- Table of contents
- Common Causes of Hard Drive Crashes and Corruption
- How To Recover Data From a Corrupt, Crashed, or Damaged Hard Drive?
- How To Fix a Corrupt, Crashed, or Damaged Hard Drive?
- How To Prevent Data Loss and Hard Drive Corruption?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions on Recovering Data from Corrupted Hard Drive
Common Causes of Hard Drive Corruption and Crashes
Before diving into the recovery process, it’s crucial to understand why hard drives crash or become corrupt. Some common culprits include:
💥 Overheat Drive: When a computer overheats due to resource-intensive tasks or multitasking, it can lead to hard drive issues.
⚡ Power Interruption: Sudden power surges or unexpected power failures can corrupt the hard disk, causing startup failures.
🤦 Human Error: Simple mistakes like incorrect OS installations can result in hard disk corruption.
🖥️ Damaged Master Boot Record (MBR): Damage to the boot sector containing the MBR can result in corruption, preventing the OS from loading.
🚫 Bad Sectors: Hard drives have millions of data storage sectors; some may become unreadable or unwritable due to bad sectors, causing corruption.
🛠️ Hardware Damage: Physical damage from mishandling or accidental drops can lead to irreparable harm to the hard drive.
🔌 Improper Ejection of External Hard Drive: Removing external hard disks from the system unsafely can result in corruption and data loss.
⏳ Wear and Tear: Hardware components have a limited lifespan, and regular usage can lead to gradual wear and eventual hard drive crashes.
Important Considerations
1. Do not use the corrupted drive further: To prevent overwriting potentially recoverable data, avoid using the drive until you’ve completed the recovery process.
2. Choose a different location to save recovered files: This prevents overwriting the original data on the corrupted drive.
3. Backup your data regularly: This helps to mitigate the risk of data loss in the first place.
Methods to Recover Data from Corrupted Hard Drive
Method 1: Recover Corrupted Hard Drive Using Data Recovery Software
You need professional data recovery software like Remo Recover to recover data from a corrupted hard drive. Remo Recover uses an advanced formula to scan and repair drives with extreme levels of corruption. Its user-friendly interface allows users to easily recover crashed hard drives within a few clicks.
- Download Remo Recover: Download and install Remo Recover on the device and connect the hard drive (if external).
- Launch the tool, and select the corrupted hard drive: A list of available drives are shown Choose your corrupt hard drive.
ALSO: If you can’t see your device listed on the home screen, click the “Can’t find the drive?” option to initiate a manual detection process.
- Retrieve data from corrupted hard drive: Click on the Scan to begin the scanning process.
- Corrupted HDD recovery process: while scanning is happening, you can preview the recovered files by using the “Dynamic Recovery View”
- Review the Results: After the scanning process is complete, you can see all the recovered files. Select the files you want to recover and click the “Recover” button to finalize the corrupted hard disk recovery process.
Ensure that you save the files in a different and secure location.
If you are not comfortable recovering the data from a corrupt Hard Disk. The next solution is to try approaching any professional Data Recovery Services near you.
Method 2: Consult a Professional Data Recovery Service To Help You Recover files from Corrupted hard drive
If your hard disk is severely damaged and the issue persists, contact a trusted data recovery service to retrieve your data. For a smooth recovery process, consider these key factors when choosing a service:
- Expertise: Ensure the service specializes in recovering data from corrupted hard drives.
- Reputation: Choose a reliable provider with positive reviews and a proven track record.
- Process: Check that they offer a clear, secure, and efficient recovery process.
For a seamless data recovery process from your damaged hard drive, it’s crucial to take into account the following aspects when picking a data recovery service:
- ISO certification and Class 100 clean rooms.
- Assurance of data recovery after careful examination.
- Reliable and safe service.
- A policy of “No recovery, no charge”.
- Free hard drive shipment.
- Full confidentiality of the recovered data.
Now that you have safely recovered your data from a corrupt Hard Drive. The next section talks about various ways using which one can fix any corrupt or crashed Hard Drive.
How To Fix a Corrupt, Crashed, or Damaged Hard Drive?
Method 1: Repair Corrupt Hard Drive Using Disk Management Utility
Disk Management is a feature that allows users to manage their disks and the data stored on it. You can also use Disk Management to help restore your drive and the data in it.
To Repair the corrupted hard drive using the Disk Management utility, follow the below simple steps:
On Windows:
- Press
Windows + Xand select Disk Management.
- Locate the problematic hard drive in Disk Management.
- If visible, consider formatting it to fix errors and regain access.
⚠️ Warning: Formatting may result in data loss, so ensure you have backups or professional data recovery software like Remo Recover as a backup.
On Mac:
- Open Disk Utility through Spotlight (Press Command + Space).
- Select the problematic disk or volume and click First Aid.
- After running First Aid, check if Disk Utility detects or fixes any issues. Your hard drive should be repaired and functional after the process.
Also Read: How to Recover Data From Corrupted USB.
Method 2: Repair Corrupt or Crashed Hard Disk Using the Command Prompt
Through the Command Prompt, you can use the CHKDSK command to repair your corrupt hard drive. While it does not always work and is only capable of fixing minor errors, it is definitely worth a shot. Try it out for yourself using the given steps-
- Press
Win + X, select Command Prompt, and run it as an administrator.
- Type “
chkdsk” and press Enter to analyze errors.
- Type “
chkdsk D: /f /r/x” to fix the drive. Replace “D” with your corrupted drive’s letter.
Also Read: Recover Files Deleted By CHKDSK.
Method 3: Run SFC Scan to Resolve the Corrupt Disk
The System File Checker (SFC) utility is a Windows command-line tool designed to fix broken system files and restore data. Using this, you may be able to fix your drive and recover your data in turn.
Follow these below steps to run the SFC scan and get back your data from the corrupted hard disk drive:
- Power on your Windows system: Turn on your computer, and wait for the manufacturer’s logo to appear
- Force Shutdown After Logo Appears: Once you see the logo, press and hold the power button to shut down your system. Repeat this process three times.
- Let the System Load on the Fourth Attempt: On the fourth attempt, allow your system to boot normally. This will open the “Choose an option” screen.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot Options: From the “Choose an option” screen, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, and finally Command Prompt.
- Run the DISM Command: type
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthand press Enter. - Run the SFC: After the DISM process completes, type
SFC /scannowand press Enter. - Wait for the Scan to Complete: Allow the SFC scan to run until it reaches 100%. Do not close the Command Prompt window until the process is finished.
- Do not close the Command Prompt window until the verification is 100% complete. You can review the scan results after the process.
Method 4: Use the Windows Error Checking Tool To Fix the Hard Disk Corruption Issue
Did you know? Windows has a built-in checking tool that you can use to recover data from the corrupted hard disk. It will scan your drive and repair any minor disk errors or inconsistencies that it finds. You can try it out for yourself by following the instructions below!
- Open Windows Explorer.
- Right-click the corrupted hard disk partition and choose “Properties.”
- Go to the “Tools” tab.
- Under “Error-checking,” click “Check.”
- Restart your computer and check if the problematic hard drive was fixed, and you can now access your data.
Interesting Read: Find out how to fix and recover data from an unallocated hard drive.
How To Prevent Data Loss and Hard Drive Corruption?
Prevention is the first defense against data loss and hard drive corruption. Follow these proactive steps to safeguard your valuable data:
- Regular Backups: Take regular backups of your computer on external drives, NAS, or cloud storage. Automate backups for consistency.
- Shut Down When Not in Use: Turn off your computer to prevent heat buildup, which can damage your hard drive and lead to data loss.
- Proper Ejection: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” or “Eject” option for external devices to ensure safe data transfer.
- Monitor Hard Drive Health: Check your hard drive’s health regularly with tools like chkdsk and S.M.A.R.T for early problem detection.
- Avoid Physical Damage: Handle devices carefully, protect them from extreme conditions, and keep them in a clean, stable environment.
- Listen for Unusual Noises: If your hard drive is making clicking sounds, it is a sign that it is failing. Take action immediately and backup your data.
- Use Antivirus Software: Install trusted antivirus software to safeguard against data-corrupting malware.
- Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your OS, drivers, and software to fix bugs and enhance security.
- Avoid Overloading: Don’t fill your hard drive to the max; leave free space to maintain performance and data integrity.
- Educate Yourself: Stay informed about data management best practices and security measures.
Conclusion
I hope that you were able to recover your data from your corrupted hard drive using this article. The best counter to data loss is to maintain a backup of all your important files and projects. In scenarios where you do not have a backup, professional data recovery software such as Remo Hard Drive Recovery is the way to go. Please do reach out if you have any related queries or feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in many cases. File system corruption can often be repaired using CHKDSK or built-in repair options. If the drive is too damaged to open, you can still scan it with software such as Remo Recover to get back important files before fixing or replacing the drive.
To recover data from a corrupted hard drive, you have to use professional hard drive data recovery software like Remo Recover.
You can boot from a Windows installation USB/DVD > choose Repair your computer > run Startup Repair or Command Prompt tools like CHKDSK. If it still won’t boot, connect the drive to another PC and use a recovery tool like Remo Recover to restore your files before repairing the drive.
Data recovery from a damaged or crashed hard drive depends on the type of damage. For logical data loss, such as accidental file deletion from the hard drive or formatting, data recovery software like Remo Recover can often help. Stop using the drive immediately, connect it to another computer, and run Remo Recover to retrieve your files.
However, if factors like dropping the drive physically cause damage, professional data recovery services are usually necessary. Avoid attempting DIY repairs, as this can worsen.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator > type chkdsk X: /f /r (replace X with your drive letter) > press Enter. This scans for errors, fixes them, and marks bad sectors. If errors remain, try recovering your data first using Remo Recover.
Yes, but not at home. A physically damaged drive needs professional data recovery services in a cleanroom. In cases where the drive is accessible but unstable, you can attempt recovery with tools like Remo Recover before sending it for repair.
