Lost Partition on External Hard Drive: How to Recover Your Precious Data
16 November 2023 Specialist of Customer Service Dept.
Summary
Learn how to recover your lost partition on an external hard drive using various methods and software such as Recuva, Renee Undeleter, and Windows File Recovery. You'll also find tips for preventing partition loss and maintaining data integrity for external drives.
Table of contents
External hard drives have become an indispensable tool for many of us, allowing us to store large amounts of data and easily transfer it between devices. However, as with any technology, issues can arise, and one of the most common problems users encounter is a lost partition on their external hard drive. At first, it may seem like a disaster, with all your important files seemingly disappeared. But don’t panic just yet, as there are steps you can take to assess the situation and determine the cause of the lost partition. In this chapter, we will guide you through the process of evaluating your external hard drive and identifying the possible reasons for the missing partition.
When facing the conundrum of a lost partition on an external hard drive, the initial step is a thorough assessment to ascertain the underlying cause. Determining why files appear “greyed out” or the partition has vanished is critical in devising an appropriate recovery strategy. This examination could unveil simple file system errors or more complex issues relating to the integrity of the data transfer, especially if files were manually moved from one location to another.
Connect your external hard drive and verify its recognition in Windows Explorer or Disk Management. Indicators of a lost partition include missing drive letters or unusual statuses suggesting file system irregularities.
1) If the external drive appears in Windows Explorer but cannot be accessed, and you receive an error message similar to this one:
You can utilize file recovery or partition recovery functions to retrieve your lost files. Once you’ve recovered the files, you can format the device to resolve the problem.
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2) If you cannot find a drive in Windows Explorer but can see a partition in Disk Management, simply assigning a drive letter to the partition can resolve the issue.
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3) If you cannot find a drive in Windows Explorer and can see no partitions(mark as Not Initialize or Unallocated) in Disk Management, then you should use Whole Disk Scan/Recovery functions to solve the problem.
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4) Additional considerations include the type of storage medium involved. For SSDs, the presence or absence of TRIM operations can influence data recovery; a TRIM command executed after data loss can mean permanent deletion, while TRIM performed before a mishap might reduce “garbage” data, improving recovery chances. In contrast, these TRIM-related scenarios do not apply to HDD or virtual dispositions. Unfortunately, there is no possibility of data recovery in this particular scenario.
Welcome back to our series on lost partitions on external hard drives. In our previous chapter, we discussed how to assess the situation and determine the cause of a lost partition. Now, it’s time to dive into the first method for recovering your data – using Renee Undeleter.
Building on the notion that overwriting data is a critical factor in data recovery, Renee Undeleter serves as a robust solution for retrieving files from a lost external hard drive partition. It is especially potent when the user acts immediately before the data is overwritten, following the preventive measures shared by experts in the field.
Step 1: Download, install and run Renee Undeleter on your Windows computer.
Hot Topic - ADsRenee Undeleter – Simple & Powerful Software for Data Recovery 
Easy to use Recover data by 3 steps;
Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan;
Supported file types Image, video, audio, text, email and so on;
Image creation Create a partition image to read and back up data;
Supported devices SD card, SDHC, SDXC, USB flash drive, hard disk and computer.
Easy to use Recover data by 3 steps;
Multiple scan modes Fast partition/whole partition/whole disk scan;
Supported devices SD card/USB/hard disk.
Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial 800 people have downloaded! Step 2: Select the [Fast Partition Scan] or [Whole Partition Scan] option in the main interface.
Please avoid installing the software on the disk containing the data to be recovered in order to prevent data overwriting. Also, refrain from saving new data to the same disk partition after a file is lost to avoid further damage or complete loss of the lost file.
Step 3: Next, select the partition where the lost data is located, and click [Next].
Step 4: Select the [Fast Scan] option and click the [Next] button to scan.
The [Fast Scan] mode scans the initial 30GB of available space on the chosen disk. If desired files are not found, the [Deep Scan] mode can be used for a thorough scan of the hard disk partition, though it will require additional time.
Step 4: Wait for the scan to complete
you can double-click the file to preview, then check the files that need to be recovered, and click the [Recover] button to recover the files to other disks.
Tips:Please select a disk without any important data when installing the software to avoid overwriting it. If the quick scan mode doesn’t find the necessary files, we suggest trying the deep scan mode for a full search.
If you have encountered a more complex partition loss scenario, such as losing all partitions on your external hard drive, don’t panic. There is still a way to recover your lost data and partitions. In this chapter, we will introduce Renee Undeleter, a powerful partition recovery tool that can help you rebuild the partition table if all partitions are lost.
Step 1: Connect your hard drive to another computer. This is to ensure that the hard drive is in a stable and accessible state for the data recovery process.
Step 2: Download and install Renee Undeleter on the computer you have connected your hard drive to.
Hot Topic - ADsRenee Undeleter – Simple & Powerful Software for Data Recovery
Easy to use Recover data by 3 steps;
Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan;
Supported file types Image, video, audio, text, email and so on;
Image creation Create a partition image to read and back up data;
Supported devices SD card, SDHC, SDXC, USB flash drive, hard disk and computer.
Easy to use Recover data by 3 steps;
Multiple scan modes Fast partition/whole partition/whole disk scan;
Supported devices SD card/USB/hard disk.
Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial 800 people have downloaded! Step 3: Launch the software and select “Whole Disk Scan” from the main interface.
Note: If you suspect your hard drive is damaged, it is recommended to use the “Create Image” feature to back up your data before proceeding.
Step 4: Select the hard drive from the list of available drives and click on the “Next” button.
Step 5: The software will start scanning your hard drive for the lost or deleted files. You can use the “Pause” and “Stop” buttons to manage the scan process.
Renee Undeleter will initiate the reconstruction of the partition table for the damaged hard disk, utilizing the available information on the drive. This process may require a few minutes. Upon successful reconstruction, Renee Undeleter will proceed to search for deleted files across various partitions.
Step 6: Once the scan is complete, you can preview the recovered files under different categories, such as documents, photos, and videos. You can also use the search function to locate specific files.
Step 7: Select the files you want to recover and click on the “Recover” button.
With Renee Undeleter, you can easily recover your lost partitions and data even in complex scenarios. This software is equipped with advanced scanning algorithms that can thoroughly scan your external hard drive and recover lost partitions and files with high success rates.
Pros:
- Powerful and advanced scanning algorithms
- Ability to recover lost partitions and data in complex scenarios
- User-friendly interface
- Supports various file systems
Cons:
- May take longer to perform a complete partition scan
- Free version has limited features
Overall, Renee Undeleter is a reliable and effective tool for recovering lost partitions and data on external hard drives. It provides users with a simple and easy-to-use solution to restore their important files.
To avoid losing partitions and data in the future, it is recommended to regularly back up your external hard drive and keep your system and software up to date. Additionally, make sure to always safely eject your external hard drive to avoid any potential data loss.
Next, we will introduce another method for partition recovery – Windows File Recovery. This tool is specifically designed for systems running Windows 10 or higher and can help you restore data from lost or deleted partitions. Please continue reading the next chapter for more information on this method.
Step 1: Make sure your system meets the software requirements. Confirm you are using Windows 10 version 2004 or later by pressing Win + R, typing
winver
and hitting Enter.
Step 2: Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store. Carefully follow the installation directions provided.
Step 3: Connect the external hard drive to your computer. Verify that it appears in File Explorer, ensuring the system can access it.
Step 4: Open Windows File Recovery as an administrator to execute the recovery procedure. To do so, search for the tool, right-click on it, and select “Run as administrator“.
Step 5: Decide on the file types you want to recover and enter the correct command in the command-line interface of Windows File Recovery. For example, to recover JPEG images from a lost partition on drive E: and save them on drive F:, use the command:
winfr E: F:\Recover_files\ /n *.JPEG
Make sure you use the appropriate source (E:) and target folder to store recovered files (F:\Recover_files\).
Step 6: Check the destination drive for recovered files once the process has finished to ensure success.
Enhancements: Building on the advice of experts like Ryan Deka and Matthew Lai, it’s crucial to avoid overwriting data on the drive you’re attempting to recover from. If the data is highly valuable, consider cloning the drive using tools like Renee Becca or the dd command on Linux, before any recovery attempts. This preserves the original state of your data and provides a backup in case recovery efforts compromise the data. Alankar Mordekar’s experience highlights the importance of patience during the recovery process, especially when handling large amounts of data. Theo Lucia’s insight further underscores the necessity of ceasing drive usage immediately after data loss to prevent overwriting.
In summary, Windows File Recovery can be a potent tool for retrieving lost data, but it’s imperative to use it correctly. Ensure no new data is written to the drive and be meticulous with command syntax. This tool may face limitations with complex data recovery scenarios or encrypted drives. Should the data be crucial or if you encounter hardware issues, professional software like Recoverit, or specialized recovery services, might offer a better chance of success. Ultimately, safeguarding against overwriting and backing up the drive before proceeding with recovery are critical steps in maximizing the chances of reclaiming your valuable data.
Having successfully recovered data from a lost partition with methods such as Recuva, Renee Undeleter, and Windows File Recovery, it’s crucial to ensure that the external hard drive is in a stable condition for future use. The procedure involves a series of steps that validate the drive’s health and secure its data against further issues.
Step 1:Verify the Health of the Drive. Before proceeding to use your external hard drive again, it’s fundamental to examine its health. Utilize tools like CrystalDiskInfo to check the S.M.A.R.T. status and assess any potential hardware issues. If the report indicates a failure, consider the data more valuable than the drive itself and replace the drive.
Step 2:Clone the Drive Before Making Changes. If the drive is still functioning but you’re concerned about its reliability, use a cloning tool like Clonezilla to create an exact copy of the drive. This ensures that you have a backup of the current state of your data, which is useful if future recovery attempts compromise the data’s integrity.
Step 3:Secure Erase the Drive. Following a successful clone, securely erase the original drive to ensure no residual data could lead to future complications. Use a tool like DBAN to perform this action, being keenly aware that this will wipe all data from the drive, and should only be done after ensuring a secure backup has been made.
Step 4:Attempt a Full Format. Once the drive is cleared, proceed to format it. Choose the file system that best suits your needs—NTFS for Windows compatibility or exFAT for use with multiple operating systems. Perform a full format as opposed to a quick format to thoroughly prepare the drive for future use.
Step 5:Partition the Drive as Required. Use a disk management utility to partition the external hard drive. It’s critical not to disrupt this process as it can lead to more complex partition issues.
Step 6:Conduct a Disk Check. Run a
chkdsk /f /r
scan in a Command Prompt with administrative privileges to search for and fix file system errors or bad sectors. This step is especially crucial if previous S.M.A.R.T. data has indicated potential bad sectors on the drive.
Step 7:Establish a Resilient Backup Strategy. After ensuring the drive is in good condition, implement a robust backup strategy for your data. Use different physical drives or cloud storage solutions for redundancy and make sure to routinely back up your data.
Step 8:Regular Monitoring. Regularly check the health of your external hard drive with S.M.A.R.T. tools. Early detection of potential issues can save you from future data loss scenarios.
In summary, after the data recovery process, it is imperative to take further steps to secure your external hard drive for future use. From verifying the drive’s health to securely wiping and reformatting it, and from cloning the drive as a precaution to regularly monitoring its condition—all are critical to preventing future data loss. Users should always remember that maintaining up-to-date backups is the best safeguard against data loss. Recovered data should be handled with utmost care, ensuring it is not saved back onto the potentially compromised drive to prevent overwriting.
Losing a partition on an external hard drive can be a frustrating and potentially devastating experience. Not only can it result in the loss of important data, but it can also lead to significant time and effort spent on recovery. To avoid these consequences, it is crucial to take preventative measures to ensure the integrity of your external drive’s partitions. In this chapter, we will discuss several methods for preventing future partition loss and maintaining data integrity on external drives.
Update Hard Disk Drivers Regularly
One simple yet effective way to prevent partition loss is to regularly update your hard disk drivers. Outdated drivers can cause various issues, including partition loss. By keeping your drivers up-to-date, you can prevent potential problems that may lead to partition loss.
Be Cautious When Managing Partitions
Human error is one of the leading causes of partition loss. When managing your hard disk partitions, it is crucial to be cautious and double-check your actions. One wrong move, such as accidentally deleting a necessary partition or carrying out diskpart clean on the wrong drive, can result in partition loss. Make sure to pay close attention to your actions to avoid mistakes.
Regular Backups
Another effective way to prevent partition loss is to regularly back up your data. By having a backup of your important files, you can easily restore them in case of partition loss. It is best to have multiple backups, including an off-site one, to ensure maximum data protection.
Summary
To prevent future partition loss, it is important to regularly update your hard disk drivers, be cautious when managing partitions, use surge protectors, install antivirus software, check for hardware issues, and regularly back up your data. By implementing these measures, you can maintain the integrity of your external drive’s partitions and avoid potential data loss. However, it is also essential to note that even with all these precautions, there is still a chance of partition loss. Therefore, you should always be prepared and have a reliable data recovery plan in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
In conclusion, recovering data from a lost partition on your external drive can be a daunting task, but with the help of partition recovery software such as Recuva, Renee Undeleter, and Windows File Recovery, it is possible to retrieve lost files and folders. It is important to properly assess the situation and determine the cause of the lost partition. Depending on the complexity of the issue, different methods may be used to recover the data, such as a basic scan with Recuva or a more thorough analysis with Renee Undeleter. It is also crucial to regularly back up important data and maintain the health of your external drive to prevent future partition loss. By following these steps, you can ensure that your data remains safe and secure, even in the event of a lost partition. Remember to always handle your external drive with care and seek professional help if needed.
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