{"id":48623,"date":"2023-09-05T18:28:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T18:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=48623"},"modified":"2023-09-05T18:26:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T18:26:27","slug":"how-to-restore-data-that-has-disappeared-from-an-external-hard-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/files-disappeared-from-external-hard-drive.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Restore Data That Has Disappeared from an External Hard Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s extremely frustrating to lose access to your important files. The frustration rises when you know that the files exist on your external hard drive, but you can&#8217;t find them. You place your faith and save precious memories in a robust storage device &#8211; only to find yourself filled with regret.<\/p>\r\n<p>The good news is that several techniques exist to recover files that disappeared from an external hard drive. If you&#8217;re eager to jump directly into the data recovery tutorial, simply click here.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" class=\"embed-responsive-item\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ohCGgZGTDA8\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"understanding_the_causes_of_file_disappearance_on_external_hard_drives\"><\/span>Understanding the Causes of File Disappearance on External Hard Drives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Before jumping to the recovery techniques, here\u2019s a brief overview of what causes file disappearance in the first place:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><b>Reasons<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><b>Description<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><b>Solution<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Files and folders are hidden<\/td>\r\n<td>If you are certain that the files are present on your PC but can\u2019t access them, chances are that the files and folders are hidden.<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#file_explorer\">Unhide Missing Files &amp; Folders<\/a> by using Windows\u2019 in-built features.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Accidental deletion or formatting<\/td>\r\n<td>Human errors like accidentally deleting or formatting your external hard drive.<\/td>\r\n<td>Use <a href=\"#data_recovery\">data recovery software<\/a> to recover data from the external hard drive.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Viruses or malware infection<\/td>\r\n<td>Viruses and dangerous malware like trojans can result in abrupt file deletion and disappearance.<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#anti_virus\">Scan and disinfect your external hard drive<\/a>, then attempt data recovery.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>File system corruption<\/td>\r\n<td>Corrupted partition tables and files can lead to file disappearance and deletion.<\/td>\r\n<td>Fix the External Hard Drive Errors Using <a href=\"#cmd\">CMD<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Physical damage<\/td>\r\n<td>Mechanical damage arising from physical blunt force, hard disk head platter damage, moisture, power outages, etc.<\/td>\r\n<td>If you are dealing with significant physical damage and your PC doesn&#8217;t detect the external hard drive, consult a <a href=\"#data_recovery_service\">data recovery service center<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" class=\"embed-responsive-item\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ohCGgZGTDA8\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_files_that_disappeared_from_an_external_hard_drive\"><\/span>How to Recover Files That Disappeared From an External Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>As promised, here are the various techniques that you can use to recover files that disappeared from an external hard drive:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f527; <b>Caution<\/b>: If you discover that files are missing from your external hard drive, it&#8217;s crucial to cease using the drive immediately. Continued usage could lead to file overwriting, thereby significantly reducing or completely eliminating the possibility of successful data recovery.<\/div>\r\n<p id=\"data_recovery\"><h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_retrieve_missing_files_using_a_data_recovery_tool\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1:<\/span> Retrieve Missing Files Using a Data Recovery Tool<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/p>\r\n<p>Data recovery software provides a simple and efficient way to reclaim missing or deleted items. In specific cases, such tools remain the only viable option for getting back what you&#8217;ve lost, especially after actions like unintended disk formatting or irreversible file removal (<kbd>Shift<\/kbd> + <kbd>Delete<\/kbd>).\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4af; Disk Drill is a reliable and versatile <a href=\"\/hard-drive-data-recovery.html\">hard drive data recovery software<\/a> catering to various popular file systems like NTFS, FAT32, APFS, etc. The tool also features a clean UI to help you locate disappeared\/hidden files and permanently deleted files in one go. Disk Drill packs sophisticated and dependable scanning algorithms that perform rigorous checks on your hard drive to hunt for recoverable data.\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>The tool supports data recovery from several HDD and SSD OEM brands, including the popular Seagate and WD My Passport models.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s how you can use Disk Drill to retrieve files missing from the external hard drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/data-recovery-software.html\">Download<\/a>, install, and launch Disk Drill on your PC.<div class=\"relative bottom download__block\">\r\n            <div class=\"d-flex align-center download__block__inner\">\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__image-wrapper\">\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__image\">\r\n                    <img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-96.png\" srcset=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-2x-1.png 2x\" alt=\"Disk Drill\" width=\"96\" height=\"96\">        \r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__announce\">\r\n                    <b>download-block-title<\/b><br>\r\n                    download-block-text\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__action\">\r\n                    <a href=\"\/\/download.html\" data-href-mac=\/\/disk-drill-mac.html data-href-win=\/\/disk-drill-win.html class=\"button button-green btn-md osreplace\">\r\n<svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\r\n<path d=\"M11.9546 7.293C11.8736 7.114 11.6956 7 11.4996 7H9.49957V0.5C9.49957 0.224 9.27557 0 8.99957 0H6.99957C6.72357 0 6.49957 0.224 6.49957 0.5V7H4.49957C4.30357 7 4.12557 7.115 4.04457 7.293C3.96257 7.472 3.99457 7.681 4.12357 7.829L7.62357 11.829C7.71857 11.938 7.85557 12 7.99957 12C8.14357 12 8.28057 11.937 8.37557 11.829L11.8756 7.829C12.0056 7.682 12.0356 7.472 11.9546 7.293Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\r\n<path d=\"M13.5 11V14H2.5V11H0.5V15C0.5 15.553 0.948 16 1.5 16H14.5C15.053 16 15.5 15.553 15.5 15V11H13.5Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\r\n<\/svg>\r\ndownload-block-button-text\r\n<\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Connect the affected hard drive to your PC. Select the external hard drive from the list of devices, and click <b>Search for lost data<\/b>.\r\n\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4bb; For this tutorial, I&#8217;ll be demonstrating the process using a flash drive. However, the data recovery steps for a hard disk are identical.<\/div>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48646 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill.jpg\" alt=\"selecting drive on disk drill\" width=\"2216\" height=\"1260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill.jpg 2216w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill-500x284.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill-1536x873.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-drive-disk-drill-2048x1164.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2216px) 100vw, 2216px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click on <b>Review found items <\/b>once the scan terminates.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48644 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill.jpg\" alt=\"scan window on disk drill\" width=\"2216\" height=\"1260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill.jpg 2216w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill-500x284.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill-1536x873.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/scan-window-disk-drill-2048x1164.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2216px) 100vw, 2216px\" \/>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x23f8;&#xfe0f;Disk Drill allows you to pause\/resume scans. However, we recommend letting the tool perform a complete scan to identify the maximum number of recoverable files.<\/div>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Refine your scan results by using the broad filters on the left pane or searching for a particular file type. For instance, you can shortlist the scan results to display only jpg files.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Alternatively, you could filter based on the file status: <b>Deleted or lost<\/b>, <b>existing <\/b>or <b>reconstructed<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4c1;\u00a0If you want to explore existing files on the hard disk, expand the existing selection &#8211; this is particularly helpful to restore access to folders that abruptly disappeared on your external hard drive.<\/div>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48638 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min.jpg\" alt=\"existing files on disk drill\" width=\"2216\" height=\"1260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min.jpg 2216w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min-500x284.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min-1536x873.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/existing-files-disk-drill-min-2048x1164.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2216px) 100vw, 2216px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Leverage the <b>preview<\/b> feature to get a sneak peek of your data before retrieving files missing from the external hard drive. <br \/>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-secondary\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f440; Watch me preview a file to reveal essential file attributes like the last modified date and file hierarchy.<\/div>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48631 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/preview-feature.gif\" alt=\"preview feature on disk dirll\" width=\"1870\" height=\"1020\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The next step to recover files disappeared from your external hard drive is to select the files and folders you want to retrieve and click <b>Recover<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48632 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"selecting files for data recovery\" width=\"2216\" height=\"1260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery.jpg 2216w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery-500x284.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery-1536x873.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-files-data-recovery-2048x1164.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2216px) 100vw, 2216px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Specify the destination to save recovered files that disappeared from the external hard drive, and click <b>Next<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48645 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"selecting destination for data recovery\" width=\"2164\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery.jpg 2164w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery-768x454.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery-1536x909.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/selecting-destination-data-recovery-2048x1211.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2164px) 100vw, 2164px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click on <b>Show recovered data in Explorer <\/b>to view the files that disappeared from your external hard drive.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_unhide_missing_files_folders\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2:<\/span>  Unhide Missing Files &amp; Folders<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>There\u2019s a possibility you accidentally marked certain files &amp; folders as hidden. Additionally, some file-hiding viruses like Trojans manipulate the \u201chidden\u201d attribute to restrict file access.<\/p>\r\n<p>In such cases, try these techniques to unhide and restore folders disappeared from the external hard drive:<\/p>\r\n<h4 id=\"file_explorer\">Using File Explorer<\/h4>\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s how you can use Windows File Explorer to unhide your files:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Use the shortcut <kbd>Windows key<\/kbd> + <kbd>E<\/kbd> to open up File Explorer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click on your hard disk &gt; <b>View<\/b> &gt; <b>Show <\/b>&gt; <b>Hidden Items<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Alternatively, you can click on the three dots &gt; <b>Options<\/b> &gt; <b>View<\/b> &gt; <b>Show hidden files<\/b>, <b>folders, or drives<\/b> &gt; <b>Apply<\/b> &gt; <b>Ok<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48633 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/unhide-files.png\" alt=\"unhiding files on file explorer\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/unhide-files.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/unhide-files-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/unhide-files-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/unhide-files-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4>Using Registry Editor<\/h4>\r\n<p>Windows Registry Editor (regedit) is a database editor that allows you to manipulate critical configuration settings. With Regedit, you can view and customize attributes like startup options, hardware information, boot-up parameters, etc.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-secondary\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4c1; Among the many attributes in regedit is the hidden file attribute, essentially a .reg file that toggles this behavior. Unlike the file explorer technique, tweaking the Registry Editor can help you unhide files across your PC, instead of a specific target drive.<\/div>\r\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can flip the switch to unhide your files:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Press <kbd>Windows key<\/kbd> + <kbd>R<\/kbd> to open a Run window. Type in <b>regedit<\/b>, and hit <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48857 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/regedit.jpg\" alt=\"run window\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/regedit.jpg 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/regedit-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/regedit-500x275.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/regedit-768x422.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Navigate to this path: \u201c<b>HKEY_CURRENT_USER &#8211;&gt; Software &#8211;&gt; Microsoft &#8211;&gt; Windows &#8211;&gt; CurrentVersion &#8211;&gt; Explorer &#8211;&gt; Advanced<\/b>\u201d<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48642 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-editor-edits.png\" alt=\"registry editor \" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-editor-edits.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-editor-edits-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-editor-edits-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-editor-edits-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click on the \u201c<b>Hidden<\/b>\u201d attribute &gt; <b>Modify<\/b> &gt; change its value from \u201c2\u201d to \u201c1\u201d for unhiding your files and folders. Then, click on <b>Ok<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48643 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-values.png\" alt=\"editing registry values\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-values.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-values-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-values-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/registry-values-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Finally, overwrite the value for \u201c<b>ShowSuperHidden<\/b>\u201d to \u201c1\u201d to display protection OS files.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4 id=\"cmd\">Using Attrib Command<\/h4>\r\n<p>The Attrib command allows you to change the file attributes of a storage device. As a result, you can unhide missing files and folders.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Load an elevated Command Prompt (CMD with administrative privileges) window. Here\u2019s a shortcut: Press <kbd><b>Windows key<\/b><\/kbd> + <kbd><b>R<\/b><\/kbd> to open Run. Type in CMD, and then press <kbd>CTRL<\/kbd> + <kbd>SHIFT<\/kbd> + <kbd>ENTER<\/kbd>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Key in this command: <code>attrib -h -r -s \/s \/d F:*.*<\/code> and then hit <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48637 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cmd-attrib-command.png\" alt=\"cmd command\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cmd-attrib-command.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cmd-attrib-command-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cmd-attrib-command-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cmd-attrib-command-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\"><b>&#x1f50d; Breaking down the command<\/b>: &#8216;F&#8217; stands for your external hard drive&#8217;s letter. Ensure you key in the correct disk letter. This command, once executed, will unhide your hidden files. The &#8216;h&#8217; parameter does the magic by clearing the hidden file attribute.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_fix_the_external_hard_drive_errors_using_cmd\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3:<\/span>  Fix the External Hard Drive Errors Using CMD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Hard drive errors like bad sectors and file system corruption result in abrupt file disappearance. With corrupted file systems, it becomes challenging to locate specific files &#8211; causing them to disappear or become inaccessible.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4bb; CMD features a Check Disk (CHKDSK) command that scans and resolves issues on your external hard drive. The CHKDSK command verifies disk volumes&#8217; integrity and fixes logical file errors.\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>Hard drive errors like bad sectors and file system corruption result in abrupt file disappearance. With corrupted file systems, it becomes challenging to locate specific files &#8211; causing them to disappear or become inaccessible.<\/p>\r\n<p>This demo features a Windows 11 PC. The tutorial is suitable for Windows 10 as well.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can use CHKDSK:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Load an elevated Command Prompt (CMD with administrative privileges) window. Here\u2019s a shortcut: Press <kbd><b>Windows key<\/b><\/kbd> + <kbd><b>R<\/b><\/kbd> to open Run. Type in <b>CMD<\/b>, and then press <kbd>CTRL<\/kbd> + <kbd>SHIFT<\/kbd> + <kbd>ENTER<\/kbd>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Key in this command: <code>chkdsk F: \/f \/r \/x<\/code> and hit\u00a0<kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48636 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/chkdsk-cmd.png\" alt=\"chkdsk command\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/chkdsk-cmd.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/chkdsk-cmd-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/chkdsk-cmd-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/chkdsk-cmd-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Replace <b>F<\/b> with the corresponding drive letter of your external hard drive. Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f440; If you suspect signs of corruption, here&#8217;s how to <a href=\"\/howto\/repair-corrupted-external-hard-drive.html\">repair a corrupted external hard drive<\/a>.<\/div>\r\n<p id=\"anti_virus\"><h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_4_scan_your_external_hard_drive_for_viruses_and_malware\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 4:<\/span>  Scan Your External Hard Drive for Viruses and Malware<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/p>\r\n<p>Viruses and malware are notorious suspects of abrupt file disappearance from an external hard drive. An infamous malware strain that hides files is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.f-secure.com\/v-descs\/virus_w32_indovirus_a.shtml#:~:text=all%20available%20drives.-,IndoVirus.,file%20using%20those%20folder%20names.\">IndoVirus<\/a>. We highly recommend using an antivirus with real-time threat protection.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s how you can use Windows&#8217; inbuilt antivirus, Windows Defender, to scan your external hard drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Connect the affected external hard drive to your PC.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Go to <b>Start <\/b>&gt; <b>Windows Security<\/b> &gt; <b>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/b>.<b>settings<\/b><br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48647 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-settings-1.png\" alt=\"antivirus settings\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-settings-1.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-settings-1-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-settings-1-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-settings-1-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select Manage settings and toggle Real-time protection to <b>On<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48640 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/real-time-protection.png\" alt=\"real time protection\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/real-time-protection.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/real-time-protection-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/real-time-protection-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/real-time-protection-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Now, open File Explorer &gt; <b>This PC<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click on your external hard drive, and select <b>Scan with Microsoft Defender<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-48634 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-scan.png\" alt=\"scan\" width=\"1269\" height=\"697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-scan.png 1269w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-scan-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-scan-500x275.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/antivirus-scan-768x422.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1269px) 100vw, 1269px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for the scan to terminate for further steps.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once you safely quarantine and eliminate the virus, attempt hard drive data recovery using a reputable data recovery tool like Disk Drill.<\/p>\r\n<p>Don\u2019t worry about Disk Drill being a potential threat to your PC. Explore our <a href=\"\/reviews\/\">genuine customer reviews<\/a> to learn more about the tool.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f9a0; Here\u2019s a complete guide on <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-virus-infected-files.html\">recovering virus-infected files<\/a>.\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p id=\"data_recovery_service\"><h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_5_contact_data_recovery_service\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 5:<\/span> Contact Data Recovery Service<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/p>\r\n<p>If none of the above methods works, you must consult a data recovery service center to retrieve your disappeared files.<\/p>\r\n<p>Professionals at data recovery service centers possess the know-how and technology, including sophisticated tools and clean rooms, to safely retrieve data from your external hard drive.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here are some tips to effectively shortlist a data recovery center:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4c3; Service range and expertise<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f50d; Research for online reviews<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4d5; Read through customer service policies<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x2705; Look for industry certifications<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f512; Evaluate security policies<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f50d; Check out our compilation of the <a href=\"\/howto\/best-data-recovery-services.html\">best data recovery service centers<\/a> for you to make an informed decision.<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_do_i_find_missing_files_on_my_external_hard_drive\"><\/span>How do I find missing files on my external hard drive? <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Here&#8217;s how you can find missing files on your external hard drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Open File Explorer and right-click on your external hard drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select <b>Properties<\/b> &gt; <b>View\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click on <b>Show hidden files, folders, and drives<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Apply<\/b> &gt; <b>Ok<\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_are_files_missing_from_the_external_hard_drive_but_still_taking_up_space\"><\/span>Why are files missing from the external hard drive but still taking up space?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Chances are that you are dealing with hidden files on your external hard drive. With hidden files, although the file contents are hidden, they still logically exist on your hard drive &#8211; and take up space.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\">Why can't I see files on my external hard drive on Mac?<\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>The macOS only supports specific file system formats for external hard drives:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Mac OS Extended<\/li>\r\n\t<li>APFS<\/li>\r\n\t<li>exFAT<\/li>\r\n\t<li>MS-DOS (FAT)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If your external hard disk has a Windows file system like NTFS or FAT32, you cannot access files on your Mac.<\/p>\r\n<p>On a side note, corruption on your external hard drive is another culprit behind missing files.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading4\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-4\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_does_the_internal_hard_drive_not_showing_files_though_they_still_exist\"><\/span>Why does the internal hard drive not showing files though they still exist?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Viruses, file corruption, and default file-hiding attributes are some reasons why your files are missing on an internal hard drive.<\/p>\r\n<p>The easiest way to unhide your files is by altering the internal hard drive properties from File Explorer to show hidden files, folders, and drives. Additionally, you can experiment with other techniques involving the Command Prompt (CMD) and Registry Editor (Regedit) on Windows for tweaking certain file attributes to unhide your files.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Realizing that your precious data is missing on an external hard drive is frustrating. Fortunately, there are a few effective techniques to get back files that disappeared from the external hard drive. You can use data recovery applications to scan and recover files from the external hard drive. Additionally, you can also leverage Windows&#8217; in-built file unhiding features.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s extremely frustrating to lose access to your important files. The frustration rises when you know that the files exist on your external hard drive, but you can&#8217;t find them. You place your faith and save precious memories in a&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7887,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1753],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-48623","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-hard-drive-data-recovery-tips"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive: An Easy Fix<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you struggling to recover disappeared data from an external hard drive? 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Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/youhavefoundjoshua\/","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/og-cleverfiles.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Joshua Solomon","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive: An Easy Fix","twitter_description":"Are you struggling to recover disappeared data from an external hard drive? 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