I'm having serious trouble with my external hard drive. When I plug it in and try to open File Explorer, my PC freezes, and it shows 'Explorer not responding.' Eventually, the drive appears, but it's completely blank with no storage information. When I try to access it, I get an error saying, 'Drive is not accessible. Parameter is incorrect.' I've attached a screenshot from CrystalDiskInfo showing the pending sector count, which is concerning—it's gone from 8 to 20 in just a short time.
I've owned this drive for years and it contains irreplaceable family photos, including some precious videos of my younger brother. I also have important files related to my business that I'm worried about. I know I should have had backups, but I just never got around to it and now I'm regretting it. I'm hesitant about using professional data recovery because of some sensitive information on the drive, but I truly don't want to lose these memories or put my business at risk. What should I do?
4 Answers
It sounds like your drive is failing, and it's important to handle this carefully. I’d recommend stopping any attempts to access it because that can exacerbate the damage. Your best chance of recovering your data is to send it to a professional recovery service; they have the right tools and expertise to retrieve data safely. Also, don’t forget to change your passwords for any sensitive accounts immediately, especially considering the documents on the drive.
I feel for you! Make sure to stop plugging it in, as each time you do, you risk losing more data. As for the passwords, prioritize changing those for critical accounts. For your family videos, a reputable recovery lab is your best bet. Just find one with a good track record for handling sensitive data, and they can likely help without compromising your security.
Totally understand your situation; ADHD can make these responsibilities feel even heavier. The increasing pending sector count indicates your drive is deteriorating, meaning the more you try accessing it, the higher the chance for total loss. Don't try to recover it yourself anymore. Secure your business information by changing passwords, and look for professional help to recover those cherished family memories.
Your data is indeed vital, and I really feel for you. Make sure you unplug the drive for now to avoid further risk, and prioritize changing your passwords. A data recovery specialist might be the safest way to retrieve important files while ensuring your information remains private. You’ve got this; let the pros handle it!
Are there really professionals who can guarantee the safe recovery of sensitive data? I don't want to risk losing everything because of what could be on my drive.