Jun 24, 2023 Table of contents
If you were asked, what things could you mention as being delicate? Well, you would probably think of eggs, glasses, and ceramics, things that would break if they were dropped. However, another delicate thing that also tends to get damaged is dropped hard drive. Hard drives are very sensitive to a drop. A slight bump could even cause significant problems on the hard drive.
Backup you didn’t know you had
Sometimes, you may not even realize that your files have already been backed up. For instance, if you’re using a Windows computer, OneDrive may already be backing up your files to the cloud without you even realizing it. Similarly, if you’re using an Apple product, your files may be automatically backed up to iCloud. If you’re lucky enough to have your files backed up in the cloud, you will be able to download them.
Valuable data? Contact recovery experts
Here is why contact data recovery experts if you don’t have a backup, but your data is valuable. When a hard drive is dropped, the read/write heads that fly above the platters can suffer severe damage. These heads operate with a clearance of as little as 3 nanometers. A drop can cause the heads to become mangled or bent. If the hard drive is plugged in to check if it still works, the read/write heads could damage/scratch the platters with information. It’s best to seek the help of a professional data recovery service. Data recovery engineers have the expertise and specialized equipment to recover your data safely.
Dropped hard drive causing clicking noises
If your hard drive is making a clicking noise when you turn it on, it’s a clear sign that the read/write heads are damaged. Continuing to use the drive could cause further damage to the platters, leading to permanent data loss. In such cases, data recovery experts can often find a “donor” drive with similar specifications and swap the damaged parts to temporarily make the hard drive work again, allowing them to extract the data safely. However, swapping the heads without proper tools and equipment is almost impossible and could cause further damage to the drive. This is why seeking professional data recovery services is essential when valuable data is at risk. You can read more about it in the article clicking hard drive.
Dropped hard drive causing a beeping noise
If you hear a beeping or buzzing noise from your hard drive, it could be due to two reasons. The first is that the spindle has gotten stuck, preventing the hard drive from spinning properly. When the hard drive tries to spin, it produces a buzzing noise. The second possibility is that the read/write heads are stuck on the platters. The heads have a designated “parking area” where they are placed when the hard drive is turned off. However, in the event of a drop or impact, the heads can become stuck in the middle of the platters, causing a buzzing noise when the drive tries to spin up. You can read more about buzzing or beeping noises coming from the hard drive in a separate article.
Broken or bent hard drive connector
If you’ve dropped your hard drive while the cable was inside the port, the port may become bent or damaged. Fortunately, most external hard drives are composed of the actual hard drive and a controller board. To recover data, you can open the external enclosure, remove the controller board, and connect the hard drive directly to the motherboard. Another option is to purchase a SATA/IDE to USB adapter.
Using data recovery software after drop
If you drop your hard drive, avoid searching for online software that promises to repair it. Dropped hard drives suffer physical damage, not logical issues that can be solved by software. You can try scanning your hard drive using data recovery software, but most of the time when a drive is dropped, it causes damaged areas or bad sectors on the drive that software cannot deal with. Physical problems like this require professional data recovery services.
If you still choose to scan your hard drive, remember that it must be detected by the system before it can be scanned. Check your disk management in Windows or disk utility if you are using Apple products to ensure that your hard drive is recognized by the system.
New drive or warranty replacement
If you’ve found a backup or were able to recover your lost data, it’s highly recommended that you purchase a new hard drive or replace the damaged one if it’s still under the manufacturer’s warranty. Never use a damaged hard drive, even if you were able to fix it. It’s no longer a reliable backup source.
FAQ
Dropping a hard drive can cause damage to its read/write heads and the platters that store the data. The severity of the damage depends on the height from which the hard drive was dropped, the surface it landed on, and whether the hard drive was turned on or not at the time of the impact.
Yes! Data can usually be recovered as long as the platters holding the information are not damaged. However, the recovery process may result in partial or unrecoverable data if they are scratched or damaged.
The steps to fix a fallen hard drive depend on the extent of the damage. In most cases, if the hard drive has suffered physical damage, such as broken read/write heads, it’s necessary to swap the damaged parts from a “donor” drive to make the hard drive functional again. This process is a temporary fix to extract the data from the damaged hard drive.
The cost to fix a dropped hard drive depends on the number of labor hours required and the cost of donor parts needed to repair the damage. Check out our pricing page to estimate the cost range for your specific hard drive capacity.
Dropped hard drive summary
Hard drives are delicate pieces of equipment that can suffer severe damage even from a slight drop or impact. It is possible that you may have backups stored in OneDrive or iCloud without being aware of them. If your data is valuable and you don’t have a backup, it’s best to seek the help of professional data recovery services. Attempting to fix a dropped hard drive with online software can lead to further damage. It’s essential to purchase a new hard drive or replace the damaged one if it’s still under warranty. Remember, a damaged hard drive is no longer a reliable backup source, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.