A thumb drive may be the most common type of external storage in the modern world. It’s small, portable, and a perfect fit for so many different uses. But like all technologies, thumb drives have their downsides as well.
While they’re great for transferring data between devices, they aren’t exactly waterproof. So if you’re clumsy enough to drop your drive in a puddle, your data could be at risk.
That’s why it’s important to back up all your important files. Even if your thumb drive gets damaged from water damage, you can still retrieve your data. Here are tips for external hard drive data recovery in case of damage.
Back up all your data
The first step in external hard drive data recovery is to back up all your data. It’s important to keep both local and offsite backups of your data, so if one method fails, you still have access to it. That way, if you drop your thumb drive in a puddle and the file was on there this time, you can still restore your files from an online backup or a backup on another device.
Take immediate action
The first thing you should do in the event of a data loss is to contact an expert. This will allow you to get immediate help and be ready for any outside factors that may have contributed to the situation. Data recovery experts know how to handle external hard drive data recovery in case of damage so that you can have your files back as soon as possible.
Try running a data recovery tool
If you happen to have the same make and model of a thumb drive, the simplest way to retrieve the data is with a data recovery tool. You can purchase a tool online or at most electronics stores.
When you install the software on your computer, it will find all your files that are still accessible on your device. This is probably the best option for transferring large amounts of data in an emergency situation.
Consider recovering your drive from a secondary location
If you’re lucky enough to have backup copies of your files, then recovering your drive from a secondary location is the best course of action. The first step is to remove the hard drive from its damaged environment and place it in a container filled with uncooked rice. This will help dry out any moisture on the drive. Ideally, this process should be done as quickly as possible so that you can prevent any further damage. Once you’ve confirmed that your drive is dry, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove any residual rice particles and particles of damaged insulation material from both sides of the drive.
Next, plug your thumb drive into a computer and open it in File Explorer or Disk Management. You’ll want to copy any important files off onto another storage device and then delete them from the original hard disk.
Conclusion
In the event that your external hard drive crashes, it can be frustrating to find out that no one can recover your data. You may feel like you’ve lost all your important documents or photos. In this blog post, we will share three tips on how to recover data from an external hard drive in case of damage. First and foremost, back up all your data. Secondly, take immediate action to stop any further damage to your data and third, try running a data recovery tool. If you are unable to find a way to recover the data, please contact us for assistance.