How to Recover Files from a Damaged or Inaccessible disk by using TestDisk.

When your hard drive with all your important data is damaged, then all your data becomes unavailable and you cannot access them anymore. For all of us that have been in a such a situation, it was a nightmare and we realized that the simple job of always keeping a recent copy of our critical files to another media is the most important lesson that we must always have in our minds and the most important action to always perform. In this article you can find instructions on how to recover files from a damaged disk.

It is possible to retrieve data stored on a damaged disk?

First of all you should know that when your disk is damaged (so you cannot access your data) this means two things:

1. Hardware problems: A hardware disk damage means that the disk’s hardware components are malfunctioning. To trace your hard disk’s hardware problems a common method is to listen carefully on your hard disk for any noises that come from your hard drive when your Operating System (or you) tries to access it. If you don’t hear any noise at all or if you hear a repeated clunking, it means that there is probably a physical damage on your hard disk. At this case, the best choice you have, is to go to a data recovery professional in order to retrieve your data, but before you do that, you can try the steps described in this article, to find out if you have a chance to recover your files yourself.

2. Software problems: A software problem means that your Operating System detects the damaged drive {(Hard drive (HDD), USB Disk, Pen drive, etc.) but you cannot access the data on it. A software malfunction can happen for several reasons: e.g. power corruption, forced removal of your storage device (e.g. external USB hard disk, USB pen drive, etc.) without prior using the safely remove option, or because your hard disk's health is decreased during working time. If you ‘re in such a situation, keep reading this article to find out how to recover your files.

How to recover data from an inaccessible hard disk or other storage device (HDD, USB Disk, SD card or Pen drive).

Before you continue to the steps below, first make sure that your disk can be recognized from your computer. To confirm that, log on to your OS and look at “Disk Management” to see if your disk is listed there. To do that:

– Simultaneously press Windows key + R  to open run command box.

– Inside the Search (run) command box, type: diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.

– In Disk Management window see if the damaged disk is listed (See screenshot example).

If your disk is recognized* in Disk Management, but you still cannot access your files because of:

– Previous Forced Removal of the storage device (without using “Safely Remove” option), then follow the steps in this article to recover the files to another destination and then try to restore the corrupted partition table by using the instructions in this article: How to fix: You Need to Format this Disk Before You Can Use It

– Other (unknown) reason(s) then continue to the steps below to recover your missing files (Data).

* Note: If your disk isn’t recognized in Disk Management and you are sure that you have connected it properly with your computer, then you have to attend on a data recovery professional for data retrieval.

How to Restore Lost Data (files) using TestDisk.

In order to restore files from a damaged disk you have to download the TestDisk utility.
TestDisk utility is a powerful FREE data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table).

Attention: Keep in mind that you follow this guide at your own risk and you have to be very careful with the steps on it, to avoid losing your data.

Step 1. Download Testdisk utility to your computer.

1. Navigate to http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk and download Testdisk utility.

2. Click to download the TestDisk version according your OS. (e.g. Windows).

3. When download operation is completed, navigate to your download location folder and right-click on “testdisk-7.0-WIP.win.zip” compressed file and select “Extract All” to un-compress its contents.

.

Step 2. Use Testdisk utility to recover files.

In this step, you can learn how to use TestDisk, for file recovery (restore files from the damaged hard drive).

1. First of all, connect the damaged hard disk drive (HDD) on your computer.

2. Now explore “testdisk-7.0-WIP.win” folder contents and double-click to run the “testdisk_win.exe” application.

2a. Click “Yes” at UAC warning message.

3. At the TestDisk utility first screen, press “Enter” at the highlighted “Create” option.

4. Wait until TestDisk scans your computer for connected disks.

5. Using the keyboard arrow keys CAREFULLY select the damaged hard disk drive and press “Enter” to  ‘Proceed’ to disk analysis.

6. At the next screen select (using the keyboard arrows keys) the partition table type (e.g. Intel) and press “Enter”.*

* Notice: At this point, TestDisk utility (usually) recognizes the correct partition table type and highlights it automatically. For Windows OS the partition table type is “Intel”.

7. At the next screen press “Enter” at the “Analyze” option and let TestDisk utility to analyze your HDD and find the lost partition table structure.

8. After disk analysis, TestDisk should display the current partition structure. Press “Enter” again and let TestDisk to “Quick Search” your disk for lost partitions.

9. If TestDisk can locate the lost partition(s), during ‘Quick Search’ operation, then you will see a similar screen like below. Press the “P” key letter on keyboard to ensure that the partition found contains your files.

10. At this point two different things (cases) can happen:

Case 1. If you can see a list of your lost files on your screen like the screenshot below, continue to Step 3.

Case 2. If the TestDisk cannot open (recognize) the filesystem or the filesystem is damaged then you have to perform a deeper search using TestDisk utility to find lost partitions. To do that:

a. Press “q” to quit this section and return to the previous one.

b. At the previous section screen, press “Enter”.

c. Press “Enter” one more time to perform a “Deeper Search”.

d. Now be patient until TestDisk analyzes your disk. (This operation may take some time).

e. When the Deeper Search operation is completed, press “P” again to see if your files are listed. If you files are listed, then continue to the next step.

Step 3: Copy your files from the damaged disk to a different storage device.

1. After successful recognition (listing) of your files as described before, press the "a" key on your keyboard to select all files found  and then press the "C" key to copy all files. (Suggested option).

OR

Use your keyboard ‘UP’ & ‘DOWN’ arrow keys to find the folder that you want to recover its contents and then press the "c" key, to copy the current file/folder. *

* Note: If you want to explore the contents of a folder, then after navigating to the folder and then press the Right arrow or Enter Key.

2. Then press the C key to copy all selected files.

Available options:

1. Press h key to hide the deleted files/folders.
2. Press : to select the current file/folder.
3. Press a to select all files/folders.
4. Press c key to copy the current file/folder.
5. Press C key to copy all the selected files/folders.
6. Press q to quit

2. Now you have to select (specify) a new destination folder to copy your files.  At this point:

– Press “Y” to start copying the selected folder(s) and its contents to the default destination*

* The default destination (for the copy process) is the folder where “TestDisk” is running from. (the location where you extracted “testdisk-7.0-WIP.win.zip” file in step 1).

OR

– Press "N" and use your keyboard Arrow keys to select a different destination to store the selected files/folders, and then press the "C" key to start the copy process.

3. Now be patient until "TestDisk" copies all the chosen files from your damaged disk to the new destination.

4. When the copy operation is done, you should see a “Copy Done!” message.

Next, if you want to recover a different folder (or file) from your damaged disk, then repeat the same steps to do so, OR  press the “Q” key several times to quit the “TestDisk” utility.

5. Finally, navigate to the destination location to find your missing files.

You ‘re done! If you follow the above procedure correctly and with a little luck, you should successfully recover all your files from the damaged storage device!

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Konstantinos Tsoukalas

Konstantinos is the founder and administrator of Wintips.org. Since 1995 he works and provides IT support as a computer and network expert to individuals and large companies. He is specialized in solving problems related to Windows or other Microsoft products (Windows Server, Office, Microsoft 365, etc.).

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