When encountering difficulties in accessing the Mac’s external hard drive, it could be indicative of drive corruption, resulting in restricted access to crucial files. In this article, we will know the common causes of external hard drive corruption on Mac systems and also guide you on how to troubleshoot and fix a corrupted external hard drive on Mac.
Part 1. These Signs Suggest that Your External Hard Drive May be Corrupted
When an external hard drive is corrupt on a Mac, you may encounter various error messages and abnormal behavior indicating the issue. These include messages like “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer,” “Disk not initialized,” and “Disk Utility can’t repair this disk.” The drive might not appear on the desktop, or you may experience slow performance, frequent freezing, and unusual sounds when connected. Files and folders may go missing or become inaccessible, and the drive may disconnect and reconnect repeatedly. Disk Utility may display errors or fail to recognize the drive. If you notice any of these symptoms, your external hard drive might be corrupt, and it’s crucial to address the issue promptly to prevent data loss and further damage.
External hard drives can become corrupt due to various factors, including abrupt disconnections during data transfer, power surges, physical damage, file system errors, malware/virus infections, and manufacturing defects. Improper ejection, bad sectors, or using the drive on multiple operating systems without safely ejecting can also contribute to corruption. Additionally, age and wear and tear may lead to the deterioration of internal components over time. No worries; this article will guide you on how to fix a corrupted hard drive on Mac.
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Part 2. Troubleshooting Corrupted External Hard Drives on Mac Without Reformatting
Here are the three methods to manage and retrieve the hard drives by troubleshooting without reformatting.
Method 1: Verifying IDE/SATA USB Connections
One potential cause of a corrupted external hard drive on a Mac system is a faulty or unstable connection. This could result from issues such as worn-out cables, loose connectors, short circuits, or damaged wires. To address this problem, it is recommended to first inspect the connections between the external hard drive and the computer.
- Removing any USB hubs or extension connections and directly connecting the device to the computer.
- Carefully unplug and reinsert the external device into the USB port.
- Trying the external hard drive on another USB port or a different Mac computer.
- Using an alternative USB cable to connect the hard disk to the Mac.
- Ensuring that all relevant software updates are installed from the App Store to rule out outdated drivers causing the external hard drive to be unrecognized.
Method 2: Resolving Corrupted Mac External Hard Drive using Disk Utility
If verifying the connections does not resolve the issue, there might be minor file system corruption causing the unresponsiveness of the drive. In such cases, you can attempt to fix the problem using the Disk Utility app. This built-in Mac utility is capable of verifying and rectifying common issues like corrupted files and external devices. To utilize the Disk Utility app:
- Navigate to “Applications,” then “Utilities,” and select “Disk Utility.”
- From the list of drives displayed on the sidebar, choose the corrupted hard drive you wish to repair.
- Click on “First Aid” at the top of the Disk Utility window to initiate the repair process, which may take some time to complete.
Method 3: Repairing the Faulty External Hard Drive with the FSCK Command
If the Disk Utility app fails to fix the faulty hard drive and your Mac is unable to recognize or read it, you can attempt to use the FSCK command as an alternative repair method. This command line tool allows access to your inaccessible files stored on the device. To repair the external hard drive using the FSCK command:
- Go to “Finder,” then select “Utilities,” and choose “Terminal.”
- Type the command “diskutil list” to display all connected drives on your Mac.
- Identify the external hard drive you wish to repair in the list and note its drive identifier (e.g., disk0, disk1, disk2, disk#).
- Restart your Mac and hold down the “Command + S” keys before the Apple logo appears to boot into Single User Mode.
- Enter the command “/sbin/fsck –fy” followed by “/sbin/fsck_hfs -fy /dev/[drive identifier]” (replace “hfs” with the file system of your external hard drive and “[drive identifier]” with the identified drive).
- Once the FSCK command finishes checking and repairing errors on the external hard drive, type “reboot” in the command prompt to restart your Mac.
Part 3. Repairing External Hard Drive on Mac by Reformatting the Device
Reformatting the corrupted hard drive becomes a viable solution when other methods have failed to repair the drive. This step may be necessary if the drive’s formatting and directory structure have suffered significant damage.
However, it is essential to be aware that reformatting the drive will result in the complete erasure of all its data. To prevent data loss, it is highly recommended to recover any crucial data from the corrupted Mac external hard drive before proceeding with reformatting, especially if you lack an up-to-date and comprehensive data backup.
Part 4. Data Recovery from Corrupted External Drives on macOS
To recover lost data from a corrupted external hard drive on Mac, specialized data recovery software like iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac proves valuable. This tool is designed to retrieve lost data from external hard drives rendered unreadable or unrecognizable due to corruption, formatting, or other issues. It supports recovering files from various storage devices, such as USB flash drives, memory cards, and pen drives, while also accommodating a range of file types. Moreover, iBoysoft Mac Data Recovery is compatible with multiple Mac operating systems, including the latest versions of macOS.
To get back data from a corrupted external hard drive on Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Download and install iBoysoft Data Recovery on your macOS computer. Connect the corrupted hard drive and open the software.
Step 2: Select your corrupted drive and click “Search for Lost Data” to initiate a scan for all recoverable files.
Step 3: After the scan completes, view the recovered files in the “Complete result” folder, preview their content, and select the necessary files.
Step 4: Click “Recover” and save the files to a different, functioning drive to avoid data overwriting. Finally, verify the recovered files to ensure a successful restoration of all lost data.
Once you’ve recovered the data from the corrupted hard drive, you can proceed with reformatting it to resolve the issue and restore usability. If reformatting the hard drive proves unsuccessful or leads to error messages, it is likely that the drive is physically damaged and will require repair or replacement. To avoid potential future issues, it is advisable to replace the faulty drive with a new one.
Part 5. Reducing External Hard Drive Corruption Risk
To reduce the likelihood of external hard drive corruption and ensure data safety, it’s essential to follow these proactive measures:
- Safely Eject Drives: Always eject your external hard drives properly before unplugging them from your Mac. This ensures that all data is written securely to the drive, reducing the chances of data loss or corruption.
- Avoid Abrupt Disconnects: During data transfer or any read/write operations, avoid unplugging the external hard drive abruptly. Abrupt disconnects can lead to file system errors and potentially corrupt data. In addition, utilize high-quality USB or Thunderbolt cables for reliable connections.
- Surge Protection: Safeguard your external hard drive by connecting it to a surge protector. Power surges and electrical fluctuations could damage the drive, resulting in data corruption or loss.
- Handle with Care: Treat your external hard drive carefully and avoid subjecting it to physical shocks or drops. Physical damage can render the drive unusable and lead to data corruption.
- Regular Backups: Create regular backups of your critical data on another location or cloud storage. This practice ensures that even if the external hard drive gets corrupted, your essential data remain secure and accessible.
- Scan for Malware: Regularly scan your Mac and external hard drive for malware and viruses. Malicious software can cause data corruption and compromise the integrity of your files.
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