Efficient Methods to Retrieve Deleted Files from an External Hard Drive- A Comprehensive Guide

How to Restore Deleted Files from External Hard Drive

In today’s digital age, external hard drives have become an essential tool for storing and transferring large amounts of data. However, accidents can happen, and you might find yourself in a situation where you need to restore deleted files from your external hard drive. Don’t worry; there are several methods you can use to recover your lost data. In this article, we will discuss the steps to restore deleted files from an external hard drive using different methods.

1. Check the Recycle Bin or Trash

The first step in restoring deleted files from an external hard drive is to check the Recycle Bin or Trash on your computer. When you delete a file, it is often moved to the Recycle Bin or Trash instead of being permanently deleted. To do this:

1. Connect your external hard drive to your computer.
2. Open the Recycle Bin or Trash folder.
3. Look for the deleted files in the list of files.
4. Right-click on the deleted files and select “Restore.”

If you find the deleted files in the Recycle Bin or Trash, you can restore them to their original location on the external hard drive.

2. Use File Recovery Software

If the deleted files are not in the Recycle Bin or Trash, you can use file recovery software to restore them. There are many free and paid file recovery tools available, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Stellar Data Recovery. Here’s how to use file recovery software:

1. Download and install a file recovery tool on your computer.
2. Connect your external hard drive to your computer.
3. Open the file recovery software and select your external hard drive as the location to scan for deleted files.
4. Start the scanning process and wait for the software to complete.
5. Once the scan is complete, browse through the list of deleted files and select the ones you want to recover.
6. Click on the “Recover” button and choose a location on your computer to save the recovered files.

3. Restore from Backup

If you have a backup of your external hard drive, you can restore the deleted files from the backup. This method is effective if you regularly back up your data. To restore from backup:

1. Connect your external hard drive to your computer.
2. Open the backup software you use.
3. Select the backup file that contains the deleted files.
4. Choose the deleted files you want to restore.
5. Specify the location on your external hard drive where you want to restore the files.
6. Start the restore process and wait for it to complete.

4. Contact Professional Data Recovery Services

If none of the above methods work, you may need to contact professional data recovery services. These services have advanced tools and expertise to recover deleted files from damaged or corrupted external hard drives. However, this method can be expensive, and there is no guarantee that your data will be recovered.

In conclusion, restoring deleted files from an external hard drive can be done using various methods, including checking the Recycle Bin or Trash, using file recovery software, restoring from backup, or contacting professional data recovery services. It’s important to act quickly and avoid using the external hard drive after the deletion to increase the chances of successful data recovery.