How to fix a broken hard drive on Windows

When your external hard drive fails to show up in File Explorer or is acting strangely, there's a chance the issue is linked to a software glitch or drive letter conflict. That means you'll have trouble accessing your files.

Thankfully, there are several potential fixes to explore before concluding that the drive needs to be replaced entirely. According to our experts at Which? Tech Support, various Windows tools such as Disk Management and CHKDSK can help resolve the issue.

Below, we run through the steps to diagnose and resolve the issue without spending money on a professional repair service.

Already a Tech Support member? For more help and 1-2-1 technical advice, including buying advice, go to our .

Each month, we feature one of the most popular questions answered by our Tech Support team.

Question of the month: My external hard drive isn't working. What should I do?

'I have an external hard drive full of files. I’ve plugged it into my Windows laptop, but it’s acting strangely and doesn’t appear in File Explorer. I’ve tried different USB ports with no success – it seems to be faulty.

'How can I get my external hard drive working again?'

Which? Tech Support member

Our expert says:

'There are various methods you can try to fix the drive if the issue is software-related. However, if the drive has a hardware fault, such as making clicking or grinding noises, it’s best to replace it as soon as possible.

'Traditional mechanical drives (HDDs) typically last between three and five years, while solid-state drives (SSDs) can last around 107 years.'

Conor Houlihan, Technical Support Advisor at Which? Tech Support

Recovering your files

Step 1: Back up your data

If you can access the data on your drive at any point before attempting to fix it, it’s best to make a backup before proceeding. A simple copy and paste to your computer or another hard drive will suffice.

Assuming you’re unable to access the drive through File Explorer and the data is important, it’s best to clone the drive, if possible, to another empty drive before attempting any repairs. The second drive should be the same size as the faulty one.

To clone your drive, do this:

Macrium Reflect

Install Macrium by running the downloaded file.

Macriumproblem driveClone this disk

In the window that appears, select the other empty drive. Make sure you've chosen the correct one, as the cloning process will erase all data on the destination drive.

NextFinish OK 

Step 2: Run the Disk Management tool

You can check whether Windows is recognising your faulty external drive at the system level using the Disk Management tool.

To run Disk Management, do this:

Start menuDisk Management

Look through the list of drives that appear in the bottom section of the window. Check to see if your external drive shows in the list – it should be identifiable by its size.

right-click its partitionChange Drive Letter and PathsAddOKFile ExplorerRAW unallocatedIf your current machine is running slow and it's beyond the help of our tips on , our experts round up the  to make upgrading a breeze

Step 3. Check hard drive health

Most hard drives come with SMART status built in (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology). This system monitors various attributes of the drive to assess its overall health. It can help detect signs of failure early and might even identify issues before the drive becomes unusable.

undefinedundefined

To use the tool, do this:

 Disk

The tool will provide a health status and a breakdown of attributes that can help identify the source of the problem if the drive’s health is low.

Below, we've explained the key terminology related to sectors, which are the physical divisions of the drive where data is stored.

Step 4: Check for firmware updates

Most manufacturers provide firmware updates for their external hard drives. These can potentially fix or patch bugs that might cause issues, such as inaccessibility.

To access firmware updates, you can either visit the manufacturer’s website or use its dedicated update tool. Download and run the software to upgrade the firmware, then reboot and check the drive again.

Seagate Western DigitalSamsung 

Step 5: Run CHKDSK (check disk)

Windows has a built-in tool called CHKDSK (Check Disk) that can analyse hard drive errors and run repairs automatically. It can be a lifesaver for dealing with (non-physical) faults on your hard drive.

To try it for yourself, do this:

Windows keyEThis PCPropertiesTools Check  Error checkingScan drive

Step 6: Try advanced software repair

Victoria

This is a fantastic, free tool that scans your external hard drive for slow or potentially damaged sectors.

ExtractVictoriaTest and RepairIgnore modeScan Remap Scan Refresh mode Scan

Test disk

RAW unallocated Disk Management No LogEnterEnterEnter Analyse Quick searchP EnterWriteYes News, deals and stuff the manuals don't tell you. 

Step 7: Reformat your drive

So long as the drive shows as healthy within CrystalDiskInfo and data on the drive has been backed up, then the issue may be related to corrupted formatting. In that case, reformatting the drive can often resolve the issue. 

Do be aware that this will wipe your data, so if you can back up your drive but haven't done so, you need to do this before you reformat it.

To reformat your external hard drive, do this:

Windows keyCommand PromptRun as administratordiskpart Enterlist disk Enter select disk xclean Enter Start menuDisk ManagementNew Simple Volume

Once complete, the drive should be available in File Explorer and ready to use.

Join Which? Tech Support

Which? Tech Support can help you keep on top of your home tech. Our experts explain things clearly so you can resolve issues and feel more confident using your devices.

Get unlimited 1-2-1 expert support:

By remote fixBy phone By email In print Which? TechYou can .

source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-to-fix-a-broken-hard-drive-aW7pd8V88Fjy