I've recently discovered that all my Photoshop files (PSDs) on my five-year-old external hard drive are suddenly unreadable. I'm a bit worried because although I still have the JPEG versions of the graphics I created, I'm concerned that my other files such as PDFs and HTML documents might be in danger, too. I did back them up onto two newer drives last year, but is there a chance those files could also be at risk? What should I do?
5 Answers
Have you checked the SMART system on your drive? It could provide some insights into its health.
It might be file corruption, so definitely transfer everything to a new disk as soon as you can to avoid any further data loss. Make sure to check if it’s a compatibility issue with Photoshop – you could try reinstalling the software or resetting preferences. There are also online converters like Photopea that might help you recover some PSDs, and file repair tools like Secure Recovery could be worth looking into.
Thanks for the tips! I didn't know about the maximize compatibility option when saving PSDs.
Since I backed my PDFs, HTMLs, and JPEGs to a new drive, does that mean they’re safe from corruption?
Your JPEGs should be safe for now, but definitely keep an eye on those PSDs. Transferring files to backup drives was smart! Just remember to regularly check your hard drive health and maintain multiple backups of important files to safeguard your work.
I’d strongly recommend moving all your files off that problematic drive to one that you know is functioning properly. Don't take any chances with it!
I transferred my files last year, but noticed they were already failing on the new drive too, it’s worrying!
When you mention that the files 'failed', can you elaborate on what happens when you try to open them? Are you seeing error messages or something else?
The icons have turned into blank sheets, and they're tiny in size. When I try to open them, it just prompts me with an 'open with' message, but nothing works.
What exactly is the SMART system?