Good news – deleted files are often still fully intact in the file system.įiles become hidden for 2 reasons: (1) They are system files that keep Windows stable or, (2) you accidentally changed their properties. Quite obvious, but accidental deletion is one of the most common reasons for data loss. Missing files from an external hard drive is often the first sign of damage or corruption (or in some cases, user error). Why Files Could Disappear From an External Hard Drive Click here if you want to skip the introduction and jump straight to the data recovery part. In this article, we cover the not-so-mystery of the missing files and provide step-by-step guides for 5 of the most effective methods to recover them. Data loss usually occurs after memory and file system-related issues such as formatting, virus attacks, corruption, and more. It’s a common problem that users experience due to the storage behavior of both hard drives and the operating system itself. If you wake up one day and find your files disappeared from an external hard drive, don’t freak out… Yet. Is it possible to recover a folder that disappeared from an external drive?.How do I find missing files on my external hard drive?.Method 5: Restart the Computer and Reconnect the External Hard Drive.Method 4: Check the Integrity of the Drive’s File System.Method 3: Change the Registry Value to Access Hidden Folders.Method 2: Try to Unhide Files on Your External Drive.Method 1: Make a Backup of Your Drive and Scan it With Disk Drill.Methods to Recover Missing Files From an External Hard Drive.Scenario 2: Files Missing From an External Hard Drive but Still Taking Up Space.Scenario 1: Files Permanently Deleted From an External Drive.Can You Recover Files that Disappeared From an External Hard Drive?.Why Files Could Disappear From an External Hard Drive.

Windows folder missing drive box