How to Recover Data on a Dead Hard Drive

When you start to hear noises from your hard drive or when it fails to boot, it is probably dead. How to recover data on a dead hard drive? Learning the methods will help you get back all the contents from the disk, after which you can save them to an external disk.

Quick Navigation

Part 1: Symptoms of a Dead Hard Drive

Part 2: How to Restore Data from Dead Hard Drive

Part 3: What to Do if Dead Hard Drive is not "Online"?

Part 4: How to Fix Dead Hard Drive

Part 1: Symptoms of a Dead Hard Drive

The following are the symptoms that help you recognize the condition of your head drive:

• Strange noises
• Disk errors and data loss
• Frequent computer crashes
• The system fails to recognize the partitions and the hard drive

In case you notice these symptoms, then do not worry. We are presenting you with different methods to get files back from dead hard disk.

Part 2: How to Restore Data from Dead Hard Drive

1. Chances of Data Recovery for a Dead Drive

The hard drive improper functionality affects computer use. You will start losing data, which can be pictures, documents, music, and other files. You can retrieve files from dead hard drive unless there is no corruption in the files. In many cases, the files are intact, and it is the file system that takes the hit. It is always preferable to take a backup of the essential files from time-to-time. Suppose you did not create a backup before and see that the drive's partitions function. You could get back the data from the dead disk using a bootable CD or DVD. Ensure that the bootable disk appears as "Online", and the partition drives are displaying correctly.

2. Retrieve files from dead hard disk with iBeesoft Data Recovery

iBeesoft Data Recovery is an effective data recovery program that helps recover data from corrupted hard drives, disks, SSDs, SD cards, external hard drives, RAW drives, and USBs. Even if you have deleted files accidentally, the wizard can find the files with ease. You can count it as a comprehensive tool for all your recovery actions. You can forget worrying about how to resume data from dead hard drive.

3. Guide for How to Recover Files from Dead Hard Drive

1. Install the data recovery software for failed hard drive trial copy. After completing the installation. After then, launch it.
2. Click "go to setting" to filter file types.
3. Select disk and lick the "Scan" button.

On the startup screen, you will see the partitions of the hard drive. You can choose the path that has the files that you want to restore.

4. Preview the found files

After completion of the scan, the software will display the files that it can recover from the selected scan locations. It will arrange them according to file type, which you can access from the left pane. Additionally, you can view a file's contents by selecting it and viewing it in the thumbnail format.

5. Data recovery from dead hard drive

You can now mark all the essential files and press the "Recover" button. Ensure to mention the path to store the files and wait for iBeesoft to complete the recovery before you can browse the files.

Part 3: What to Do if Dead Hard Drive is not "Online"?

You can retrieve data from dead hard drive, if it is showing "Online". However, if it is not showing, then you can follow the steps below to fix the different scenarios:

Case 1: When it is showing "Online (Errors)"

When the system detects an I/O error, you will see the "Online (error)" status. Plus, you will see other partitions as "At Risk". You can fix it by reactivating the disk. If you see "Healthy (At Risk)" status, then it is time to create a backup and replace the hard drive.

Case 2: The disk shows "Not Initialized"

You will see the "Not initialized" status when the disk misses a valid signature or corrupted due to a virus attack. You can fix it using the following steps:

1. Connect the hard drive to a different computer and check if it is still showing the same error.
2. If you see the same status, then right-click on the unknown disk and press the "Initialize Disk" option. It will change to initializing and then to "Online" status.

Case 3: The disk shows "Missing" as the status

You will see the "Missing" status when the drive is dead, disconnected, or closed. Is there any way to recover data from dead hard drive? You can access it by opening the disk management. You can then select the unknow disk, right-click, and then select the "reactivate disk" option. In such cases, the system will fix all the multiple missing disks.

Part 4: How to Fix Dead Hard Drive

Solution 1: Run CHKDSK to Fix System Error in Dead Hard Drive

If the disk has bad sectors, you can fix it using the command prompt window. Follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows and R keys together and select Command Prompt.
2. Launch command prompt as administrator.
3. Use the following command: CHKDSK to check for the errors.
4. Enter the following command to fix the errors: CHKDSK D: /f /r /x (replace D with the corrupted drive letter)

Solution 2: Use File Manager to Fix Dead Hard Drive

Can you recover data from a dead hard drive? You can use the file manager to fix the disk error and take a backup. Steps include:

1. Press Win and E keys together.
2. Select the corrupted disk from the left pane.
3. Select "Properties" and choose "Tools > Check under Error Checking".
4. After the scan is complete, choose "Repair this Drive" to fix errors.