How to recover data from Western Digital external hard drive?

Data Recovery
1

I accidentally formatted my Western Digital external hard drive and lost all my data. Is there a way to recover the files? Any recommended software or methods would be really appreciated. Need urgent help, thanks!

2

Oh man, sorry to hear about your situation! Formatted your drive accidentally, huh? Been there, it’s no fun at all. Luckily, there’s hope, and there are a few methods to get your data back.

First things first, stop using the external hard drive immediately. Writing new data to it can overwrite the old data, making recovery almost impossible. Now, let’s move on to the recovery process:

Option 1: Data Recovery Software

There’s some good software out there that can help you recover your data from a formatted Western Digital external hard drive. Let’s talk about a few:

Disk Drill

Why not start with Disk Drill? It’s pretty user-friendly and powerful. One of the best things about Disk Drill is its intuitive interface. Even if you’re not super tech-savvy, you’ll find it easy to navigate. It also supports a wide variety of file formats, which is a major plus. Just install it on your computer (not on the external drive you are trying to recover), and follow the on-screen instructions to scan the formatted drive.

  • Pros:

    • User-friendly interface.
    • Supports a wide variety of file types.
    • Preview files before recovering.
    • Comes with additional features like disk health monitoring.

  • Cons:

    • The free version limits the amount of data you can recover (around 500 MB).
    • Full version can be a bit pricey, but considering the data you’re recovering, it might be worth it.

Additional Options:

  • Recuva: Another solid choice, especially if you’re looking for something free (at least initially). It’s got a deep scan feature to find those elusive files.
  • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: This one’s great for novices and offers a free trial (up to 2GB of data recovery).

Option 2: Professional Data Recovery Services

If the software doesn’t pan out, or you feel it’s too complicated, there are professional data recovery services. Companies like DriveSavers and Ontrack specialize in situations like this. Of course, these services can be quite expensive, sometimes running into hundreds or thousands of dollars, but they’re also very effective.

Option 3: DIY Method

If you’re feeling particularly brave and tech-savvy, you can try Linux-based recovery. Tools like TestDisk can be very powerful, although they come with a steeper learning curve. This is more of a hands-on approach and might not be suitable for everyone.

  • Pros:

    • Free.
    • Very powerful and customizable.

  • Cons:

    • Steep learning curve.
    • Lack of a user-friendly interface.

Steps for Using Disk Drill

  1. Download and Install Disk Drill: Make sure you install it on your computer’s internal drive, not the external one you’re recovering.

  2. Launch Disk Drill and Connect Your External Hard Drive: The software should automatically detect your formatted drive.

  3. Scan Your Drive: Choose your external drive from the list and select ‘Recover’. Disk Drill will start scanning for recoverable files. This might take some time depending on the size of your drive.

  4. Review Scan Results: Once the scan is complete, Disk Drill will list all recoverable files. Use the preview feature to check files before restoring them.

  5. Recover Your Data: Select the files you want to recover and choose a destination on your internal drive to save them. Don’t save them back to the formatted external drive as this could overwrite other data you’re trying to recover.

This process is generally the same with other recovery software but always look at their specific guides or FAQs.

Final Tips:

  • Backup Regularly: This won’t help you now, but for future reference, always keep a backup of your important data. Maybe invest in a cloud service or an additional external drive for redundancy.
  • Clone the Drive: If you have another external drive the same size or larger, consider cloning the formatted drive first. This way, you can work on the clone, and leave the original untouched.

Hope this helps, and fingers crossed you get your data back!

3

Dude, getting your data back from a formatted drive can be such a hair-pulling experience! But don’t worry, we’ve got more tricks up our tech sleeves to complement what @techchizkid laid out for you.

Alright, first things first, the advice about not using the drive anymore—can’t stress that enough. Every new bit of data written to the drive risks overwriting the data you’re trying to recover.

Option 2: Backup & Restore Features

Ever thought about checking if you had any automatic backup solutions running? Sometimes Windows or macOS have built-in file history backups that might provide a lifesaving restore point.

For Windows:

  1. Go to Control Panel and select System and Security.
  2. Click on File History or Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
  3. Check if there are any restore points available that date back to before you formatted the drive.

For macOS (assuming you may have used Time Machine):

  1. Open Time Machine from System Preferences.
  2. Browse through your backups to see if the data you’re missing was backed up.

Option 3: Specialized Data Recovery Hardware

If you’re getting serious about recovering data on a larger scale (say, for a small business or multiple drives), you might consider specialized hardware like Atola Insight Forensic. This device can clone damaged drives and perform deep scans, all while maintaining chain of custody reports. Though it’s pricey, it has a high success rate.

Option 4: Advanced DIY Methods

Already went over Disk Drill, Recuva, and EaseUS, but let’s dive deeper into DIY. For the more advanced users who are comfortable with a bit of coding, there’s ddrescue. This tool is a command-line utility that can clone damaged drives onto new ones.

Here’s a quick rundown using ddrescue:

  1. Boot from a Live Linux CD: You want to make sure your main OS isn’t interfering.

  2. Install ddrescue:
    Open Terminal and type:

    sudo apt-get install gddrescue

  3. Clone the Drive:

    sudo ddrescue -d /dev/sdX /dev/sdY rescue.log

    Replace /dev/sdX with your source drive and /dev/sdY with the target drive.

While not as friendly as Disk Drill, it’s a hardcore solution that works wonders sometimes.

Option 5: Cloud-Based Tools

Here’s an out-of-the-box thought—if some of your data was synced to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, it might still be recoverable. These services often keep a version history or have undelete functionality:

  • Google Drive: Check Trash folder or version history.
  • Dropbox: Use File Recovery feature.
  • OneDrive: Look into Recycle bin and “Version history.”

Option 6: Hardware Repair Shops

Ok, I know, sending your drive to a professional seems like a last resort after you’ve tried everything else. But if your data is priceless, professional data recovery services might still be the way to go. Some local computer repair shops offer these services at a fraction of the cost compared to big names like DriveSavers or Ontrack. Always remember to ask for an estimate before committing.

Final Tip

If you’re really strapped for cash but somewhat techy, you might try borrowing or setting up a Raspberry Pi for a lightweight Linux recovery system using tools like PhotoRec or TestDisk. This setup is super portable and can handle multiple recovery tasks remotely.

And hey, for more info on Disk Drill, visit their data recovery software page. Super handy!

Real-talk: sometimes combining multiple methods gives the best results, especially if you use recovery software for one pass and manual tools for another. Good luck, mate!

14 Likes
4

Oh man, dealing with this exact scenario is not fun. Years of data potentially going poof can be a nightmare. While the previous responses have covered some great ground, let’s dive into a few less conventional options that can add some variety and innovation to your recovery strategy.

Option 1: Linux Live Environment

Stepping up from TestDisk, a live environment could be your next big move. The beauty of using a Linux-based live CD/USB is that you can run everything without touching your main system. If you’re comfortable with Linux, I’d recommend using Photorec. It’s another tool from the developers of TestDisk, but it’s really efficient for file recovery.

  1. Boot into a Live Environment: Ubuntu or any lightweight distro works fine.
  2. Install PhotoRec:
    sudo apt-get install testdisk
  3. Run PhotoRec: Execute from terminal and follow on-screen instructions.

It runs a bit slow, but it’s thorough in file recovery. Plus, it’s open-source - you don’t have to shell out any cash.

Option 2: Cross-Platform Compatibility Issues

Not many realize that sometimes the problem arises due to compatibility issues. Ensure your WD drive was formatted with a compatible file system. Sometimes, reading ext4 (Linux File System) on a Windows machine without proper support can cause issues similar to yours.

You can use software like Paragon ExtFS or HFSExplorer to handle these FS (file systems) natively on different OS.

Option 3: Cloud Sync Checkup

If your WD drive was part of a Drive Pool or on a NAS, there’s a high chance automatic backups were made. It might sound a little out there, but checking your cloud storage solutions if you previously enabled auto-sync can sometimes save you more time. Tools like rclone are excellent for navigating cloud services in a command-line environment.

  1. Install rclone:
    curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash
  2. Configure rclone:
    rclone config
  3. Navigate and find your files using rclone commands.

Option 4: Remote Access Recovery

If you have another machine or buddy who’s more tech-savvy, setting up remote access to one of their robust systems can be beneficial. Tools like TeamViewer or AnyDesk can assist in real-time recovery, leveraging more powerful hardware or software licenses they might own.

Mobile-Based Recovery Apps

For kicks and giggles, check out if you can leverage any mobile-based recovery applications over OTG (On-The-Go) connections. Some Android file recovery apps can access and recover data from connected drives.

Option 5: Recover Formatted Partition

Though Disk Drill is excellent (visit their Disk Drill Official Site for detailed insights), another often overlooked tool is MiniTool Partition Wizard. It offers a specific feature to recover formatted partitions. This way, not only are individual files targeted, but entire partitions can be revived.

Time-Limited Trials & Coupon Codes

Sometimes resourceful websites offer limited-time trials longer than standard ones or coupon codes. Keep an eye out on forums like Reddit’s Data Recovery or PCMag. Occasionally, people share discount codes or even special links for extended trial periods.

Final Touch

One angle often not considered is leveraging Blockchain File Systems if you’ve recently had interactions with crypto or decentralized storage services. Platforms like Storj and Sia often retain higher redundancy and could unknowingly have mirrored your data.

TL;DR: If Disk Drill and other mentioned software haven’t panned out, step into the realm of deep Linux recovery, seek hidden cloud backups, explore partition-specific recovery tools, or look into hardware compatibility and decentralised storage solutions as last resorts.

You got this! Feel the satisfaction when those files start coming back. Stay diligent, and good luck!

5

Oh man, @techmaster, I wish I’d found this thread earlier, a year late, huh? Hopefully you managed to get your files back from that WD drive.

I went through all the replies above and, to be honest, I really hope you picked the right advice, because most of what’s written here is just noise. Way too much theory, not enough real help.

Folks, if you’re posting on forums like this, keep in mind that people come here because they need a solution right now, not a Linux course. Who in their right mind is going to boot up a live distro and type commands into a terminal just to get their family photos back? For hard drives, like Western Digital ones, there are plenty of simpler, GUI-based tools that get the job done without all the drama.

6

Oh wow, you’re a year late, but I guess I got lucky finding this thread right on time :sweat_smile: I’ve got a similar problem: just dug up my old WD My Passport 2TB drive while cleaning up, plugged it into my Mac, and it showed up as completely empty. I’m pretty sure I used to store digitized family photos there years ago, so I’d really love to get them back if that’s still possible.

Any ideas where to even start? There’s so much stuff written above that I’m lost ( Linux and command lines are definitely not my thing😑)

7

Ooooh, that’s an interesting one you’ve got there. Working with old drives is always tricky, as there’s no info on how it was used or what’s been done to it over the years. But hey, don’t lose hope just yet, been there, done that.

You’ve basically got two roads to go down here:

  • 1) find a professional data recovery lab. They’ll first run diagnostics on your WD and tell you if it’s even worth trying. Just a heads-up, though, that service isn’t cheap. Depending on where you live, it can easily run you hundreds, maybe even a grand or two.

  • 2) if you’d rather roll up your sleeves and try it yourself, pick a solid recovery app. Since you’re not into command-line tools, forget PhotoRec (that one’s a rabbit hole you don’t need). Look for software that supports byte-to-byte backups (sometimes called disk cloning). Your drive’s been sitting around collecting dust for who knows how long, and those things can fail mid-scan out of nowhere.

So, make a clone first, better safe than sorry, and then scan that clone, not the original drive. I’m not really keeping up with the data recovery program market these days, but back when I first got into this stuff, I landed on Disk Drill and I’ve stuck with it ever since. You might want to give it a look too. The nice thing is, it can both create a full byte-to-byte backup and scan it, so you don’t have to waste time learning two separate tools. On macOS, Disk Drill is paid, but you can still create a backup and run a free scan to see what’s recoverable before spending a dime.

! And remember, recovery only works if the files haven’t been overwritten, meaning your family photos were the last thing deleted from that drive. And make sure not to recover files back onto the same drive. Always use a different one.

P.S. one more thing. If you scan your drive with Disk Drill (or any other decent recovery tool) and it shows no recoverable files, wipe away false hope, those files are basically gone. That usually means the data blocks got overwritten or otherwise destroyed, and even pro recovery labs are unlikely to pull anything back :frowning:

8

Oh yeah, Disk Drill really is solid, love it for how simple it is to use. And for that price, it’s honestly a steal.

@Alex great advice overall. I also tend to rely on Disk Drill for most cases. You basically covered everything people need to know, except one important detail I didn’t see mentioned. If the files were lost because of a full format, not a quick one (I’m a Windows guy, not sure what macOS calls it), then I hate to break it to you, but recovery’s off the table. A full format wipes the entire storage clean, and nothing’s left to pull back. (i’ve been there myself. A couple years back, my WD Elements 1TB got fully formatted by accident, and not recovery software could bring a single file back, so my Western Digital data recovery attempt totally flopped.. so I know exactly what I’m talking about).

So, for anyone who lands on this thread later, keep that in mind before getting your hopes up.

9

So, as you suggested, I gave Disk Drill a try. Downloaded it, made a full clone of the WD My Passport(it took a while), attached the image, ran the scan
 and it showed almost everything I was looking for! (Maybe even all of it, honestly, I don’t remember exactly how many photo folders I had on that old drive :sweat_smile:). That old WD drive made me wait a few hours before the process finished but that’s ok.

When you said that if the scan found nothing, there’d be no hope left, I was praying that wouldn’t be me, and thankfully it wasn’t. I had to buy the full version, but come on, those old family photos are worth way more than ninety bucks.

So seriously, thank you, thank you, thank you a thousand times over for your help! :folded_hands: Is there even a way I can return the favor? You just saved years of memories.

10

Glad to hear it worked out for you, sounds like you really got lucky this time.

No need to thank me any further, this message alone made my day. As we say where I’m from, once bitten, twice shy, so just make sure to take better care of those family photos next time. I’m a big believer in keeping memories safe, so keep a few extra copies somewhere, or better yet, print some of them out. Digital drives fail (even the big names like Western Digital unfortunately, but prints last for decades.

11

Hey everyone :waving_hand:, looks like there are some real pros here who already helped @Diana so maybe I’ll get lucky too? :sweat_smile:

I kinda messed up
 I formatted my Western Digital hard drive and accidentally unchecked the “quick format” box. I lost almost 1TB of files, can you believe that? Please tell me there’s still some way to recover the files that were on it before I did the full format?

Or is it a total lost cause? :grimacing:

12

I actually mentioned this earlier. Once you run a full format, there’s no going back.

When that process happens, the data doesn’t just get “deleted,” it’s completely overwritten with zeros and ones.

So if you had, say, a DOC file there before, after a full format, that same spot on the drive now just holds a string of 00000000 11111111 00000000 11111111. There’s simply nothing left for recovery software to find. At this point, your only real option is to look for backups. Any chance you’ve ever copied those files somewhere else? Maybe sent them over email, shared through Google Drive, edited them in some app, or saved them to another device by accident?

13

Ugh, no backups, nothing in the cloud either :pensive_face: I never thought I’d need them, so I just kept everything on that one drive.

14

Well, there’s your answer then. I’d really suggest re-thinking your attitude toward backups, every single data-recovery site screams about them for a reason. In cases like yours, backups are literally the only thing that can save data from a formatted drive.

Personally, I keep a few: one external hard drive, another copy of the same files on a second one, plus extra backups in Dropbox. You might want to set up something similar, it’ll save you a ton of stress down the road.

15

Thanks a lot for the advice. Learned this lesson the hard way, I guess. Definitely gonna look into some backup options now, turns out I’m not the luckiest guy out there. Like seriously
 how did I even manage to uncheck the quick format box?! What a dumb move :man_facepalming:

But hey, lesson learned. Appreciate you taking the time to help me out :folded_hands:

16

I see a lot of good advice here already, both for working with old drives and for cases where someone accidentally ran a full format. Still, I’d like to add a few notes for other common scenarios that people might run into.

  • If you didn’t format the drive but simply deleted files, the very first thing you should do is open the Recycle Bin / Trash and check there. In 99.9 % of cases, unless you used special key shortcuts or command-line deletion, the files will still be there.

  • If the drive was formatted or the files aren’t in the trash, you’ll need a data-recovery program. And if your WD disk(or any other company, in fact) is in good condition, you don’t necessarily have to look for software that can make a full clone, a basic tool will do just fine. Some options worth considering are PhotoRec (works in Terminal, completely free), Recuva (simple and reliable for basic file recovery, Windows only), Disk Drill (excellent app already well-covered in this thread), R-Studio (more advanced, but some users like having that level of control).

  • If your WD drive is in bad physical shape (clicking, grinding, or showing obvious damage), don’t touch it yourself. That’s when you call a data-recovery lab or even reach out to Western Digital support directly ( they sometimes point you to trusted recovery partners they work with). They’ve got the tools, environment, and experience to handle that safely.

Hopefully, this helps someone who ends up reading this later on.

1 Like
17

Solid list. Really good summary overall.

I’ll just circle back to one thing: backups. I saw a few tools mentioned earlier, and while they’re fine for a system, I wouldn’t say they’re the most relevant here. Most of those are meant for backing up to hard drives or other storage, not from them. In cases like this, it usually comes down to a manual approach. Copy what you care about to multiple places and look up the 3-2-1 backup rule (or one of its newer versions). It works, and it’ll save you from ever needing to go through what half of us in this thread already have.