WD External Hard Drive Data Recovery: Recover Files from WD Drive

Can You Recover Data from a WD External Hard Drive

WD external hard drive data recovery is often possible if the lost data has not been overwritten by new files and the drive can be read by data recovery software.

The WD hard drive recovery method depends on the cause of data loss:

How to Recover Data From WD External Hard Disk

Way 1. Check the WD Drive’s Recycle Bin Folder

When files are deleted from an external hard drive, Windows may move them to a hidden folder named $RECYCLE.BIN on that drive instead of removing them permanently.

To check this folder:

Step 1. Connect the WD external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2. Open File Explorer, go to the View tab, and enable Hidden items.

Step 3. Open the WD drive and locate the $RECYCLE.BIN folder.

Step 4. Find your deleted files and restore them to another location.

If the $RECYCLE.BIN folder does not contain the deleted files, or the files were permanently deleted, formatted, or removed using methods that bypass the Recycle Bin, use data recovery software instead.

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Way 2. Utilize MiniTool Power Data Recovery

MiniTool Power Data Recovery supports WD external hard drive data recovery, SanDisk file recovery, Seagate hard drive restoration, Canon digital camera photo recovery, and so on.

Moreover, it supports a diversity of file loss situations, from direct file deletion to file loss caused by file system corruption, virus infection, power outages, and more. It works well on almost all Windows versions, including Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 8.

For the first time using MiniTool Power Data Recovery to perform WD external hard drive data recovery, you can download and install its free edition. This edition allows you to recover 1 GB of files for free.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Now, follow the instructions below to get your data back.

Step 1. Connect the Western Digital external hard disk to your computer via a USB port.

Step 2. Launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free. Then its main interface will be displayed along with all the hard drive partitions on your computer under the Logical Drives section. What you should do is to find and select the target WD hard disk partition which is marked with a USB icon and hit the Scan button to start scanning for deleted files.

There are also two other options you can opt to scan for deleted files.

• Devices: Under this category list, all connected hard disks on your computer are displayed. If you want to scan files in multiple partitions of the entire disk at once, you can go to this tab and select the whole disk to scan.
• Recover From Specific Location: In this section, you will be able to scan the external hard disk Recycle Bin or a specific folder individually for deleted files. This is a good option to reduce the scanning time.

No matter which option you choose, you need to wait patiently until the scan process is completed automatically to get the optimal scan results.

Step 3. After scanning, you can expand each folder under Path to locate the desired files. Moreover, there is another category list where all found items are classified by file type and data format – Type. You can move on to this tab to browse through all the files and find the needed ones.

Furthermore, the Filter and Search features are also helpful for narrowing down the file list. The former enables you to set up filtering rules including file type, file modification date, file size, and file category to filter out unnecessary files. The latter allows you to search for a specific file with its partial or complete file name.

Step 4. Finally, go back to the scanning results window and check whether all needed files are ticked. If so, hit the Save button in the bottom right corner and then choose a desired location different from the original one to store them.

Way 3. Use WD Digital Data Recovery Service

If your WD device is covered by a Western Digital Data Recovery Plan, you may be able to use its professional recovery service.

Western Digital currently states that its Data Recovery Plan is provided in partnership with Ontrack. Depending on the plan and applicable terms, it includes an in-lab recovery attempt and shipping to and from Ontrack. Availability is tied to qualifying products and Western Digital Store purchases, and limitations apply.

This option is particularly relevant when:

• The drive has physical damage.
• The drive makes abnormal noises.
• The drive cannot be detected by Windows.
• Software-based recovery cannot access the drive.
• The lost files are extremely important, and you do not want to risk further damage.

Check the current eligibility and terms for your specific WD product before sending the drive for recovery.

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How to Fix WD External Hard Drive Not Working

After recovering files using the WD external hard drive data recovery software, some of you may need some methods to repair the damaged disk in order to restore the normal function of the disk. For this requirement, we have collected some effective and simple disk repair approaches for your reference.

Fix 1. Check the Disk for File System Errors

Disk failures are often caused by file system errors. Multiple ways can be used to check and repair a corrupted or damaged file system. Here we will introduce two methods to you.

Method 1. Use the Error-Checking Tool

Windows is equipped with a built-in error-checking tool designed to detect and repair errors related to disk file systems. Here are the steps to run it.

Step 1. Make sure the WD external hard drive is well connected to your computer. Then press the Windows + E key combination to access File Explorer.

Step 2. Go to the This PC section from the left menu bar, and then right-click your disk and choose Properties.

Step 3. Switch to the Tools tab, and then hit the Check button.

Method 2. Use MiniTool Partition Wizard

MiniTool Partition Wizard is a professional all-in-one partition manager. It also has the ability to verify file system integrity and repair file system errors. If the repair process in File Explorer fails, you can use this free partition magic to repair your disk for free.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to get its home page.

Step 2. Select the partition you need to check for file system errors, then scroll down the left toolbar and choose Check File System.

Step 3. In the pop-up window, opt to check for file system errors only or check and fix detected errors. After that, hit Start and wait for the process to complete.

Fix 2. Format the External Hard Disk

Disk formatting is a process of removing all files on the disk and reallocating the disk space. Formatting your disk is a good choice to repair hard drive logical errors including file system failures. If you have recovered the needed files, you can now format the disk for reuse.

It is easy to format an external hard drive in File Explorer:

1. In File Explorer, right-click the WD disk and choose Format.
2. Next, specify the needed parameters including file system, allocation unit size, etc., tick the Quick Format option, and then hit Start.

Also, you can employ MiniTool Partition Wizard to format your disk with ease. The Format Partition feature in this partition management tool is free to use.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Fix 3. Create a New Partition

Sometimes your WD external hard drive may become unallocated and not show up in Windows Explorer, thereby being unable to store files. In this case, as long as you have recovered files from unallocated space, you can feel free to create new partitions on the disk for data storage.

You can easily partition an external hard drive from Disk Management or by using MiniTool Partition Wizard.

Related Post: Fix External Hard Drive Shows Unallocated and Recover Data

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How to Prevent WD External Hard Drive Data Loss/Disk Corruption

In addition to recovering files from Western Digital external hard drive, taking measures to prevent data loss or disk corruption from happening again is also important for keeping data integrity and disk functioning. Listed below are some preventative measures for your reference.

• Always make copies of your files to another external hard drive or cloud storage space. In case of data loss, you can easily restore your data from backup files.
• Set a password for your external hard disk or significant files to prevent unauthorized access or random data deletion and disk formatting.
• Use hard drive temperature monitor software to track the disk temperature to prevent data loss or disk damage caused by continued high temperature.
• Do not insert your disk into an untrusted computer or other digital device in case of virus infection or data leakage.
• Use the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media option while removing your external hard disk.
• Reduce the frequent plugging and unplugging of your external hard disk to extend its lifespan.
• Keep your hard drive away from moisture, open flames, and dust to reduce the risk of disk damage.
• Choose a quality external hard drive that has strong durability and reliability.

Bottom Line

To sum up, with MiniTool Power Data Recovery at hand, you can easily complete WD external hard drive data recovery without worrying about the safety of the original files and the storage device. Also, by following the approaches listed above, you should be able to restore your corrupted disk to a functioning state. What’s more, the outlined preventative tips can help you protect your disk and data.

If you encounter any errors or have any questions while using MiniTool software, please send an email to [email protected] for assistance.