External HDD fell on the floor and no longer works? See what to do
If your external hard drive fell on the floor or has suffered an unexpected impact, it’s natural to panic. The feeling that your data may have been compromised can be distressing, but the first thing you need to know is that often the best solution is to not turn the device back on and seek professional help from a data recovery specialist. The impact of a fall can cause physical damage to internal components, leading to device failure and possible loss of important data.
In this article, we’ll explain why a damaged external hard drive can fail, how to identify signs of damage, and most importantly, what you can do to protect your data and recover your files.
Can Dropping or Impacting an External Hard Drive Damage It?
Yes, dropping an external hard drive can seriously damage it. Even if there are no visible signs of damage, such as cracks or dents, the internal components can be affected. This is because a hard drive contains delicate parts, such as the read/write head and the platter, which spin at high speeds. Even a slight impact can misalign them or even cause permanent damage, compromising the functionality of the device.
Although a damaged external hard drive may turn back on, this does not mean that it is working properly. The problem may not be immediately apparent, and in the worst-case scenario, it may fail just as you are about to save an important file – like that spreadsheet you spent hours editing.
Signs that Your External Hard Drive May Be Damaged
After an impact, there are a few warning signs that indicate that your external hard drive has suffered internal damage. Pay attention to unusual behavior, such as:
- Strange sounds: If the hard drive starts making unusual noises, such as clicking, buzzing or beeping, this may be a sign that the internal mechanism is faulty.
- Boot errors or failures: If the hard drive does not turn on or displays error messages, or if the operating system cannot access your files, this is a sign that something is wrong.
- Frequent crashes: The device may start to crash or disconnect repeatedly, making it difficult to access data.
These symptoms indicate that the impact may have significantly affected the hard drive, and the problem will only get worse over time.
What to Do Immediately After a Dropped HDD?
If your HDD crashed, the first thing you should do is turn it off immediately. Avoid connecting it to any device, as turning it on again may worsen the damage. This is because, when trying to access the data, the read/write head may come into contact with the storage platter, causing scratches on the media that make data recovery more difficult or even impossible.
Do not attempt to open the hard drive yourself. Although it may be tempting to investigate the inside of the device, hard drives are sensitive and require a controlled environment to be handled, with tools specific to that model of hard drive, as well as equipment suitable for reading and recovering data. To ensure data integrity, a clean environment (a class 100 clean chamber) is necessary to prevent dust particles from further damaging the internal components.
Any airborne dust particles that fall into the hard drive can compromise your data.
Scale comparing the dimensions of the read head of an HDD
Trying to Diagnose HDD Damage
If you have already turned your hard drive back on and it is working, you can try to assess the severity of the problem based on the sounds the device makes. As mentioned, a hard drive has moving parts that generate sounds when accessing data. If the device makes strange noises, such as repeated clicking, it is a clear sign that the internal mechanism is having trouble working.
Also, watch out for symptoms such as crashes, repeated reboots, or a very slow system. These problems usually indicate that the hard drive is in a critical state and may fail at any time. If you notice that important files are disappearing (either moved or deleted without explanation), this is a clear sign that the hard drive failure is approaching.
How to Recover Data from a Damaged Hard Drive?
If your hard drive is still functional and you can access it, backup your data immediately, starting with the most important files. This can be crucial to avoid losing valuable data if the hard drive fails permanently.
If your device is not responding or your data is inaccessible, your best option is to seek out a professional data recovery service. These specialists have the right equipment and controlled environment to perform the recovery without putting your data at risk.
Dropping an external hard drive can result in serious damage that affects its functionality and, most importantly, the integrity of your data. Although the device may appear to be working after a fall, the only sure way to ensure that your files are not lost is to seek professional help as soon as possible. Remember that in cases like this, prevention and speed are essential to maximize the chances of recovery. Do not hesitate to seek help from specialized professionals to save your precious data.
If you are in doubt about the condition of your hard drive, the best course of action is to act cautiously. Turn it off, avoid handling it, and seek out a company specialized in data recovery to ensure that your files are recovered.
Do not attempt to open the hard drive! This will bring more problems to the data recovery process.
This tip can save your data.
* updated on 02/03/2025
