hard disk failure?” is: copy your most important files to another device as soon as possible. If it makes noises, keeps disconnecting or is extremely slow, switch it off and don’t force it.
Check whether the hard disk can still be used
A physical failure doesn’t always mean the hard disk is a “total loss”. So before taking any drastic measures, find out whether it can still be saved or whether it needs to be replaced.
If you can’t identify the problem yourself, take the device to a professional who can diagnose it.
Take your hard disk to a specialist
If the drive has a fairly simple fault, a specialist may be able to deal with it. Bear in mind, though, that repairing a disk to use it again and recovering its data are two different things: if your data matters, recovering it comes first – and a hard disk should never be opened outside a cleanroom.
Ask for an estimate first and consider whether it’s really worth it, because a hard disk has complex mechanics and electronics, and repairing one to keep using it usually costs more than buying a new one.
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Conclusion
And if your hard disk is still failing after you’ve tried everything, don’t despair. There are highly competent companies that can recover files quickly and safely.
Bot has already handled more than 200,000 cases for individuals and companies and has reception points in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto and Braga. Leave your hard disk in the hands of people who have the experience and know what they’re doing! At Bot, depending on the level of urgency, diagnoses can be ready within 12 hours.
Want to know how to recover your data after a hard disk failure? Get in touch with Bot and take the first step toward getting your files back.
