Hard Drive Data Recovery | How To Recover Data From A Dead/Damaged Hard Disk?

You have an external hard drive where you stored years’ worth of personal photos, videos, and important documents. These files include irreplaceable photos from family vacations, wedding footage, and critical tax documents. One day, when you try to access the hard drive, you get an error message saying “Hard drive not found” or something similar. Panic mode begins as you have not backed up the files to any external storage or cloud service. The thought of losing those precious photos and videos (which are essentially memories) saved over the years is itself too hurting. Is the data on the hard disk doomed? Well, it depends on the type and level of damage. This is where the concept of Hard Drive Data Recovery comes into picture.

What exactly is this hard drive data recovery? How can we recover data from a dead or a damaged hard drive? We will try to provide a broad overview of different types of hard drive failures, different possibilities of data recovery solutions, and answers to all these questions in this guide.

A Brief Note On Types Of Hard Drives

A hard drive is an electronic (sometimes electromechanical) device that can store digital data in a computer. The two common types of hard drives are: Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid-State Drives (SSDs).

HDDs

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are an old but still widely used type of data storage device. They store data using magnetic storage technology. The two main components of an HDD are spinning platters that are coated with magnetic material and a mechanical arm, called the read/write head, that moves across the platters to access or write data.

The platters in HDDs operate at speeds of 5,400 to 7,200 RPM (revolutions per minute), though higher-end models can reach 10,000 RPM or more. HDDs have become standard in desktops, laptops (although becoming less common), and external storage devices (still very popular).

SSDs

Solid State Drives (SSDs), on the other hand, are purely electronic devices with no moving parts. Unlike HDDs, SSDs use NAND flash memory, a type of non-volatile storage (the same technology used in USB Flash Drives and microSD Cards).

We can further divide SSDs into SATA SSDs and NVMe SSDs. SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) SSDs use the SATA interface, the same technology that regular spinning hard drives use. While they have better read and write speeds compared to HDDs, they are still limited by the SATA III interface, which supports speeds up to 6 Gbps (around 550 MB/s).

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs use the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) interface, the same interface that graphic cards use. which allows for greater bandwidth and reduced latency. The NVMe protocol was specifically developed for flash memory to eliminate the bottleneck of the SATA interface. Depending on the number of PCIe lanes they use (commonly x4), NVMe SSDs can achieve speeds up to 7,000 MB/s or more.

Common Causes Of Hard Drive Failures

Hard Drives are sensitive devices, irrespective of the type. They are susceptible to various types of failures that can result in data loss or complete system crash. Here are some common causes of hard drive failures.

Physical Damage

One of the most common causes of hard drive failure is physical damage. Hard drives, particularly traditional HDDs, have delicate internal components that suffer from impact due to a fall, exposure to liquids, or extreme environmental conditions.

Dropping a hard drive, especially traditional HDDs, can cause significant internal damage. A sudden impact can lead to a head crash, where the read/write head collides with the spinning platters and scratches it. This might make certain parts of the disk unreadable.

While SSDs lack moving parts, they can still sustain damage from a fall (such as broken solder joints or connectors). Data recovery after such physical impact, while possible, can be costly.

Water or liquid damage, whether from a spilled beverage or flooding, can cause the moisture to penetrate the drive’s casing and lead to short circuits or corrosion.

Mechanical Failure

Traditional HDDs are highly mechanical devices with a lot of moving parts. The motor inside an HDD spins the platters at high speeds. Over time, the motor can degrade due to wear or poor lubrication. When the motor fails, the platters cannot spin, making it impossible to read or write data.

Another common mechanical failure (around 70% of HDD mechanical failures) in HDDs is a head crash. During normal operation, the read/write head hovers just above the platters. However, a malfunction can cause the head to make contact with the platters and leaves scratches on the disk surface. This can destroy sections of data.

We can hear clicking or grinding sounds before a head crash. This is a signal that the drive is close to failure.

Logical Failure

The next two causes are related to software or data structure rather than the hardware itself.

If there is an improper shutdown, power surge, or software malfunction, it can lead to corrupted file systems. When a file system becomes corrupted, the operating system may no longer recognize the drive or its data. Viruses and malicious programs can delete files, modify system structures, or encrypt data, making it inaccessible.

Another form of logical failure are bad sectors, where certain parts of the drive become unreadable due to corruption. Bad sectors accumulate over time and slow down the drive or cause more frequent system crashes. Software tools can sometimes recover data from drives with bad sectors. However hard drives with large numbers of bad sectors are better off with a replacement.

Firmware Issues

When the firmware (code that controls the low-level functions of a hard drive) malfunctions or becomes corrupted, the drive may not boot properly or data can become inaccessible. One of the common causes of firmware corruption is power failures during a firmware upgrade.

DIY Methods For Hard Drive Data Recover

When a hard drive fails, you can follow some simple DIY methods to attempt data recovery before seeking professional help.

Basic Troubleshooting

The first step in any DIY recovery process is to identify whether the hard drive has completely failed or if it is a simpler issue, such as a power or data cable connection. You should inspect the power cable, data cable (such as SATA or USB), and any adapters connecting the drive to the computer. Additionally, you should try a different USB or SATA port on the motherboard.

Sometimes, a hard drive may appear dead on one computer but work on another. If you have access to another computer (from a friend, colleague, neighbor, etc.), you could connect the drive to that computer and see if it becomes accessible.

If an internal hard drive fails to work, you can try using an external USB adapter. These adapters convert internal drives into external ones.

Repair Corrupt File System

If the hard drive becomes inaccessible due to file system corruption rather than complete hardware failure, you can attempt to repair the file system using the operating system’s built-in utilities.

Windows users can run the “CHKDSK” command to repair file system corruption. To do this, open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges and enter the following command:

chkdsk X: /f

Replace “X” with the drive letter of the dead hard drive. The “/f” flag instructs the system to fix errors on the drive. CHKDSK will scan the drive for logical errors and attempt to repair them. If successful, you may regain access to the data.

macOS users can use “Disk Utility.” To access it, open the application, select the malfunctioning drive, and click “First Aid.”

When both Windows and macOS fail to recognize a hard drive, you can try to access it using a Linux-based system (or use the live version of Ubuntu from a USB stick without even installing). Linux often reads drives that other operating systems struggle to recognize. Once in the Linux environment, try to mount the dead drive and access the data.

Hard Drive Data Recovery Software

When basic troubleshooting and repairing a hard drive does not resolve the issue, data recovery software can help extract files from a non-responsive hard drive. Data recovery software can retrieve lost or deleted data from hard drives. Unlike hardware repairs, these tools address software malfunctions, file corruption, or unintentional deletions.

They scan storage devices, identify recoverable files, and allow you to restore them. Both free and paid software options exist. Free versions offer basic recovery features, while paid versions include more advanced options like deep scans or unlimited recoveries. The success of software-based recovery depends on the drive’s condition. For logical failures, these tools often work well, while for physical or mechanical issues, they are not effective.

The following table consists of some popular hard drive data recovery software programs (paid tools).

If you are looking for free and open-source hard drive data recovery software, here’s a small list for you.

Professional Hard Drive Data Recovery Services

While recovering data from a dead hard drive at home is often possible using the free or paid data recovery software, some failures require specialized tools and expertise that only professional data recovery services can provide. Professional help often comes with higher costs but the chances of recovering important data is significantly high.

When the internal components of a hard drive become damaged, only professionals with access to certain tools can perform the necessary repairs. DIY recovery software works well for retrieving deleted or corrupted files, but it has limits when dealing with more severe logical damage. One of the most challenging issues to address is data overwriting. When new data gets written over the existing files, recovering the original data becomes significantly harder. Recovery software can retrieve deleted files or files lost to corruption, but it cannot recover overwritten data.

One key advantage of professional data recovery services is their cleanroom environments. Cleanrooms are important for working on physically damaged hard drives because even the smallest particles can cause irreparable damage to sensitive components. When a hard drive is opened for repair, technicians work in a dust-free, temperature-controlled environment to prevent any contaminants from entering the drive.

What To Look For In Professional Data Recovery Services?

Certified service providers usually stick to industry standards and use proven methods for handling data. ISO certifications, for example, indicate that the service follows stringent data protection and operational standards. A company with certifications also guarantees that technicians have the proper training to handle complex repairs.

Success rate is another crucial factor in evaluating recovery services. Companies that specialize in recovering data from physically or logically damaged drives often publish their success rates. A higher success rate usually correlates with greater expertise.

Recovery service providers often offer free diagnostics so that you can know the extent of the damage before committing to a recovery plan. Transparency in pricing is important.

Lastly, you should prioritize privacy when selecting a provider. Data recovery services handle sensitive and personal information, so you should verify that the company follows strict data protection protocols. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and data privacy guarantees can provide peace of mind during the recovery process.

Popular Data Recovery Services

There are several well-known data recovery services with decent success rates. For example, Ontrack provides recovery services for a wide range of devices (HDDs, SSDs, and hybrid drives).

Seagate also provides data recovery services through their Rescue Data Recovery plan. DriveSavers is another reputable provider for recovery of physically and logically damaged drives. They can handle difficult cases that include severe physical damage, water damage, and ransomware attacks.

Cost Of Professional Data Recovery Services

The cost of professional data recovery services varies depending on the type of failure and the complexity of the recovery process. For basic recovery scenarios (minor logical failures), the cost typically ranges from $300 to $1,000. This price covers basic diagnostics, scanning, and data extraction using software-based methods.

In contrast, complex cases with physical damage can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 or more. Physical repairs need specialized tools and cleanroom environments. If technicians need to perform head replacements or platter swaps, you can expect costs to increase even further.

Best Practices For Data Security And Backup

Hard drive failures can happen without warning that can lead to significant data loss.

Implement A Reliable Backup Strategy <H3>

Backups allow you to recover lost data without relying on complicated recovery processes or professional help. The “3-2-1 backup rule” is one of the most effective strategies for data protection. According to this rule, users should always have three copies of their data: one primary copy and two backups.

Next, store these copies on at least two different storage types. For instance, you could store one copy on a local hard drive and the other on an external storage device like a USB or NAS (Network-Attached Storage). Lastly, one backup should be stored offsite. This could mean storing a backup in a different physical location or using cloud-based services to maintain a remote copy of the data.

Cloud-Based Solutions

Services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive provide secure, remote storage, accessible from any internet-connected device. Cloud backups reduce the risk of local hardware failure.

Google Drive offers 15 GB of free storage. It is ideal for users who need to back up important documents and small files. If you need more space, paid plans start at 100 GB and go up to multiple terabytes.

Dropbox also offers a free plan with 2 GB of storage, along with paid tiers for increased storage capacity. OneDrive is Windows’ equivalent of Google Drive and offers 5 GB for free storage (additional storage available through subscription plans).

Invest In Reliable Hardware

The quality and reliability of hard drives play a significant role in data security. HDDs use mechanical parts to read and write data. They are more prone to physical failures like head crashes or motor issues. SSDs, on the other hand, rely on flash memory with no moving parts. They are less vulnerable to physical damage. However, SSDs can wear out over time due to limited write cycles.

MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) ratings gives an insight into the drive’s expected reliability. A higher MTBF rating indicates a longer lifespan. Many high-quality drives have MTBF ratings above 1 million hours.