How To Recover Formatted External Hard Drive Using Cmd

Introduction

Accidentally formatting an external hard drive can lead to the loss of valuable data. However, with the right tools and knowledge, it is possible to recover your files. One of the methods to recover data from a formatted external hard drive is using Command Prompt (Cmd). In this article, we will guide you through the steps to recover formatted external hard drive using Cmd.

Steps to Recover Formatted External Hard Drive Using Cmd

Below are the steps you can follow to recover data from a formatted external hard drive using Cmd:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: To begin the data recovery process, you need to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges. This will give you the necessary permissions to execute commands.
2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator: Right-click on the Start button and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu. Alternatively, you can search for “Command Prompt” in the Windows search bar, right-click on it, and choose “Run as administrator.”
3. Identify the Drive Letter: Once Command Prompt is open, you need to identify the drive letter of your formatted external hard drive. You can do this by typing “diskpart” and pressing Enter. Then, type “list volume” and hit Enter to see a list of available drives and their corresponding letters.
4. Enter DiskPart and Volume Information: Type the following command in Command Prompt:

   select volume X

   Replace X with the letter of your formatted external hard drive.

5. Recover Data on Formatted External Hard Drive: To recover data from the formatted external hard drive, you can use the “attrib” command to change the attributes of the files. Type the following command in Command Prompt:

   attrib -h -r -s /s /d F:\*.*

   Replace F with the drive letter of your external hard drive.

6. Check Recovered Files: After executing the command, check your external hard drive to see if the recovered files are visible. You should now be able to access and recover your lost data.

Tips for Successful Data Recovery

Recovering data from a formatted external hard drive can be a complex process. Here are some tips to increase the chances of successful data recovery:

• Stop Using the Drive: To prevent overwriting of data, stop using the formatted external hard drive immediately after formatting. Continued use can make data recovery more challenging.
• Do Not Install Data Recovery Software on the Same Drive: Installing data recovery software on the formatted external hard drive can overwrite the deleted files and reduce the chances of recovery. Install the software on a different drive.
• Back Up Recovered Files: Once you have successfully recovered your data, make sure to back up the files on another storage device to prevent data loss in the future.
• Use Professional Data Recovery Services: If you are unable to recover your data using Cmd or other methods, consider seeking help from professional data recovery services. They have the expertise and tools to recover data from formatted drives.

Conclusion

Recovering data from a formatted external hard drive using Cmd is possible with the right approach and tools. By following the steps outlined in this article and taking necessary precautions, you can increase the chances of successfully recovering your lost files. Remember to back up your data regularly to prevent data loss in the future.