WD HARD DRIVE DATA RECOVERY SOFTWARE

But plugging it in and turning it on could just make things worse. It may be tempting to try to test your hard drive to see if it still works. Do not attempt to plug in the hard drive. If the hard drive is on, power it down right away as well. The longer your hard drive is submerged in water, the more likely it is that the dry parts of the drive could become water damaged. The first step you should take is to immediately remove the hard drive from water. A quick response is key to a quick recovery! Tend to the water damaged hard drive immediately.Īcting fast is critical to reducing the likelihood of hard drive water damage. Learn more about each of our 7 steps to recover data from a water damaged hard drive below to maximize your chances of successful recovery.ġ. Follow These Steps to Recover Data from a Water Damaged Hard Drive

It is actually best to keep the hard drive wet! We recommend placing it in a Ziploc bag until you can get it to a professional.

It is for this reason that none of our 7 steps to recover data from a water damaged hard drive include attempting to dry the drive. When the water dries, it can leave a film or residue over the platters and heads, making it much harder to recover data as the platters begin to degrade over time. This is because the disks of hard drives have little, fine heads that read the information stored on the platters. It will remain there on the platters, which is why professionals can still recover information from a water damaged hard drive.ĭepending on the circumstances, however, the data may become more difficult or perhaps impossible to retrieve. While water can damage a hard drive’s electronics, the data itself is stored magnetically. When a hard drive gets wet, the water could potentially cause a short circuit, especially if it dries on the platters.īut water alone will not destroy a hard drive or delete its data. The first question you’ll want to ask after a spill is “Will water damage my hard drive?” The answer depends on the circumstances of the incident and the actions you take.Ī hard drive stores data magnetically in its platters.

WD HARD DRIVE DATA RECOVERY SOFTWARE

For example, the files for your operating system and software programs are also kept on your hard drive, making it a critical part of your computer’s functionality. Not only does it keep the pictures, videos, music, files, and other information you save, but also the information required for your computer to run. Your hard drive is the device used to store and access data on your laptop or desktop. Take the time to learn about this issue and the steps to recover a water damaged hard drive, so you stand a better chance of successfully recovering your hard drive any time it gets wet. You could lose important information, waste valuable time, and even have to replace your hard drive. Hard drive water damage is a common problem for both work and home computers.

Give the drive to a data recovery specialist.

Do not let your brother-in-law touch it.

Gently rinse with clean, cool water and seal it in a Ziploc bag.

Leave the protective covering on the drive.

Do not dry the hard drive with a hair dryer or in the sun.

Do not attempt to plug in the hard drive.

Tend to the water damaged hard drive immediately.

Here are 7 steps to recover data from a water damaged hard drive: Spilled water on your hard drive? Don’t despair just yet! If handled properly, information can often be recovered from a wet hard drive.

Wd hard drive data recovery