HDD Unallocated Space Data Recovery
How to Perform HDD Unallocated Space Data Recovery
"About 2 hours ago, I connected my 2TB western digital external hard drive to my computer, but the drive wasn't showing up on my computer. I checked it in disk management, the disk became unallocated.
I unplugged and re-plugged the HDD to my computer via USB ports, but it still didn't show up in the File Explorer. What can I do to perform HDD unallocated space recovery and rescue my data?"
If you are having a similar problem on your HDD, figure out the reasons first. Here are the main causes of why HDD turns to unallocated:
- Partitions get deleted or removed by mistake
- File system damage, corruption or errors
- Hard drive failure with bad sectors or internal errors
- Virus attack
If your hard drive was infected by an unknown virus, clean up the virus first by using anti-virus software first.
To fix the unallocated issue, you need to figure out which is more important to you - the data or the partition on the drive. To rescue valuable data immediately, follow Way 1 for a guide. To bring all disappeared partitions back to its original state at once, follow Way 2.
Way 1 - Recover Data and Recreate Partitions on Unallocated HDD
If you use HDD as a data drive for saving multiple files and valuable data, when it becomes unallocated, data recovery on the unallocated disk would be the priority job. Fortunately, HDD unallocated space recovery is possible with the help of powerful data recovery tool.
For getting a time-saving, reliable and risk-free data recovery software, we'd like to recommend you to try Deep Data Recovery. It enables you to effectively perform HDD unallocated space data recovery with its powerful data recovery capacities in only 3 steps.
# 1. Recover Data from Unallocated HDD
Follow the step-by-step guide to recover your photos, videos, audio files, and documents from HDD unallocated space. Usually, the unallocated space is often recognized as lost partition(s) in Deep Data Recovery.
Step 1. Select file types and click "Next" to start
Launch Deep Data Recovery. Select file types and click "Next" to start.
Step 2. Scan the hard drive partition
Select the drive on your hard disk where you lost or deleted files. Click "Scan" and let Qiling data recovery software scan for all lost data and files on the selected drive.
Step 3. Check the results
When the scan completes, you can apply the "Filter" feature or click the "Search files or folders" option to find the lost files on the hard drive.
Step 4. Restore lost hard drive data
Select wanted files that you lost on the drive and click "Recover" to save them to another location.
Remember to save the recovered files to another storage device before making the HDD reusable again.
# 2. Recreate Partitions on Unallocated Hard Disk Drive
To make the unallocated HDD reusable again, follow the last a few steps to recreate partitions on the unallocated hard disk drive with Disk Management:
- Step 1: Open Disk Management, right-click on the unallocated space on the disk or external storage device.
- Step 2: Select "New Simple Volume".
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- Step 3: Set partition size, new file system - NTFS, drive letter, etc. Click "Finish" to complete creating a new partition.
- Repeat the process several times if you need several partitions on the HDD.
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After this, you can save the restored data back to the created partitions and continue using your hard disk drive to save data again.
Way 2 - Recover Partitions with Lost Files from Unallocated HDD
If you are looking for a once for all solution, trying to bring back the lost partitions with data at one time, Qiling Partition Recovery can help. It supports to fully scan all the lost partitions with data on the unallocated hard disk, and you can even preview the lost partition content before recovering.
Download it and follow the steps below to retrieve partitions with lost files from the unallocated HDD now. Note that activation is required when you need to execute the last recovery operation with this software.
Step 1. Run Qiling Partition Recovery on your PC.
Select the disk or device where you lost partition(s), click "Proceed" to continue.
Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to complete.
Let the program scan the selected disk and find the lost partition(s).
Step 3. Preview and restore the lost partition(s).
Click on the partition which is marked as "Lost" with "Good" recoverability.
Preview the content of the lost partition. Click "OK" and click "Proceed" to start restoring the lost partition.
Step 4. Click "Recover Now" to finish the partition recovery process.
Note: If the program warns you that there is a conflict, back up the listed partition with essential data to an external hard drive first. Then execute the final operation to restore your lost partition.
To sum up, when your hard drive or external storage devices suddenly become unallocated, stop using the device and follow provided methods on this page for help.
- For urgent data recovery, Deep Data Recovery is the best choice.
- To bring back the lost partition with its original state (including the occupied and free space size, file system, partition style, etc.), Qiling Partition Recovery is a second-to-none tool for you.
Besides, if you have a backup of valuable data on the hard drive, it will be a lifesaver whenever disasters happen. Qiling Backup Free with its File Backup, Disk Partition Backup features will assist you back up all files at one time in only a few simple steps.
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