Nowadays, users use external hard disk due to shortage of space in internal hard disk to store data and to backup their vital files safely and securely. By connecting external hard disk to PC or laptop using either USB connections, you can share files from PC to external hard disk or vice-versa. Moreover, you can use these disks to backup your vital files safe and secure. Data stored on external hard disk can be lost at any situation due to file corruption, virus attacks and many other reasons. Therefore, it is better to safeguard your external disk at your own risk.
Follow some precautions to safeguard your external hard drive
Transport hard disk carefully: Suppose if you need to ship a hard disk drive by train, bus or courier service then use an anti static bag, which includes own casing. In airline travel, you can safely send your hard disk through the airport X-ray machine.
Scan Regularly: Virus attacks are one of the major issues behind loss of huge data from hard disk and even it makes your hard drive inaccessible after corrupting partition table. Therefore, regularly scan them with updated antivirus tool.
Eject hard drive using safe remove option: Many user shares huge data using this hard disk by connecting them to PC or Laptop whenever required. You can connect hard disk to PC or Laptop using USB and fire wire connections. While transferring data from PC to hard disk and vice versa, if you accidentally eject drive without using safe remove option in PC then it leads to inaccessible hard drive and results in huge data loss.
Regularly check for bad sectors: Bad sector is one of the most general situations on hard disk drive. Once your hard disk drive contains bad sectors, it might specify that the hard disk cannot be used any more. You can fix the bad sectors using Windows built-in tool. Follow simple steps to fix them
- Go to My computer and right click on the hard drive partition
- Then click on Properties and choose Tools
- In Error-checking, click Check now
- Choose "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" and click "Start"
This is the easiest way to kill bad sectors on hard disk but sometimes it does not work all the time. Therefore, in case you are not able fix using above-mentioned steps then use other reliable third party tool.
Even after following the above mentioned precautions and tips to safeguard your external hard disk, data may get lost due to unexpected situations and actions such as accidentally formatting drive, deleting vital files instead of unwanted files & folders and interrupting file transfer process and so on. In these situations, using third party software like Remo Recover tool, one can efficiently and easily get back files from external hard drives.
Things to Remember
- Never keep hard disk in place where they could accidentally fall
- Avoid power surges happening to your hard disk
- Avoid using your external hard drive in different operating systems
- Eject your external hard drive properly
- Regularly scan your external hard drive with the help of a good anti-virus program
