How to recover files from an external hard drive​？

Check the Recycle Bin: If you accidentally deleted files from the external hard drive and haven’t emptied the Recycle Bin, the files may still be there. Open the Recycle Bin on your Windows desktop.

Restore Files: Look for the files you want to recover in the Recycle Bin. You can right-click on the selected files and choose “Restore” to restore them to their original location on the external hard drive.

Use Windows File History

Check File History Settings: If you have enabled Windows File History and have been backing up the external hard drive, you can use it to recover files. Open the Control Panel and navigate to “File History”.

Restore Files: In the File History window, you can browse through different backup versions and select the files or folders you want to recover. Click the “Restore” button to restore them to the desired location.

Employ Data Recovery Software

Choose Reliable Software: There are many data recovery software options available for Windows, such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, and Disk Drill. Download and install a reputable data recovery program from a trusted source.

Scan the External Hard Drive: Launch the data recovery software and select the external hard drive as the scan target. The software will start scanning the drive for lost or deleted files.

Preview and Recover: After the scan is complete, you can usually preview the recoverable files in the software interface. Select the files you want to recover and choose a save location on your computer (not the original external hard drive to avoid overwriting data) to save the recovered files.

Recover Files on Mac

Use Time Machine

Check Time Machine Settings: If you have been using Time Machine to back up your Mac and the external hard drive was included in the backups, you can use it to recover files. Connect the external hard drive to your Mac.

Restore Files: Open the Time Machine application or access it through the menu bar. Scroll through the time snapshots to find the version of the files you want to recover. Select the files and click the “Restore” button to restore them to the original location on the external hard drive or a different location you specify.

Rely on Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is an intuitive and efficient data recovery tool designed to help users recover lost, deleted, or corrupted files from various devices and storage media. It provides a reliable solution for restoring important data, whether it’s due to accidental deletion, system failures, or corrupted files. The software offers a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users.

One of the key features of Panda Assistant is its advanced scanning technology. It can deeply scan hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, and other storage devices to locate files that are otherwise hard to find. The tool supports a wide variety of file formats, including documents, photos, videos, and audio files, ensuring that all types of data can be recovered. Additionally, Panda Assistant can restore entire partitions, making it suitable for users who face more complex data loss scenarios.

Another helpful feature is the ability to preview files before recovery, allowing users to ensure that the right files are being restored. This feature enhances the recovery process, reducing the chances of retrieving unwanted or incorrect data. Panda Assistant also offers a fast scanning and recovery process, minimizing the wait time when attempting to recover lost files.

Initiate Scanning: Start the software and choose the external hard drive as the target for scanning. The software will search for lost data on the drive.

Preview and Save: After the scan, preview the recoverable files in the software. Select the files you need and save them to a location on your Mac.

Special Cases and Precautions

External Hard Drive Not Recognized

Check Connections and Power: Ensure that the external hard drive is properly connected to the computer and that it is receiving power (if it’s a powered external drive). Try unplugging and reconnecting the drive, and if possible, use a different USB cable or port.

Update Drivers: Sometimes, outdated or corrupted drivers can cause the external hard drive to not be recognized. Go to the Device Manager on Windows or the System Information > Software > Installations on Mac to check for driver updates and install them if available.

Use Data Recovery Services: If the drive is still not recognized and you have important data on it, it may be a hardware problem. In this case, it’s advisable to contact professional data recovery services. They have the tools and expertise to handle more complex hardware issues and recover data from malfunctioning drives.

Formatting or Partition Loss

Stop Using the Drive: As soon as you realize that the external hard drive has been formatted or the partition is lost, stop using the drive immediately to prevent further data overwriting.

Use Partition Recovery Software: There are specialized partition recovery tools like TestDisk and EaseUS Partition Master that can help recover lost partitions and the data within them. Follow the software’s instructions to scan for lost partitions and recover them.

Virus or Malware Attack

Scan and Clean: Run a full antivirus and anti-malware scan on your computer and the external hard drive using reliable security software. The software may be able to detect and remove the virus or malware and restore some of the affected files.

Restore from Backups: If the virus or malware has caused significant damage, and you have backups of the data on the external hard drive, restore the files from the backups.