Data recovery from external hard drive

I'm sick! I was attempting to format my flash drive and I accidentally chose the wrong drive and formatted my Toshiba 3.0 external USB hard drive with over 350GB of data on it. Is there any way at all to recover my files?

Lots of programs out there from which to choose. In the meantime, don't access the drive.
   18 Free Data Recovery Software Tools
-Jerry

Similar Messages

  • Importing music, artwork and data base from external hard drive

    I purchased a MacBook to use primarily as a music server. I have an external hard drive with over 300GB of music files ripped from CDs in Apple Lossless with a computer using Windows XP. I also have another external hard drive formatted for the Mac. My goal is to attach both drives to the MacBook via USB and transfer the music files, album art, and iTunes data base from the Windows system hard drive to the new Mac formatted hard drive. Then I am going to reformat the Windows system hard drive to the Mac format and use it as a back up for the other hard drive. Has anyone ever done something similar? If so, I would appreciate some guidance. If possible, I want to do the above so that the file names and artwork from the Windows itunes system do not get changed or left out when making the transfer to the Mac system. All music files will still be in ALAC. Thanks to all for your help.

    Lots of programs out there from which to choose. In the meantime, don't access the drive.
       18 Free Data Recovery Software Tools
    -Jerry

  • Question concerning data removal from external hard drive

    I have been backing up via Time Machine to a 500 Gig external hard drive. I will be adding a 1 TB external hard drive and switch the Time Machine backups to that unit. I want to then use the 500 Gig unit to store photos, music and video, to free up space on the iMac. I have found the tutorials/threads that explain how to move the photos and music. I have two questions.
    First, will moving video from iMovie work basically the same as moving the photos and/or music?
    Secondly, what is the proper way to remove the existing Time Machine data from the 500 gig unit, once I have the 1TB unit up and running and know that Time Machine is backing up to it?

    I can help with number two. There are two things you can do, one quickly, the second more securely.
    Both can be done with Disk Utility in the Apps/Utilities folder. Open DU with the HDD attached to your Mac and highlight the HDD in the left hand pane and choose Erase for the right hand pane. Press the Erase button. It should happen pretty fast, but because it is a big drive it may take a couple of minutes. But this does not really erase the data, and some recovery software could do a good job of getting a lot of you data back.
    Since you want to store media libraries on this drive perhaps a better way to condition the drive is to select a Security Option and write zeros to the drive. After this any bad sectors on the drive will be locked out and not used in the future. Because this is a big drive this could take a few hours.
    Dah•veed

  • Recovery from External hard drive

    So I backed up all my files onto an external hard drive using the hp program, before reinstalling windows. However when I go to restore them it goes through and restores some of the files and then when it gets to 100% and it says please insert disk 2. I cant think of what it would mean as disk 2 I only used this one external hard drive to back it up, and now most of my files are missing. Can anyone help? Is there a way of viewing what files are contained in the .swm files or can anyone tell  me what to do about this disk 2 thing?

    Lots of programs out there from which to choose. In the meantime, don't access the drive.
       18 Free Data Recovery Software Tools
    -Jerry

  • How do I restore backup1.swm files created during system recovery from external hard drive.

    On my hp dm1 with windows 7 In full detail, this is what I did. I clicked to do a system recovery, it asked if I wanted to backup the files, I said yes. It said it backed up my files on the external hard drive. I continued the system recovery. It set my computer back to factory settings. I tried to recover my backup, it acted like it was restoring the files and showed them going into the c: area in a folder. I open the folder and it says the folder is empty. I hit properties and the folder contains 10mb+ of data. I go back into my LaCie drive, there are files labeled like backup.swm, backup1.swm, backup2.swm. I can't open these files or do anything with them. In a text document it lists all the files it apparently copied. It is only a list of text, nothing else. Have a 12 page research paper in these back ups that is due in a few hours so any help will be greatly appriciated.

    @Daniella1985,
    If the standard procdure of locating the program launcher (a .exe file) on the first backup media (disk 1 or the external storage device) is not working, then you can manually extract the files using 7-zip.
    7-zip can be found here.
    Once 7-zip is installed, open it and navigate to the first .swm file of the backup.  Right-click the .swm file and select 7-zip>open archive.  Once that opens, it should reveal the contents of the .swm files.  If the file contains something you want to keep, you can either extract each invidual file or extract the entire directory.  If you want to extract each individual file, highlight the desired file and click the extract button at the top.  If you want to extract the entire directory, make sure no items are highlighted and click the extract  button at the top. 
    This is a manual process and it can be a large task depending on how many files were backed up, but it is one method to get the backedup files when the standard procedure is not working.
    ↙-----------How do I give Kudos?| How do I mark a post as Solved? ----------------↓

  • How to run data merge from external hard drive?

    I attempting to merge a large document (~4,000 records) in CS3. The document that I'm merging the data into is also large (an 8 page newsletter). I have exported the pages of the document as a PDF and the imported them again (therefore minimizing the data/links/etc.) but the amount of memory it was consuming was still crashing the program when I ran it on my computer. I bought a TB external hard drive and would like to run the merge from there so that it is using that memory/RAM instead of my computer's. I moved the indesign file, all the pdf links, and the .csv file that is the data source to the external hard drive. That didn't solve the problem. Is the merge now running from the external hard drive and still not working or is there something further I need to be doing to get InDesign using the external hard drive memory instead of my computer's memory? Any advice would be wonderful, thanks!

    I attempting to merge a large document (~4,000 records) in CS3. The document that I'm merging the data into is also large (an 8 page newsletter). I have exported the pages of the document as a PDF and the imported them again (therefore minimizing the data/links/etc.) but the amount of memory it was consuming was still crashing the program when I ran it on my computer. I bought a TB external hard drive and would like to run the merge from there so that it is using that memory/RAM instead of my computer's. I moved the indesign file, all the pdf links, and the .csv file that is the data source to the external hard drive. That didn't solve the problem. Is the merge now running from the external hard drive and still not working or is there something further I need to be doing to get InDesign using the external hard drive memory instead of my computer's memory? Any advice would be wonderful, thanks!

  • Data Recovery from External Disk Drive

    I can no longer read from my external hard disk drive. I hear the drive making noise, but the removable disk drive does not show up on my computer directory anymore. I believe the drive has failed. The data on the drive is very important. Is there a way I can still retrieve it?
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    WaliN wrote:
    I can no longer read from my external hard disk drive. I hear the drive making noise, but the removable disk drive does not show up on my computer directory anymore. I believe the drive has failed. The data on the drive is very important. Is there a way I can still retrieve it?
    Have you tried the hard drive on a different computer? I would do it first. Then you can dismantle the exclosure and try to connect it somehow else..
    Dv6-7000 /Full HD/Core i5-3360M/GF 650M/Corsair 8GB/Intel 7260AC/Samsung Pro 256GB
    Testing - HP 15-p000
    HP Touchpad provided by HP
    Currently on Debian Wheeze
    *Please, help other users with the same issue by marking your solved topics as "Accept as Solution"*

  • Data recovery from raid_0 hard drives on Msi Neo 925Xe Platinum

    Yesterday my mainboard has "passed out" without reason.My pc was in idle situation and suddenly the monitor turned off. I've checked everything and I found out that it's a mb problem.
    I had 2 WD raptors on raid_0 and I would like to know if there is anyway to recover some of my data.
    Some thoughts are to find another same mainboard(unlikely to find any) or another mainboard with the same raid controller.
    I would like you to propose me any of your ideas for this matter and the raid controller model of the motherboard or even a list of motherboards with the same raid controller.
    Thank you in advance, I am desperate.

    Hello Seed_GR,
    As long as you try to revive the RAID array on a board which uses a Controller of the same Chipset family, there is a good chance that the migration will be successful.  That means, that it would be worth to try to connect your drives to a board that has a RAID-capable ICH6R, ICH7R, ICH8R or ICH9R Chipset.  Have a look at this test article to see what I am referring to:
    >>TOM'S HARDWARE GUIDE: The Raid Migration Adventure<<
    I am sure that a migration from ICH6R (your board) to a board with the latest Intel ICH10R Southbridge would probably have a good chance of succeeding as well.  They just did not test it at the time that article was written.
    There is, of course, a chance that such a migration will fail. It is hard to exclude that possibility beforehand.  However, it is definately worth a try.

  • How do I restore backup swm files created during system recovery from external hard drive

    Good day,
    I was facing some problems with my laptop (HP Envy 17 3D Notebook with windows 7 home premium, 64 bit) and I had to return it back to its original state using system recovery.
    During the process I was asked if I want to back up my data. I have chosen to backup my data in the flash drive. Once the process has completed and my laptop is to the original state, I tried to recover my backup but it tells me:
    The version of this file is not compatible with the version of windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher.
    If i click run as administrator it tell me:
    Windows cannot find 'F:\Backup_2015-04-29 143842\Restore.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.
    there are files labeled like backup.swm, backup1.swm, backup2.swm. I can't open these files or do anything with them. In a text document it lists all the files it apparently copied. It is only a list of text, nothing else.
    any help will be greatly appriciated.

    Hi @Jef35,
    Welcome to the HP Forums!
    It is a superb  place to find answers and information!
    For you to have the best experience in the HP forum I would like to direct your attention to the HP Forums Guide Learn How to Post and More
    I understand that while doing the recovery back to factory you opted to backup your personal files  and would now like to know how to restore them .
    Here is a link to  HP PCs - Restoring Files that were Backed Up Using HP Recovery Manager (Windows 7)
    If you appreciate my responding, please click the kudos button below to say thanks.
    If this resolved your difficulty please select solution provided to enable other posters to locate this information more easily.
    I hope this helps
    Sparkles1
    I work on behalf of HP
    Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
    Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

  • Recovering data from external hard drive

    I backed up music,pictures and personal documents
    It said backup was successful, I they to retrieve some documents and none of the those files were in that restored folder

    Very similar with your experience 
    Last time when I was in Rio, I took part in the famous Carnival there with my boyfriend and we took a lot of interesting photos there. About one week ago, one of my friends asked me to show her the photos. However, it turned out to be inaccessible and the PC can not read the data on the drive. And the PC suggested me to format the external hard drive for reusing it again.
    people often lose their data from External hard drive, a handy external hard drive data recovery software will be highly recommended to you, ---- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
    Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Then click next button
    Select the disk where you lost your data and click Scan button, the software will quickly scan the selected disk to find your target files.
    Watch the video below, step by step, you can recover your data.
     https://youtu.be/ZA4XzL1mD1s

  • Recover data from external hard drive that was Windows format and connected on a Macbook Pro. Did I lose everything? What happened?

    Hi there this is my first question here!
    I connected my external hard drive originally formatted on PC on my new Macbook. The first time I connected it I could see all my files but today I connected it and after I couldn't see any file nor even on my pc appears as NO NAME with a different name and nothing on it. I think was reformatted, any help to recover all my data?
    It's really important stuff for me

    If the Apple Store couldn't get files off of the drive, it is unlikely that you will be able to. If you have backups, those would be the best way to go. You could also try booting up the computer and holding down T to boot into Target Disk Mode. Plug the broken computer into another one with FireWire and see if it works to recover data from external hard drive. If you can see it, try booting up the broken computer while holding down Option. Choose Recovery HD from the menu, then choose to Reinstall OS X.
    It is unlikely that this will work, because I'm pretty sure that the Apple Store would have tried this. You could try using expensive software to get files off the drive, but it would be risky and the results might not be any good.
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4273

  • Copy Data from external hard drive to  tc via usb

    how do iCopy Data from external hard drive to tc via usb

    you can't - unless you're willing to void your warranty by removing the TC's HD from the device, put it in an external enclosure, and connect that to your computer.

  • Install data from external hard drive?

    Hi, we have our old macbook data saved on external hard drive (old laptop had water damage but able to retrieve data). I now have new macbook, how do I install data from external hard drive to new macbook? Is it super easy? I didn't want to set up new laptop until I could understand how to install all our old data. Thanks

    Do you have the appropriate cable to connect the external drive to to new Macbook?
    If you do, the rest is easy. Connect the drive and start up the new Mac. The first steps in the setup will be to enter information about yourself, etc. etc. As you proceed you will be asked if you want to bring in data from another place. Just follow the directions, and the Mac Setup Assistant will do everything for you.
    The critical part is making sure the external is corectly connected to the new computer.

  • Hard drive replaced on imac how to restore data from external hard drive

    Hard drive crashed, replaced by authorized dealer.  Need to transfer all data from external hard drive to repaired computer.

    http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/14.html
    See especially C.

  • I'm having some difficulty with Time Machine.  It appears to be deleting backups from random dates on my external hard drive.  I am not deleting them.  Are they hidden and how do I prevent this from happening?  Can I retrieve them?

    I'm having some difficulty with Time Machine.  It appears to be deleting backups from random dates on my external hard drive.  I am not deleting them.  Are they hidden and how do I prevent this from happening?  Can I retrieve them?

    ... I didn't know that Time Machine was more a last resort back up instead of main back up.
    Don't rely upon Time Machine to the exclusion of all else. I compliment Time Machine with a periodic "clone". TM is much better than nothing, but it's a safety net, not a hammock
    Here is my understanding of Time Machine's file deletion algorithm, distilled from Pondini's FAQ, Apple's KB articles, and my own observations.
    Time Machine deletes ("thins") files from the backup disk as follows:
    Hourly backups over 24 hours old, except the first backup of the day
    Daily backups over 30 days old, except the first backup of the week
    Older backups get deleted when Time Machine requires space and you deleted them from the source disk.
    Therefore, assuming TM has been performing at least one backup per day, backup files will remain available:
    at least thirty days, if they existed on your Mac for at least a day
    until you run out of space, if they existed on your Mac for at least a week
    In addition to the above, Time Machine always keeps one complete copy of your source disk so that the entire volume could be restored if necessary. Any files that remain on your source volume will be present on the TM backup, no matter how old they are.
    If you are using 250 GB of space on your source disk, its Time Machine backups are likely to require at least twice that much. A good estimate of the minimum required backup volume size would be about three times the size of your source disk - 1.5 TB in your case.
    A more thorough explanation would require Pondini since he has plumbed Time Machine's mysteries far more than I have.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

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