Recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free for a number of different reasons. It could be an issue with the hardware or the drivers for the hardware.
Malicious code that has made its way onto the drive is often to blame for such issues. Perhaps you have made changes to your drive that prevent you from accessing it.
If you want to access the information stored on it, you’ll need to get it back up and running.
The loss of data on a hard drive that is not being detected correctly is an issue. You require physical access to the device before you can begin any data process to recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free.
You won’t be able to use the drive for anything if it goes unnoticed. In this article, we will investigate the possible causes of your drive’s non-recognition and then explain a useful application for retrieving your data once you have access again.
Also Read: How to Archive Gmail Emails to Hard Drive?
Retrieve Data from Hard Drive Not Recognized: Reasons with Solution
Here are some most common reasons to recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free with a complete solution
1. Human Error
Human mistake is always a possibility, and your drive may go undetected. The drive may have been connected to a malfunctioning port, causing this issue. If that’s the case, you can switch to a new computer or interface. You probably formatted or removed a partition.
Possible cause: when attempting to assign a drive letter, you entered a value that is unsupported by the operating system. Because of these problems, your operating system will be unable to recognize any external hard drives, even those made by Seagate and Western Digital (WD).
The bright side is that fixing these problems is usually a breeze. As for that, I’ll elaborate later to recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free.
First Solution: A common cause of a disk’s absence from My Computer or Windows Disk Management is that it is either not formatted or has been allocated the wrong drive letter. You may fix either of these problems by using Disk Management to reformat and rename the drive. In addition, you can verify the drive’s online status by using Device Manager.
Second Solution: There’s also a chance that the drive isn’t being detected because of an incompatible device driver. Verify that the proper driver for your external storage device has been installed. It is possible that the driver has already been installed, in which case you should uninstall it and reinstall it. Usually, this will fix the problem and get you back to utilizing the drive normally.
2. Viruses and Malware to Recover Data from Hard Disk which is not Detecting Free
A virus or other malware can compromise a system in a number of ways, including making it impossible to access files on an external hard drive that isn’t being properly identified. An infection might cause the hard disc to show up as RAW by deleting files at random or formatting a partition without the user’s awareness. The drive letter could have been renamed by malware, or the relevant device driver could have been removed or corrupted. Malware may have caused your computer to be unable to start from the drive.
First Solution: When your hard drive gets infected, the first thing you should do is run a virus check and get rid of the virus or other malware. Windows Defender is an effective anti-malware program that comes standard on every Windows PC. The Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection menu provides access. Select Full Scan from the drop-down menu, then hit the Scan now button.
Second Solution: A file system problem is one possible cause of a crashed drive showing up as a RAW disc in Windows. The OS will be unable to use the drive’s contents unless it is repaired. Both the partition table and the boot sector can be fixed, if necessary. If you have data recovery software to recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free, you can save it to another location and then reformat the RAW disc.
3. Environmental Factors
When your operating system is unable to recognize your hard drive, it could be because it has been damaged by excessive heat or moisture. Obviously, if the hard drive is not detecting as it should, there is no way to retrieve the data. While there are hard drives available that can function in extreme temperatures and humidity, it’s important to remember that most drives function best when maintained in a cool, dry place.
First Solution: When an external or internal hard drive is not recognized because it has been damaged by liquid, dust, or heat, data recovery is not an option. Sending the hard disc to a data recovery company to be fixed by technicians with the right tools is your best choice to recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free.
Second solution: If you’ve made local or cloud-based backups, you won’t need to ship your hard drive to data recovery experts. If you have a recent backup, you can easily retrieve the missing data and store it somewhere. You shouldn’t try to recover files from an external hard drive that isn’t recognized properly again, so make sure the underlying problem has been fixed.
Some Other Reasons to Recover Data from External Hard Disk which is not Detecting Free
The following are daily occurrences that can lead to data loss on an external hard drive:
- Loss of data due to accidental deletion or reformatting
- Compromise or loss of essential file system structures
- An unscheduled reboot or program crash
- Disruption or loss of partition structures to recover data from hard disk which is not detecting free
- Consequences of a virus assault, a power outage, or other unforeseeable causes of malfunction
Also Read: How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 without Software?
Did You Know
Recover Data from Hard Disk which is not Detecting Free: Hard drives that can be removed from a computer are an easy target for criminals who are for personal information. An example of this would be the theft of a disc containing sensitive information on over 15,000 people from Fresno State University. This robbery underlines how important it is to encrypt data that is stored on removable storage devices. It is possible for a portable drive to be lost or stolen, which can result in a large data breach. This breach can result in serious consequences for both the company that lost the drive and the individuals whose information was compromised.