User Query: Yesterday, I plugged in my external hard drive and tried to click on it. A message popped up saying the drive is not accessible and the drive’s file directory is corrupted or unreadable. So I unplugged it and plugged it back in. Then I got the message asking if I want to format it. I even tried inserting it into different computers, tried going to disk management, and checked the settings, but nothing worked and now I don’t know what to do... I have created a backup of the most crucial files on my external hard drive. How do I get the data that is on the drive back? I cannot risk losing my files. Please help!
External hard drives are useful for storing data and taking backups of important files. It is also used to expand the storage capacity of the computer. So it is very frustrating when they become unreadable and you lost access to your data.
But the good news is that there are several methods that you can try to repair your unreadable hard drive and retrieve your valuable data. In this article, we will not only help you repair your unreadable hard drive but will also help you perform hassle-free unreadable external hard drive recovery. Keep reading!
Why External Hard Drive becomes unreadable?
Following are the reasons why your external hard drive became unreadable.
- Interruptions during the formatting or re-formatting of partitions on the external HDD.
- When your external HDD is severely infected with virus/malware threats, there are chances of your external HDD becoming unreadable.
- Use of incompatible third-party applications for creating, re-sizing existing partitions, and deletion of files on your external hard drive.
- Sudden power loss when the data is being transferred from the external hard drive might lead to file system corruption which in turn makes the hard drive unreadable.
- The presence of excessive bad sectors on the external HDD will also make your drive unreadable.
- This might be unfamiliar but when you have more than one hard drive your Windows will fail to detect the second hard drive.
Error Messages that Indicate an Unreadable External Hard Drive
When you encounter issues with your external hard drive, error messages may pop up indicating that it has become unreadable. Here are some of the common error messages and their possible causes:
Error 1: “The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable”
If you see this error message when trying to access your external hard drive, it means that the file system on the drive is severely damaged and cannot be repaired. This can happen due to physical damage to the hard drive, malware or virus infections, or sudden power outages.
Error 2: “Drive not recognized" or "Device not recognized”
You may see this error message if your computer fails to recognize the external hard drive. The problem could be due to a faulty connection, outdated drivers, or other hardware issues.
Error 3: “The disk in drive X is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?”
If the file system on your external hard drive is corrupted or damaged, you may see this error message. If you choose to format the drive, you will lose all the data on it.
Error 4: “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable”
This error message indicates that some files or folders on your external hard drive are inaccessible due to a corrupt or damaged file system.
Error 5: “Data error (cyclic redundancy check)”
When the data on the external hard drive contains errors, this error message will appear. It can happen due to physical damage to the drive or other hardware issues.
Error 6: “Sector not found” or “Bad sector”
These error messages indicate the presence of damaged sectors on the external hard drive. You can get this error message due to physical damage or aging of the hard drive.
Error 7: “RAW file system”
If the file system on your external hard drive is not recognized by the operating system, you will see this “Raw file system” error message. It might happen to you due to the corruption of the file system or virus/malware infections.
If you encounter any of these error messages, it is a sign that your external hard drive has become unreadable, and you should take steps to recover your data.
How to Repair and Recover Data From Unreadable Hard Drive?
Below we have added 6 effective methods to help you repair and recover your unreadable hard drive.
Note: It is highly recommended to recover the unreadable external hard drive first before attempting any repair. By doing so, you can avoid the risk of potential data loss. To proceed with the data recovery process, Click here.
Method 1: Quick Fixes to Repair Unreadable Hard Drive
If you're wondering how to read a hard drive that is unreadable then you should start with the basic steps which can help you to fix your unreadable external hard drive.
- Double-check that your hard drive is plugged in correctly to your computer. Try using a different USB port or cable if you can.
- Sometimes a simple restart of your computer can fix any software issues that may be preventing your hard drive from being read.
- Try plugging your hard drive into a different computer to see if the problem persists.
- Make sure your external hard drive is getting enough power. You may need to connect it to a different power source or use a powered USB hub.
Method 2: Run Chkdsk To Fix The Portable Hard Drive Corrupted And Unreadable Issue
If your external hard drive is not readable due to minor corruption, then you can use the command prompt function to make it readable. Follow the below steps to fix an unreadable hard drive using the chkdsk command;
- Type cmd in the Windows Search box.
- Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Type CHKDSK G: /f /r /x and hit the Enter button.
Note: Replace G with your unreadable external hard drive letter.
Follow the below steps to run the error checking tool
- Right-click on the drive you want to check and select "Properties".
- Go to the "Tools" tab and click "Check" > "Scan drive".
- The error-checking tool will automatically scan your drive and attempt to fix any errors it finds.
Method 4: Update Driver to Fix 'The Disk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable' Without Losing Data
If you're having trouble accessing a USB, SD card, or external storage device on your Windows PC, it could be due to a corrupted or outdated disk driver. Fortunately, updating the disk driver can often resolve the issue. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Connect the malfunctioning drive to your PC.
- Right-click "This PC" and select "Manage".
- Click "Device Manager" and expand "Disk drives".
- Locate the problematic USB drive, right-click it, and select "Update driver".
- Choose the option to "automatically search for driver software online".
Following these steps should update the disk driver and allow you to read a hard drive that is unreadable.
When a hard drive becomes unreadable due to a damaged or corrupt MBR, the solution is to format the drive with a new file system, which creates a new MBR. Formatting the drive replaces the damaged MBR with a new one, allowing the computer to access the drive and its data once again.
However, formatting an unreadable hard drive will erase recoverable data. So it is strongly recommended to recover data from an unreadable hard drive before formatting it.
Follow the below steps to format your unreadable hard drive:
- Go to Windows Explorer right-click on the unreadable hard drive and tap on the Format option.
- In the format dialogue box select the desired file system (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT…..) and tap on Start.
Once the format process is completed, your hard drive should be readable.
Method 6: Recover Data From Unreadable Hard Drive
To recover data from an unreadable external hard drive you need a professional hard drive recovery tool like Remo Recover.
Remo Recover is one of the best external hard drive recovery software that can effectively recover over 500 file formats, including videos, audio, images, and Excel files. It is compatible with all brands of external hard drives and can recover data from various data loss situations such as formatting, deletion, corruption, and more.
This tool is not limited to external hard drives and can also recover data from SSDs, USB drives, and pen drives. With its safe and secure operations and free preview feature before recovery, users can be assured of a successful and hassle-free data recovery experience.
Download this tool for free now and regain access to your lost data.
Steps To Perform Unreadable External Hard Drive Recovery
Here are the steps to recover data from an unreadable external hard drive using Remo Recover:
Step 1: Download and Install Remo Recover Software
To begin, download and install Remo Recover software on your computer. This powerful tool is compatible with all versions of Windows and Mac computers and can effectively recover more than 500 file formats.
Step 2: Connect your Unreadable External Hard Drive
Connect your unreadable external hard drive to your computer using a suitable USB cable. Ensure that the device is connected properly.
Step 3: Launch the Tool and Scan your Unreadable External HDD
After connecting the unreadable hard drive, launch the Remo Recover tool and select the drive from the list of available devices and click on the Scan button to initiate the scanning process.
Step 4: Preview the Recovered Files for Free
While scanning, you can preview the recovered files using the Dynamic Recovery View feature. This allows you to view the content of the files before recovery, so you can be sure you're restoring the right data. Alternatively, you can wait for the scan process to end and preview the files using the Preview feature.
Step 5: Save the Recovered Files
The recovered files will be listed under the Lost and Found or Lost partition folders. To recover the files, simply click the Recover button, choose a safe location to save the files, and click the OK button to complete the process.
Tips to Protect HDD from "Structure Corrupted or Unreadable" Error and Data Loss
- Always back up your computer to an external hard drive to avoid unwanted data loss.
- Protect your external hard drive from power surges by using a surge protector or a battery backup.
- Heat is one of the primary causes of hard drive failure. Therefore, ensure that your external hard drive is kept in a cool and dry place.
- Handle your external hard drive with care and avoid dropping, shaking, or mishandling it in any way.
- Install and regularly update antivirus software to protect your external hard drive from virus and malware infections.
- Always eject your external hard drive safely by using the "Eject" option in the operating system before unplugging it.
Conclusion
Losing important data due to a corrupted and unreadable external hard disk can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you don't have backups. However, there is hope you can recover lost files without losing your data by fixing the unreadable hard drive.
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to recover files from an unreadable external hard disk and repair it without losing data. We have also recommended a top-notch data recovery tool like Remo Recover, which can restore your data from your unreadable external drive with ease.
