An external drive is often the only place where we keep years of photos, documents or backups. And exactly when you need it most, it suddenly does not show up in the computer, it clicks or goes completely silent. Before you give up or start experimenting, read this. There is often still something to be saved.

What may have happened to the drive

There can be several causes, and the chance of repair varies accordingly:

  • Damaged electronics or USB connector - the drive is fine, the computer just cannot reach it. This is often repairable.
  • A damaged file system - the drive works, but the computer “cannot see” it or asks you to format it. The data is usually still there.
  • Logical damage after improper disconnection or a power outage - common and often solvable.
  • A mechanical fault (the drive clicks, beeps, does not spin) - this is more serious and requires a careful approach.

What you should never do

  • Do not format the drive, even when the computer suggests it. You would overwrite your chance of recovery.
  • If a drive clicks or beeps, disconnect it immediately and do not turn it on again. Every further start-up can make the damage worse.
  • Do not blindly try “repair” programs from the internet, as they can overwrite the data for good.
  • Do not take the drive apart at home. The mechanism is sensitive to dust.

The golden rule: the sooner you stop using the drive and have it checked, the higher the chance of saving it.

How we can help

We safely run diagnostics on the drive and determine whether the problem is in the electronics, the file system or the mechanism. Based on that:

  • with an electronic or logical fault, we can often get the drive running again or read the data out,
  • with a damaged file system, we recover the data even from a drive that “will not open”,
  • with a more serious fault, we tell you honestly what the realistic chance is, before doing anything at all.

Let us be honest: it is not always possible to save everything, especially with a severe mechanical fault. But until someone tries, the chance is always zero. And that is exactly why it is worth bringing the drive in.

Bring it to us and we will take a look

If your external drive, USB stick or memory card has stopped working, do not experiment and bring them to us. We will run diagnostics and tell you what can be done. With valuable data, any attempt is better than giving up without anyone even taking a look.