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Is It Possible to Recover Deleted Files From an External Hard Drive?

By Leo Eigenberg

The use of an external hard drive for storing data is popular for a variety of reasons. It makes it possible to save a large volume of business or personal information (documents, songs, movies, pictures, etc.) without taking up the standard space on the PC or laptop. Plus, the external hard drive is portable which makes it possible to travel with and use with virtually any laptop with the right connection port.

But, even though the external hard drive is great for storing the extra data, there is the risk of data loss similar to any other storage device.

What happens to lost files?

Most of the external drives have no recycle bin like the desktop so once the files are lost or deleted in error they will disappear. However, even if the delete key is used, this does not mean the file or folder is lost forever. To improve the chance of avoiding permanent data loss, the first thing to do is to stop using the external hard drive. If new data is saved to this device, there is a real risk of suffering from a permanent loss of data. By taking the quick action there is a greater probability of being able to retrieve the important files. The use of free or premium file recovery software is the best course of action to help recover the deleted data.

What are the major causes of file deletion?

Human error – one of the main causes relates to human error and mistakenly deleting a file or folder that is important instead of something that is no longer needed.

Malware attack – any sort of virus like a trojan horse, worm, or other infection can lead to the unwanted removal of files without the user’s knowledge.

Mishandling – using poor operating practices can result in the lost of data. For instance, not ejecting the external hard drive in the proper manner can leave files corrupted or unable to open.

Other Reasons – there are several other reasons that can lead to file deletion, such as a sudden power failure, hardware malfunction, application error, or dropping the storage device.

Using the right file recovery program

In a situation like this, it is essential to put in the time and effort to source a file recovery program that is reliable and gets a lot of praise from users. There are plenty of freeware options that can complete the recovery, as well as numerous premium software programs. It benefits to go online and search for the preferred type of software that gets the most positive reviews and recommendations.

Learn more about the best free data recovery software for safeguarding your important data.

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