External hard drives
Hard drive data recovery from external drives is part of my role as a freelance video editor. External hard drive disks (HDDs) generally connect to computers or compatible devices via Thunderbolt, USB, or FireWire. They are used to store computer data files and create safety clones and backup copies of important data.
Many manufacturers produce a wide range of visually distinct external hard drives with varying connectivity options and storage capacities. External hard drives are used in film, TV, and video production to copy and move files, and for video editing.
Unfortunately, these external hard drives can fail due to mechanical or electrical component failure or misuse. Sometimes it is necessary to recover data from these failed external hard drives. Drives sometimes won’t turn on or mount on your computer. This article explains how it might be possible.
Data recovery
It is usually the case that one of the electronic components inside the external hard drive, like the electrical power supply or electronic circuitry, has failed. This means that it might not be possible to mount the hard drive on your computer so that you can no longer see it nor work with it and its saved media. If your drive has failed, you may then need to explore hard drive data recovery.
Whilst many companies offer expensive software-based data recovery, your hard drive may still be in good order, and your data can be recovered without additional software.
HDD’s
External hard drive units usually contain a smaller 2.5” or 3.5” standard hard drive inside the outer branded shell. After electrically isolating any hard drive from its power source, it may be accessed internally by those with suitable technical knowledge and skill. Taking care not to damage the unit, the HDD can then be disconnected from the drive’s interior electronics and removed mechanically from the outer shell.
Once you have separated the internal 2.5” or 3.5” hard drive unit, it can then be connected to a separate external converter device or docking device. If the retrieved hard drive unit is mechanically sound, this might allow the data saved on it to be recovered.
Types of spinning drives
An external HDD may contain what’s known as an IDE (Integrated Development Environment – in older units) or a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment – in newer units) drive. To connect these removed internal drive units to a computer, use a suitable converter or docking station, depending on the type of HDD.
I recently used the Alxum converter to recover data from an old Lacie hard drive that had a 3.5” IDE drive inside. I’ve also previously used the Fideco SATA docking station to recover data from a newer 3.5” SATA drive.
There are many different makes and models of converters, so check which one best suits your needs. By connecting your recovered drive to a suitable docking station or converter, then to your computer or compatible device, you should be able to mount and view the drive and its stored data. This will then allow you to transfer the data from the drive.
Backing up media
Once you have recovered your data files, back up all your media to a separate drive. As a general rule, you should always have at least one separate saved copy of anything digital (preferably two). So, you should have a backup of everything on your computer, stored to protect all your digital files. It’s normal working practice for film, TV, and high-end video productions to have at least three backup copies of all their media stored on separate drives, potentially at different locations, to comply with ISO 9001 and insurance policies.
Erasing drives
Once you have copied and backed up all the data or media files from your faulty hard drives, you can then erase the files from them before recycling or disposing of the removed drive. Ensuring you reformat or erase any data from your drives before you dispose of or recycle them will help protect your data.
Solid state drives
Solid-state drives (SSDs) are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives to spinning hard drives (HDDs). Especially for smaller storage units with 1 to 4TB of capacity, which are much more affordable. One advantage of SSDs is their durability. They have no moving parts and are less complex than spinning hard drives. They can also allow for much faster transfer times.
All external drives can fail at some point (including SSDs). This is why it’s important to always have at least one backup of all your digital data on a separate drive.
Safe working practices
When working with HDDs, always ensure you unmount the hard drive from your computer or device before disconnecting it. When you depower and turn off the HDD, wait 30 seconds for the spinning discs to stop before physically moving it. This will ensure you don’t subject the hard drive unit to mechanical stress, especially while the drive platters are still spinning. When working with SSDs, always unmount them from your computer first before disconnecting.
Digital media experience
I’ve been working in post-production as a first-line support technician and video editor for over 25 years. I was working at the BBC when digital cameras were first introduced by BBC Production. As a video editor there, I moved on from editing complex programmes for transmission to managing a large post-production area.
So, through my experiences, I’ve gained a lot of experience managing data, as well as digital video and audio files. If you have any questions about your hard drive data recovery, please get in touch.
