It can sometimes happen that important data is accidentally deleted or lost following a virus attack. Files can be lost due to two types of damage: on the one hand, physical damage such as the device being dropped, overheating or water damage. On the other hand, logical damage such as file corruption, human error or a virus attack. One might think this is irreversible, but it is in fact possible to recover any type of file. Here, you will see how to recover lost data from a Seagate external hard drive. The best way to deal with data loss is to call on a professional. Physical damage and mechanical faults must always be resolved by a professional. They will know how to find the right method and choose the tools suited to each situation, which maximizes the chances of recovering deleted files.
How to use recovery software?
To recover your data, you can use recovery software. These tools are used to find files that have been lost, formatted or deleted. FonePaw or Remo Seagate are examples of such software. To use them, you must first connect your Seagate hard drive and make sure it is recognized by the computer. If it is not, there are free methods built directly into the operating system that can fix this problem.
Once the Seagate storage device is connected, it should appear in the “removable drives” section. Here’s how to proceed:
- Next, select the hard drive and click “Scan”. The scan may take some time.
- Once the scan finds the files on the device, select the files and click “recover”.
- You can use the “filter” function to locate specific files.
How to use the CHKDSK function?
There are also other methods, such as Windows’ built-in CHKDSK function or file history. Running the CHKDSK function is a utility used to fix minor problems on hard drives. It can only be used when a device is not recognized or inaccessible, and can be a first step in file recovery. To do this, simply follow these very simple steps:
- Open the “Start” menu and type cmd
- Right-click on cmd.exe then click “Run as administrator”
- Type chkdsk : [name of the drive to repair]: /f then press Enter
After the data recovery has been done, the computer must be restarted. This method may not work, but it is worth trying since it is free and relatively simple to carry out.
How to install the hard drive driver?
It is also possible to recover data by installing the Seagate hard drive driver. This can be useful if the computer does not recognize the Seagate hard drive. Here’s how to do it:
- Right-click on “Computer”
- Click on “Manage” then “Device Manager”
- Double-click on “disk drives” and right-click to select the name of the Seagate external hard drive
- Select “uninstall device”
- Unplug the device and restart the computer
- Plug the hard drive back in
Once these steps have been carried out, the hard drive should be recognized.
Other possible solutions
Another solution is to recover data from a backup made beforehand on another device or computer.
The chances of recovering lost files cannot be estimated with certainty, so it is important to avoid this kind of situation as much as possible. To do this, you should back up your files on several devices to avoid losing your data, and protect your computer with antivirus software (updating it regularly) to avoid or deal with this kind of incident. Avoiding opening suspicious links and files is also a good way to avoid viruses. Not deleting files whose nature is unknown is very important, since they may be system files essential to the hardware’s operation. It is also essential to avoid physical damage by keeping your equipment clean, free of dust, avoiding having liquids near your equipment and cleaning it regularly. Using a surge protector is also a good way to prevent damage.