{"id":8382,"date":"2020-01-09T00:48:55","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T00:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=8382"},"modified":"2025-08-27T11:48:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T11:48:16","slug":"tips-help-get-files-back-dead-hard-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html","title":{"rendered":"Get Your Files Back from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When we hear that a hard drive is &#8220;dead,&#8221; it often conjures images of irrevocably lost data. However, this grim diagnosis is not always as final as it may seem. While some scenarios may indeed spell the end for your device, many situations allow you to get your files back from a dead hard drive &#8211; you just need to use the right recovery method. This article explains when a dead hard drive can and can&#8217;t be recovered, and it provides a detailed, step-by-step guide for you to follow.\u00a0<\/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\/QtFN334vcmk\"  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_a_hard_drive_becomes_dead_or_damaged\"><\/span>How a Hard Drive Becomes Dead or Damaged<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Unlike solid-state drives that use memory cells, hard drives use rotating magnetic platters to store your data. A head moves across the platters to locate where data is stored so it can be read by your system. This gives HDDs an inherent vulnerability. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enterprisestorageforum.com\/hardware\/life-expectancy-of-a-drive\/\">enterprisestorageforum.com<\/a>, the average HDD is expected to last 4-7 years, but this value heavily depends on factors like hardware quality, environmental conditions, and hours of operation. It\u2019s not a matter of <em>if<\/em> the drive will fail, it\u2019s <em>when<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here are a few reasons why a hard drive can become dead or damaged:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Physical damage<\/b> &#8211; Bumps, drops, and other forms of physical shock can cause the platters to become misaligned.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Power surge<\/b> &#8211; A sudden influx of power following a power outage can short electrical components of the drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Overheating<\/b> &#8211; Extremely hot conditions impact the performance of your drive and cause it to degrade faster than normal.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>File system corruption<\/b> &#8211; If a file system becomes corrupted, your hard drive won\u2019t know how to access the data.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Malware attack<\/b> &#8211; Malware comes in many forms and can cause various forms of logical damage, an example being the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcrisk.com\/removal-guides\/12355-annabelle-ransomware\">Annabelle ransomware virus<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Keeping an eye on your drive\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. status is a great way of staying on top of its health. Next, we\u2019ll look at the viability of recovery in a few common data loss scenarios.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_it_possible_to_recover_data_from_a_dead_hard_drive\"><\/span>Is it Possible to Recover Data from a Dead Hard Drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>As much as it would be good to have an easy answer, the truth is your odds of recovering data from a dead hard drive really depend on what caused it to become \u201cdead\u201d in the first place. Physical problems can be tricky and usually warrant manual recovery by a professional. Otherwise, logical problems have a very good chance of being fixed with software.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-secondary\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f5e8;&#xfe0f; We focus exclusively on traditional spinning hard disk drives (HDDs) and not modern solid-state drives (SSDs). For SSD users, check out our guide on how to <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-data-from-failed-ssd.html\">recover data from a failed, dead, or crashed SSD<\/a>.<\/div>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"logical_damage_recovery\"><\/span>Logical Damage Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Yes, its possible to recover data from hard drives that have suffered logical damage. Typically, logical damage is due to an issue with the file system, like it\u2019s missing or corrupted. Without a file system, the data is inaccessible through traditional means, but it\u2019s still there. To access it, you will need to use <a href=\"\/howto\/top-5-data-recovery-software-windows.html\">data recovery software<\/a>, which can bypass the file system to scan the drive and recover the data.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"physical_damage_recovery\"><\/span>Physical Damage Recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>For physically damaged hard drives, where components like the magnetic platters are misaligned or scratched, recovery at home is nearly impossible. These types of damage require a cleanroom environment to prevent further damage during the recovery process, so it&#8217;s best to consult <a href=\"\/howto\/best-data-recovery-services.html\">professional data recovery services<\/a>, which have the necessary tools and environment to attempt a safe recovery.<\/p>\r\n<p>The only physically damaged hard drives that can be successfully recovered at home are those with superficial damage that does not affect the internal components critical for data storage and retrieval. Examples of superficial damage include issues with the hard drive&#8217;s external casing. As long as such drives can communicate with a computer, <b>data recovery can be attempted<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_deleted_files_from_a_dead_hard_drive\"><\/span>How to Recover Deleted Files from a Dead Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Before looking at ways to recover data from your dead or damaged hard drive, it&#8217;s essential to undertake a couple of foundational steps to set the stage for a successful recovery process.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_1_assess_the_damage\"><\/span>Step 1. Assess the Damage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25201 size-full border-gray border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/hd82teu1_image016.jpg\" alt=\"external hard drive recovery\" width=\"660\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/hd82teu1_image016.jpg 660w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/hd82teu1_image016-300x127.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/hd82teu1_image016-500x211.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>Before attempting any form of recovery, you need to determine whether the drive has suffered physical or logical damage. Here\u2019s what you need to do:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Remove and inspect the drive.<\/b> Check for visible signs of oxidation, damage, or burned-out contacts.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Reattach the hard disk.<\/b> While doing so, check data and power cables for damage or loose connections.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Listen to the drive.<\/b> When powered, it will spin. Keep an ear out for any strange sounds, like scratching or clicking.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Check Disk Management.<\/b> This will indicate if the drive is being recognized and read as a healthy drive.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Is the drive appearing in Disk Management with the correct size? Then proceed to the next step. If it\u2019s not appearing or it\u2019s showing the incorrect capacity, you should consult a data recovery professional.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_2_create_a_byte-to-byte_backup\"><\/span>Step 2. Create a Byte-to-Byte Backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>While a dead hard drive that has suffered light physical damage or any form of logical damage isn&#8217;t really dead in the truest sense, you still need to proceed carefully because you don&#8217;t want to make the data loss situation worse.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">As soon as the drive is recognized in Disk Management with the correct size, you should create a <a href=\"\/help\/dmg-iso-backup.html\">byte-to-byte backup<\/a> and then recover data from it instead of the damaged disk. A byte-to-byte backup is a complete, exact copy of every bit of data on a disk, from its file system structure to individual files and metadata. Unlike standard backups that may only target visible files, a byte-to-byte backup captures everything on the disk, including hidden or system files, and even sectors that might have been flagged as bad.<\/div>\r\n<p>A byte-to-byte backup that includes the entire contents of your disk allows you to:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Reduce the need for repeated access to the damaged disk, thereby preserving its current state and preventing additional damage.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Avoid the added stress of scanning the drive directly, which is much more taxing than the creation of a backup.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Employ various recovery techniques in a controlled environment.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Verify and validate the data before recovery.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>To create a byte-to-byte backup of your dead hard disk, we recommend you use <a href=\"\/hard-drive-data-recovery.html\">hard drive data recovery software<\/a> called Disk Drill, whose image backup feature is completely free and easy to use:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill on a working storage device. Make sure the computer on which you install Disk Drill has enough free storage space to accommodate the backup of your dead hard drive.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56134 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/install-disk-drill.jpg\" alt=\"Installing Disk Drill.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/install-disk-drill.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/install-disk-drill-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/install-disk-drill-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/install-disk-drill-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Launch Disk Drill and click <b>Byte-to-byte Backup<\/b> in the left panel.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56138 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/b2b-backup-option.jpg\" alt=\"The byte-to-byte backup feature.\" width=\"1360\" height=\"790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/b2b-backup-option.jpg 1360w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/b2b-backup-option-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/b2b-backup-option-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/b2b-backup-option-768x446.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1360px) 100vw, 1360px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose the dead hard drive you wish to back up from the list of available drives.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Create backup<\/b> and select a destination for the backup file. Ideally, the destination should have about 5-10% more free storage space than the total size of the dead hard drive.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56133 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/create-backup.jpg\" alt=\"Creating a backup.\" width=\"1352\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/create-backup.jpg 1352w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/create-backup-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/create-backup-500x294.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/create-backup-768x451.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1352px) 100vw, 1352px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Start the backup process. Disk Drill will display the progress, and you can pause and resume the backup as needed.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56131 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/backup-in-creation.jpg\" alt=\"The backup being created.\" width=\"1362\" height=\"795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/backup-in-creation.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/backup-in-creation-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/backup-in-creation-500x292.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/backup-in-creation-768x448.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1362px) 100vw, 1362px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; If the drive disconnects during the backup process, Disk Drill will attempt to resume automatically upon reconnection. Frequent disconnects may indicate the drive is in worse condition than initially thought, and professional advice may be required.<\/div>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_3_recover_files_from_a_dead_hard_drive_using_recovery_software\"><\/span>Step 3. Recover Files from a Dead Hard Drive Using Recovery Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Once you have created a byte-to-byte backup of your dead or damaged hard drive, you can proceed with the recovery process without further risking the original drive&#8217;s integrity. How? With the same software that enabled the backup: Disk Drill.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<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>\r\n<h4><b>To recover deleted data from a damaged hard drive:<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Disconnect or eject the original hard drive from your system to avoid any accidental writes or further damage.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Navigate to the <b>Data Recovery<\/b> section in Disk Drill, select the <b>Storage devices<\/b> category, and click<b> Attach disk image<\/b> to load your byte-to-byte backup file.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56137 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/attach-disk-image.jpg\" alt=\"Attaching a disk image.\" width=\"1364\" height=\"793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/attach-disk-image.jpg 1364w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/attach-disk-image-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/attach-disk-image-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/attach-disk-image-768x446.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1364px) 100vw, 1364px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose your backup file from the list and click<b> Search for lost data, <\/b> then click <b>Universal Scan<\/b> to start the search.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56135 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/search-for-data.jpg\" alt=\"Searching for lost data.\" width=\"1352\" height=\"781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/search-for-data.jpg 1352w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/search-for-data-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/search-for-data-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/search-for-data-768x444.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1352px) 100vw, 1352px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the files you wish to recover. Disk Drill allows you to preview files before recovery to verify their integrity. You can also narrow down the recoverable files using search filters in the left pane. <img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56136 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/select-files.jpg\" alt=\"Selecting the files to be recovered.\" width=\"1364\" height=\"791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/select-files.jpg 1364w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/select-files-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/select-files-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/select-files-768x445.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1364px) 100vw, 1364px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the <b>Recover<\/b> button to complete the recovery process. You will be asked to choose a destination for your files (select a different from the source drive to avoid overwriting data).<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56132 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/confirm-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"Confirming data recovery.\" width=\"1360\" height=\"786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/confirm-recovery.jpg 1360w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/confirm-recovery-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/confirm-recovery-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/confirm-recovery-768x444.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1360px) 100vw, 1360px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Following these steps with Disk Drill maximizes your chances of recovering valuable data from a damaged hard drive.<\/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\/ENI2RUpbgLc\"  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=\"other_methods_to_recover_deleted_files_from_dead_hard_drive\"><\/span>Other Methods to Recover Deleted Files from Dead Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>While data recovery software is the most effective and reliable method to recover deleted files from a dead hard drive that has suffered cosmetic physical damage or any kind of logical damage, alternative methods do exist. Such methods can complement software solutions or serve as viable options when software alone doesn&#8217;t suffice.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_restore_from_a_file_history_backup\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1.<\/span> Restore From a File History Backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Restoring from a backup is the easiest way to retrieve your data. Of course, it\u2019s only possible if you have a backup to recover the data from. Windows includes File History, which, when enabled, backs up Libraries (Pictures, Videos, Music), Desktop, Contacts, and Favorites. Then, you can restore a working version of the files in these locations whenever convenient.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; If your system drive is damaged, you will need to reinstall Windows and then restore the files from the backup, so long as the backup itself is not damaged.<\/div>\r\n<p>If you have File History enabled, follow these steps to restore a copy of your files.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Launch the <b>Start menu<\/b> and enter &#8220;file history.&#8221; Select the <b>File History (Control Panel)<\/b>\u00a0search result.\u00a0<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-49447 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/file-history-control-panel-start-menu.jpg\" alt=\"file history control panel start menu\" width=\"1315\" height=\"775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/file-history-control-panel-start-menu.jpg 1315w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/file-history-control-panel-start-menu-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/file-history-control-panel-start-menu-500x295.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/file-history-control-panel-start-menu-768x453.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1315px) 100vw, 1315px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the <b>Restore personal files<\/b> option in the File History Control Panel window.\u00a0<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-49448 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/restore-personal-files-file-history-control-panel.jpg\" alt=\"restore personal files file history control panel\" width=\"1220\" height=\"672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/restore-personal-files-file-history-control-panel.jpg 1220w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/restore-personal-files-file-history-control-panel-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/restore-personal-files-file-history-control-panel-500x275.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/restore-personal-files-file-history-control-panel-768x423.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Navigate to the location where your files were stored, and use the navigational arrows to go to a point in time where the files were in the folder. Select what files you want to restore, then click the green restore button. Once restored, you will find the files back in the folder.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39172 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/restore-files-1.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing what files to restore\" width=\"1008\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/restore-files-1.jpg 1008w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/restore-files-1-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/restore-files-1-500x255.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/restore-files-1-768x392.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_restore_from_onedrive\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2.<\/span> Restore from OneDrive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>If you signed in to a Microsoft account when you installed Windows, or you simply set up OneDrive before the data loss occurred, it may still hold a copy of your data. OneDrive is Microsoft\u2019s cloud storage service, which syncs files between its own servers and your computer.<\/p>\r\n<p>This is how you restore a file from OneDrive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Go to <a href=\"http:\/\/onedrive.live.com\">onedrive.live.com<\/a> and sign in to your Microsoft account.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Locate your files by exploring <b>My files<\/b> in the left panel.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56139 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/locate-onedrive-files.jpg\" alt=\"Locating the files in OneDrive.\" width=\"1316\" height=\"888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/locate-onedrive-files.jpg 1316w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/locate-onedrive-files-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/locate-onedrive-files-500x337.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/locate-onedrive-files-768x518.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1316px) 100vw, 1316px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select your files, then click <b>Download<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-56140 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/download-onedrive-files.jpg\" alt=\"Downloading the OneDrive files.\" width=\"1329\" height=\"894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/download-onedrive-files.jpg 1329w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/download-onedrive-files-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/download-onedrive-files-500x336.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/download-onedrive-files-768x517.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1329px) 100vw, 1329px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Extract the contents of the zip file.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_repair_a_corrupted_damaged_or_dead_hard_drive\"><\/span>How to Repair a Corrupted, Damaged, or Dead Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>While some forms of damage can put your hard drive in a state that\u2019s beyond repair, there are many others that are relatively minor. Once you\u2019ve recovered your data from the drive, try some of the solutions below to <a href=\"\/howto\/crashed-hard-drive-recovery.html\">fix your corrupted hard drive<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_repair_using_checkdisk_chkdsk\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1.<\/span> Repair Using CheckDisk (CHKDSK)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>CheckDisk is a file system repair utility that can be used to repair logical errors on your drive. Using parameters, you can instruct CheckDisk to scan your drive for errors and automatically fix them. This includes the ability to locate bad sectors and mark them as unavailable space so no data is saved there accidentally.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-danger\" role=\"alert\">&#x2757; Keep in mind that CHKDSK\u2019s main focus is to fix the file system and disk structure. It has no regard for your personal files, and it can cause some files to become lost if it\u2019s at the expense of fixing the drive.<\/div>\r\n<p>Follow these steps to repair a drive\u2019s file system using CheckDisk.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start <\/b>and select <b>Windows PowerShell (Admin) <\/b>in Windows 10 or <b>Terminal (Admin) <\/b>in Windows 11. Click <b>Yes <\/b>if prompted by UAC.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39176 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1.jpg\" alt=\"Opening an elevated PowerShell window\" width=\"665\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1.jpg 665w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1-500x398.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type <kbd>chkdsk \/f \/r D:<\/kbd>. Replace <b>D: <\/b>with the letter of your own drive. Press <b>Enter<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39177 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-chkdsk.jpg\" alt=\"Running the CHKDSK command\" width=\"856\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-chkdsk.jpg 856w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-chkdsk-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-chkdsk-500x286.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-chkdsk-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 856px) 100vw, 856px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>After running the command, it won\u2019t take long to complete (longer drives may experience longer wait times). See if the damage is repaired once the process is finished.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_fix_damaged_windows_files\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2.<\/span> Fix Damaged Windows Files<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>If any of your Windows files have become corrupted or missing, it could prevent your system from running correctly. In such cases, you can use the System File Checker (SFC) utility. Like CheckDisk, the SFC utility is another tool included in Windows. But, instead of fixing file system-related issues, it can scan for missing or damaged Windows system files and restore them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Use these instructions to restore damaged or missing Windows files using SFC:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start <\/b>and select <b>Windows PowerShell (Admin) <\/b>in Windows 10 or <b>Terminal (Admin)<\/b> in Windows 11.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39176 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1.jpg\" alt=\"Opening an elevated PowerShell window\" width=\"665\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1.jpg 665w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-elevated-powershell-1-500x398.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type <kbd>DISM.exe \/online \/cleanup-image \/restorehealth<\/kbd> and press <b>Enter<\/b>. It will take a few minutes. This command uses Windows Update to pull the files that are used to fix corruption.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39178 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/dism-command.jpg\" alt=\"Running the DISM command\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/dism-command.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/dism-command-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/dism-command-500x300.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/dism-command-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type <kbd>sfc \/scannow<\/kbd> and press <b>Enter<\/b>. This command will scan all system files and replace any corrupted ones with working versions.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39179 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sfc-command.jpg\" alt=\"Running the SFC command\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sfc-command.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sfc-command-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sfc-command-500x300.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sfc-command-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_scan_for_viruses\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3.<\/span> Scan for Viruses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>As we mentioned earlier, viruses can be the culprit behind the damage your drive has sustained. Scanning your drive for viruses may be the solution to restoring it to working order. If you don\u2019t have an antivirus program installed, you can make use of Windows Security.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Follow these instructions to scan your drive for viruses using Windows Security.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Press <b>Windows Key + S <\/b>and search <b>Windows Security<\/b>. Open it.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39181 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-windows-security.jpg\" alt=\"Opening Windows Security\" width=\"831\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-windows-security.jpg 831w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-windows-security-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-windows-security-500x409.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/open-windows-security-768x628.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 831px) 100vw, 831px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39183 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/virus-and-threat-protection.jpg\" alt=\"Accessing the Virus and Threat protection settings\" width=\"799\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/virus-and-threat-protection.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/virus-and-threat-protection-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/virus-and-threat-protection-500x395.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/virus-and-threat-protection-768x607.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Scan options<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39182 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scan-options.jpg\" alt=\"Looking at additional scan options\" width=\"799\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scan-options.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scan-options-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scan-options-500x395.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scan-options-768x607.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose your scan type. A <b>Full scan<\/b> is the most effective. When ready, click <b>Scan now<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-39180 size-full border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/full-scan.jpg\" alt=\"Running a full Windows Security scan\" width=\"799\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/full-scan.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/full-scan-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/full-scan-500x395.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/full-scan-768x607.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>If your hard drive seems dead, don&#8217;t lose hope. The term &#8220;dead&#8221; can often be misleading, as many situations that appear dire can still be resolved with the correct recovery techniques. Logical issues, for instance, can frequently be remedied with the right software and a bit of know-how, and the same goes for cosmetic physical damage.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>But if your drive has sustained physical damage and all methods in this article have failed, you can always consider reaching out to a <a href=\"\/data-recovery-center.html\">data recovery center<\/a> to have a professional see what further options are available.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"related_posts\"><div class=\"related_posts__inner\"><div class=\"h4\">Read also<\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Frame-62.png\" alt=\"disk\" width=\"140\" height=\"160\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/recover-formatted-hdd.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Recover Data from Formatted Hard Drive<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hard-drive.png\" alt=\"hard drive recovery software\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/help\/external-hard-drive-recovery.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">External Hard Drive Data Recovery Software That Works<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Frame-61.png\" alt=\"recover data\" width=\"140\" height=\"160\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/howto\/repair-corrupted-external-hard-drive.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Repair Corrupted External Hard Drive Without Losing Data<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"related_post\"><div class=\"related_post_item\"><div class=\"related_post_img\"><img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Finder-icon.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" \/><\/div><div class=\"related_post_content\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"\/hard-drive-recovery.html\" class=\"related_post_link\">Recover Files from External Drive on Mac<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/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=\"headingfaq1\">\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-faq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\">How do you fix a hard drive that won't boot?<\/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-faq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>First, you need to determine if the hard drive is recognized at all. If you can see it in BIOS, it usually means that the hard drive is recognized, and you can use a utility like TestDisk to scan it and rebuild the master boot record (MBR) or fix any other issues that make it impossible to boot from the drive. \u00a0<\/p>\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=\"headingfaq2\">\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-faq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_can_i_recover_data_from_a_dead_external_hard_drive\"><\/span>How can I recover data from a dead 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-faq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>That depends on what you mean by dead. If you mean a hard drive that has suffered physical damage, then we have bad news for you: you most likely won\u2019t be able to recover any data from it at home. But if you mean a corrupted or formatted hard drive, then you can use data recovery software to get back your data.<\/p>\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=\"headingfaq3\">\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-faq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_recover_data_from_a_hard_disk_which_is_not_detecting\"><\/span>Can I recover data from a hard disk which is not detecting?<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-faq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>If your operating system cannot see your hard disk in File Explorer, but it\u2019s visible in Disk Management and reading the correct size, data recovery software will still be able to scan and recover data from it. However, if the drive is not appearing even in Disk Management, recovery must be done by data recovery professionals.<\/p>\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=\"headingfaq4\">\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-faq4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq4\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_move_my_old_hard_drive_to_a_new_computer\"><\/span>Can I move my old hard drive to a new computer?<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-faq4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq4\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>Absolutely! In many cases, moving an old hard drive to a new computer is a simple matter of disconnecting it from one machine and connecting it to the new one. In the event that your old hard drive suffers from drive corruption or other logical issues, follow the steps in our guide on <a href=\"\/howto\/get-data-off-old-hard-drive.html\">getting data off an old hard drive<\/a>.<\/p>\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=\"headingfaq5\">\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-faq5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq5\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_are_the_signs_of_hdd_failure\"><\/span>What are the signs of HDD failure?<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-faq5\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq5\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>Common signs of HDD failure include strange noises like clicking or whining, overheating, data transfer errors, performance issues, boot problems, random crashes, and missing files and folders. Many of these issues occur only when the situation is really bad, which is why it\u2019s important to keep an eye on your HDD\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. parameters with a tool like Disk Drill, which includes a S.M.A.R.T. monitoring feature free of charge.<\/p>\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=\"headingfaq6\">\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-faq6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq6\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_data_from_a_dead_hard_drive\"><\/span>How to recover data from a dead 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-faq6\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq6\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>Before recovery, make sure the hard drive is actually dead by checking and replacing faulty cables, inspecting connection points, and looking for visible signs of damage. After that, follow these next steps to recover your files from a dead hard drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Attach the non-functional hard drive to a working computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Make sure the system recognizes the drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Install Disk Drill on the computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Create a byte-to-byte backup image of the dead hard drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Scan the backup image using Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Review the discovered files for recovery.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the desired files and recover them to a secure location.<\/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=\"headingfaq7\">\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-faq7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq7\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_recover_data_from_a_macos-formatted_damaged_hard_drive_on_a_windows_computer_and_vice_versa\"><\/span>Can I recover data from a macOS-formatted damaged hard drive on a Windows computer, and vice versa?<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-faq7\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq7\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>Absolutely. Disk Drill supports all Windows (FAT16\/FAT32\/exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, ReFS) and macOS (HFS, HFS+, APFS) file systems on each operating system. So even if Windows is unable to recognize the macOS-formatted damaged hard drive, Disk Drill will be able to<\/p>\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: 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=\"headingfaq8\">\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-faq8\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq8\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_should_i_do_if_my_hard_drive_isnt_recognized_in_bios_or_disk_management\"><\/span>What should I do if my hard drive isn\u2019t recognized in BIOS or Disk Management?<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-faq8\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq8\" 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><\/p>\r\n<p>A hard drive that isn\u2019t recognized in BIOS or Disk Management suffers from a physical problem that\u2019s incapable of being repaired at home. Instead, you\u2019re encouraged to keep it unplugged. The data on the drive needs to be repaired by a <a href=\"\/data-recovery-center.html\">data recovery service<\/a>, after which it can be copied to a new, healthy drive.<\/p>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When we hear that a hard drive is &#8220;dead,&#8221; it often conjures images of irrevocably lost data. However, this grim diagnosis is not always as final as it may seem. While some scenarios may indeed spell the end for your&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7884,"featured_media":33269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1753],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8382","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"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>How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"853\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jordan Jamieson-Mane\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jordan Jamieson-Mane\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)","description":"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)","og_description":"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html","og_site_name":"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":853,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jordan Jamieson-Mane","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)","twitter_description":"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg","twitter_creator":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_site":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jordan Jamieson-Mane","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html"},"author":{"name":"Jordan Jamieson-Mane","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/480ecc911a5da8b0b26038d678da4563"},"headline":"Get Your Files Back from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive","datePublished":"2020-01-09T00:48:55+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-27T11:48:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html"},"wordCount":3168,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg","articleSection":["Hard Drive Recovery Tips"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html","name":"How to Recover Data from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive (2025)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg","datePublished":"2020-01-09T00:48:55+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-27T11:48:16+00:00","description":"In this article, we look at ways to recover data from corrupted, damaged or dead hard drives, as well as various methods for fixing them.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hard-drive-image.jpg","width":1280,"height":853},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\u0413\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u0430\u044f","item":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/fr\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Get Your Files Back from a Dead or Damaged Hard Drive"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/","name":"Data recovery tips. 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