{"id":60383,"date":"2024-04-14T11:36:39","date_gmt":"2024-04-14T11:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=60383"},"modified":"2025-10-17T21:46:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T21:46:57","slug":"how-to-easily-fix-a-corrupted-external-hard-drive-without-losing-your-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-easily-fix-a-corrupted-external-hard-drive-without-losing-your-data\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Easily Fix a Corrupted External Hard Drive Without Losing Your Data?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the file system on your external drive is corrupted, it can affect the drive. Other reasons include bad sectors on the hard drive, physical damage, malware, etc.\u00a0I\u2019ll show you what to do if the hard drive is corrupted .\u00a0 Let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n

Signs of a Corrupted External Hard Drive<\/h2>\n

Most of the common signs of corrupted hard drives I\u2019ve experienced are as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cannot access files or folders.<\/b> If you can\u2019t access your files or directories, your external hard drive <\/a> may be corrupted. When you try to open the files or folders, it shows error messages or can\u2019t read the contents.<\/li>\n
  2. Slow performance.<\/b> Another sign of a corrupted external hard drive is when your PC slows down, freezes often, or experiences a blue screen of death <\/a>. I recommend backing up your data in case of a hardware failure.<\/li>\n
  3. Missing files or data loss.<\/b> Corrupted external hard drives can cause data loss or file corruption <\/a>. Files could suddenly disappear or become unable to open properly, resulting in potential data loss.<\/li>\n
  4. Unusual sounds.<\/b> Clicking, grinding, or whirring noises may occasionally come from an external hard disk that has sustained physical damage. These noises can be signs of a mechanical malfunction, which could cause data loss or corruption.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \r\n\t
    Fun Fact<\/div>\r\n\t
    Did you know that the average age of a retired hard drive was 5.7 years, based on Backblaze\u2019s drive statistics <\/a> for 2023?<\/p>\n

    This means that before being retired or replaced, most hard drives used in data centers have a lifespan of almost six years, which is quite good.<\/p>\n

    So, if your external drive gets corrupted after a few years, you might want to check what\u2019s missing in maintenance.\u00a0 <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n

    Why Does an External Hard Drive Get Corrupted?<\/h2>\n

    Over the years, as a user and an engineer, I\u2019ve realized that the causes of most external hard drives getting corrupted are how users manage their drives, malware attacks, bad sectors, or software failures.<\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s briefly go through them:<\/p>\n

    1. Improper management of hard drives<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Any device can be damaged if it\u2019s misused. If a hard drive isn\u2019t ejected properly, its lifespan can be significantly shortened as it becomes more corruptible.<\/p>\n

    You can also corrupt your hard drive if you use it under extreme heat conditions or unexpected power supply outages.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Further reading<\/b>: Average Lifespan of a Laptop: Tips on How to Make It Last Longer <\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    2. Virus or malware infections\u00a0<\/strong>External hard drives are vulnerable to viruses or malware <\/a> infections, especially if used on several computers or linked to devices with insufficient protection.\u00a0 Malware or viruses can corrupt files and the file system, making a drive unusable.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Related<\/b>: How to Remove Virus and Other Malware from Windows <\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    3. Bad sectors\u00a0<\/strong>Sometimes, your hard disk may show several bad sectors. These are regions of an external hard drive that, after repeated use, lose their functionality and may become unreadable.\u00a0 Bad sectors also signal that you might need to format or replace your drive immediately.<\/p>\n

    \r\n\t
    If you want to check if your external hard drive has bad sectors, connect it to your PC and open File Explore <\/i>r. Then, right-click the drive and select Properties <\/i>. Go to the Tools <\/i>tab and select Check <\/i>. Finally, click Scan drive <\/i> to scan for bad sectors.\u00a0 <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

    4. Read\/write mechanism issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A traditional hard drive <\/a> uses a spinning disk mechanism to write data. Your device\u2019s read\/write action is made possible by revolving platters fixed to an arm.<\/p>\n

    That said, hard drive corruption can be caused by normal wear and tear of or any external impact on mechanical HDD parts.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Further reading<\/b>: SSD vs. HDD: What\u2019s the Difference and What to Choose? <\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    5. Software failures\u00a0<\/strong>Software errors can corrupt a healthy hard disk. While certain flaws might only impact a few, severe situations can lead to your external HDD\u2019s file system becoming faulty.\u00a0 This problem can be challenging to resolve and result in permanent data loss.<\/p>\n

    How to Fix a Corrupted External Hard Drive Without Formatting?<\/h2>\n

    If you want to know how to fix a corrupted external hard drive, follow the various effective solutions below.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019ve outlined the best possible ones to increase the chances of resolving the problem. Go through them and use the best method for your situation:<\/p>\n

    \r\n\t
    Before I show you how to fix a corrupted hard drive , there are a few tips you need to know. First, I strongly recommend backing up your data <\/a> if something goes wrong.<\/p>\n

    Also, if you have a corrupted hard drive, stop using it immediately.<\/p>\n

    If you continue to use the hard drive, you may overwrite your lost files with new data. And this significantly decreases your chances of getting the lost files back.\u00a0 <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

    Solution 1: Use Error Checking to repair the external hard drive<\/h3>\n

    If you want to know how to repair an external hard drive using Error Checking, follow the steps below:<\/p>\n