PC Power Went off Suddenly While Running CHKDSK. What to Do Next?

Hello, several minutes ago, when I was running computer CHKDSK tool to test a 500GB WD external hard disk with some important school files, the PC power suddenly went off. What am I supposed to do now? Can I straightly go on the disk checking process when the electronic was back? What I can do to protect both of my external hard disk and inner left information safe? Thank you for any suggestion here! 

Hey, how does this external hard disk response on your PC after that sudden power loss? Get any drive not formatted error problem or the likes? If not, you�d better firstly extract all your important school files out and prepare file backups well on other drives or locations. And then, go test this WD USB hard disk with CHKDSK tool one more time. But, if you unluckily get some unfamiliar drive problems, in case of creating worse troubles, act carefully and follow bellow guidance to see what you can do to rescue all possible stuffs back.

Step1. Restart Your Computer When the Power Is Back

In case of farther drive data loss troubles, when the power is back, merely reboot your computer and also plunge the same external hard disk to the same computer. And then, do something to fix your drive according the drive conditions. Never randomly format or overwrite this WD drive before you take your desired files and other information back. Of course, the immediate disk checking process is also not proper to be performed there.

Step2. Check the present state of your external hard disk

How does this external hard disk work after connecting this external drive to your PC? Generally, after sudden power loss, you often can encounter three different states related to your WD USB hard disk.

Firstly, WD external hard disk is read well on any computer.

When your external hard disk is not damaged by that instant power loss, it often can be read and viewed as usual. And you can freely do whatever you want after making drive data backups well.

Secondly, WD external hard disk gets physical damages.

When your USB hard disk is probably physically damaged and asks you to format due to some unsupported RAW file system issues, hard disk errors and more, it often will not be able to be accessed before any format. And anything new saved or moved to the same storage device will also be a great threat to your original drive file. Therefore, stop keeping using this drive to hold new stuffs and leave it alone to avoid any data loss issue for a while.

Thirdly, WD external hard disk gets physically damaged.

When your storage device is physically damaged due to that sudden power loss and cannot be read on any computer or machine, you often have no promising way to recover original drive data back, unless you do have stored the drive data backups elsewhere. Therefore, unless you are willing to pay much money to take chances with some data recovery companies or experts, you�d better discard that drive and learn to save several copy of everything to different drives/places from now on.

Does any of these ones familiar with you? Hope your drive is not completely corrupted and irrecoverable.

Step3. Write no new data there & go recover inaccessible data with external hard disk recovery software.

WD external hard disk with many useful school files are inaccessible due to drive not formatted error, RAW file system errors or the like drive problems? OK! Fortunately, at least, your drive is not mechanically damaged. Before your hard disk data is corrupted or replaced by anything fresh there, go download external drive not formatted error recovery software to see whether you can rescue desired files back before any format.

Step4. Go check this disk again at last.

No matter why you are trying to test this external drive with CHKDSK, after getting your preferable school files back, you can freely open this error-checking tool and run it to diagnose your drive again. If it is still healthy, go on using it to store your crucial data and also learn a lesson to prepare drive data backups all the time. But, it gets too many bad sectors or other damages, do not save very valuable data there and only use it to store or transfer backed-up or non-important data temporarily. Overall, learn to keep useful data away from this unreliable device in case of worse data loss troubles. 

Related Sudden PC Power Loss Troubles:

Situation1: Hey, while installing Windows 8 operating system on my computer, I just suddenly turned off my PC and everything became really bad. There was a message saying that my computer hard disk needed to be formatted due to RAW file system. Is there anything for me to fix everything up?

Situation2: Hello, when trying to upgrade the antivirus updates at home, my computer just turned itself off for sudden power surge. And then, when pressing the power button to restart this PC, there was no any response. Nothing was displayed on the PC monitor. Please help me out. Thanks!

No matter what kind of PC power loss troubles, as long as your computer drive is still recognizable, you often can follow the above steps to fix your drive and rescue lost PC data.

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How to Deal with an Old Computer Hard Disk?

Have an Old Computer Hard Disk & Don�t Know How to Cope with It?

Hey, friends! The day before yesterday, I did have purchased a new Samsung laptop since the old dell desktop had corrupted after having been used over three years. And I also want to know how I can deal with a 560GB old hard disk that has been used on this dell computer for only one year. Is it proper to keep using this old hard disk on my new computer? Is it still safe for holding some key data? Is there any other way to cope with this drive? Thanks in advance!

OK! As long as this old hard disk is not mechanically damaged, people often can cope with it in many ways. Here are some common ways that you can make full use of this old drive. Hope anyone of them can be what you are looking for.

1). Give This Old Hard Disk Away. 

Many people, schools, orphanages or other organizations have no enough hard disks to use. To help the people or children there also be able to lean or use hard disk freely, you can go check the similar organizations around your blocks and donate it to them. Of course, you do have other old stuffs that they needs. You also can give them away to them together. 

Please Note: No matter how long you�ve used this old drive or how much data you�ve saved there before, always remember to back up the drive data elsewhere and secure erase it in advance.

2). Use it on your new PC again

Still want to use this old hard disk on your new PC again? OK! That�s also a good way to go on. Merely remove it out from your old computer and connect it to your PC. When you want to use it as an internal hard disk as before, merely insert it to your computer motherboard and also remember to reset your computer. But, if you want to use it as an external hard disk, simply add a USB enclose to this old drive.

Please Note: If you do know nothing about how to add a old hard disk to a new computer, no matter whether you plan to used it as an internal/external drive, go consult some experts and see what you are supposed to do.

3). Sell the drive on the market.

Of course, if you do have enough hard disk or storage devices to use and you are also this drive is still healthy, you also are able to sell it on the secondary drive mark. Merely go find a secondary stuff selling websites over the internet and then, finish the drive description, label a proper price, left your contact information and just wait.

Please Note: If you really do not know the proper price, merely go check the similar secondary hard disk and see how much they have been priced.

4). Discard the drive when it is completely physically damaged.

If the old hard disk is also seriously damaged when your old dell computer is corrupted, you also can discard it directly. Why? The physically damaged hard disk, especially some burned ones, broken ones or the likes, often will never be accessed on any computer or machine. Your stored hard disk data also will be inaccessible and irrecoverable forger.

Of course, if you are still worried that your data inside will be leaked somehow in the future, just break this old disk into pieces with your hammer.

Please Note:

1). Firstly perform diagnosing processes on this old hard disk to see whether it is still useful.

As we�ve talked above, the physically damaged drive often cannot be accessed or used again. Therefore, if you really want to sell or donate it, you�d better firstly check this drive to see whether it is still workable or functional. If any diagnostic software or tool cannot fix the scanned drive problems, you�d better not go using it again.

2). Never left any personal or commercial information on that old drive before donating or selling.

Before you decide to sell or donate your drive, in case of leaking drive data to some vicious people, you�d better left no personal or commercial data on that old drive. Just go secure erase this drive several times. Of course, you also can download some professional drive secure erasing software to go on.

3). Extract all useful information out and prepare data backups elsewhere.

This hard disk still has held some useful information, like work documents, precious photos, music and some other files, you�d better firstly extract them all out and save them all on your backup drives or devices in case of losing them accidentally. 

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How to Encrypt an External Hard Drive or File?

How to Encrypt a File or External Hard Drive Safely?

Situation1: Hey, friends there! I have had a great trip with my Seagate external hard drive and saved many precious videos, pictures and some files on this USB drive. But, I do know the valuable data stored on a drive also is able to be stolen by someone else and randomly spread over the internet. Therefore, I am just wondering whether it is possible to encrypt each of these drive stuffs or entire drive to avoid such information leaking issues. Do you have any idea to help add password to my external drive?

Situation2: Hello, thanks for reading my post. I do have a Toshiba USB hard disk with hundreds of business documents, PPT files and the likes. They all are important business stuffs. Is there any free software or tool for me to set a password on this external drive and protect everything inside? Thank you for any suggestion to encrypt my external drive.  

Situation3: Hi! Have you ever tried to encrypt your files stored on an external drive? Honestly, recently, I have backed up a series of very important files on one of my external drives and think about protecting them with safe passwords there. What am I supposed to do? Thank you in advance!

OK! Have any luck to successfully add encryption to your desired individual files or external drives? If not, also don�t worry! Like making drive data backups elsewhere, the file or drive encryption is also very practical and useful in protecting important data, especially when you do choose the right methods. But, you really know nothing about setting safe passwords to protect your drive or files inside safely? OK! Here, three workable methods will be introduced. Hope one of them can help you at least:

Three Possible Methods to Encrypt Your Drive or Data

No matter whether you�ve added passwords to your drive or data smoothly or not, here are three possible methods for you to go on:

Method 1: Protect individual external hard drive files with passwords.

Have many Word files, excel files or PPT files, which have recorded much commercial or personal information, stored on a Seagate, WD or Toshiba external hard drive and wondered to add passwords to protect them all safely? OK! Follow these steps to encrypt them with ease:

Step1: Open your file and once click "Tools" tap to open "Options" in coming the list.

Step2: Click the "Security" tab to add an easy-to-remember password there.

Step3: Click "OK" and close this file. And then, when you attempt to access it, you are often asked to type in the right password.

Please Note:

*Always add an easy-to-remember or meaningful password to this file so that you can easily recall it rightly when it is needed. 

* This way is often practical for people who only need encrypt several important PPT, excel or Word files. If you do really want to protect most or nearly all of the external drive files, you�d better go try to the below methods.

Method 2: Encrypt entire USB drive with Windows built-in BitLocker tool

Are you using the Windows 7 or 8 operating system on your computers or laptops? If so, the Windows built-in BitLockee could be your solution to encrypt your wanted drive files or the whole SUB drive. Just follow below steps to protect them:

Step1: Open "My Computer" to right click your inserted external drive and choose "Turn on Bitocker".

Step2: Choose the "Use a password to unlock the drive" option to enter your desired passwords.

Step3: Click "Next" to follow its guidance and finish this encryption process.

Please Note: You also can find this BitBlocker on the sidebar of your Windows Explorer, if it is necessary.

Method 3: Download alternative drive encryption applications to go on.

You are not using Windows 7/8 OS and also need to encrypt entire hard drive? OK! It is also not a hard nut to crack. You still are able to get some assistance from the professional drive encryption applications which are developed for people like you to add passwords to some individual files or entire drive within several clicks. Hope you can find proper one over the internet to go on.

Please Note: Always check the software information, especially the service cost, well before you download it to use on your PC.

Keep Some Additional Tips in Mind:

1). Write down all related drive or file passwords on a document or paper well.

Have set many different passwords to drives or files and have been really afraid of confusing or forgetting them all? OK! You�d better timely written these passwords to a special file or paper notebook so that you can easily find them when thye are needed.

2). Prepare additional copies of everything important on different safe drive or devices.

No matter why you have to encrypt these drive files or this external drive, you�d better always backed up the very, very important drive information on other drives, flash drives or network storage in case of losing data unexpectedly.

3). Data recovery software is able to aid when the important drive files are deleted or lost without sign.

No matter how you delete your external drive files that need be encrypted with success, end storing new pictures, files, videos and more on this external drive to lose more important data completely. And then, download external drive data recovery software to recover lost data from this USB drive. Moreover, after accidental external drive format, external drive dropping, external drive not formatted error problem and the likes, such data recovery software also is able to be used in retrieving lost drive contents.

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How to Secure Erase Hard Drive, SSD or Flash Drive

What Is the Best Way to Wipe a SSD, HD, Flash Drive or Other Storage Device?

Situation1: Hey, I am going to replace my current 840 EVO SSD with another 850 Pro SSD. And I am told that I need to wipe this SSD totally in case that any personal or important information inside will be leaked. Can I just format this old SSD that contains many photos, documents, movies and more? What is the best way to secure erase this drive? Thanks for any advice here!

Situation2: Hello, I have done a lot of research on wiping SSD completely, but, find no practical answers. Do you have any idea? I just want to completely wipe my Windows 7 install on my HD and do a true clean install of Windows 10 there. And many articles on the internet recommend me to use a secure erase utility? Is that really best for me? Do agree with that? Have any different solution for me? Thank you very much in advance!

OK! In your guys� cases, the directly drive format can help wipe the drive space. But, that�s also not enough. You�d better read the below article and learn to securely erase this HD, SSD or flash drive information.

Why to Secure Erase a SSD, USB Drive or Flash Drive?

Do you know why you are recommended to secure erase your storage device data? OK! No matter whether you know it or not, here are several ones that can persuade you to totally erase your drive information:

1). Avoid leaking important information

Have used this SSD, flash drive or USB drive to store very sensitive or personal information before? OK! If so, you really need do a complete data wiping there. Why? After common delete or format, the storage device contents often are not really erased permanently. And they will be gone only when they are corrupted or overwritten. Therefore, in case that any important drive information is leaked or used by evil persons without your permissions, you�d better do a secure erasing process there.

2). Avoid affecting the drive future use

Since the common deleting or formatting process will not really erase everything as you think, the left original information may also affect your future. Take the second situation as an example, in order to do a really true clean install of Windows 10, the secure erase is really necessary to reduce the effects of the original Windows 7 files and folders.

 

How to Totally Erase Your Storage Device?

Really want to know how you can totally erase your SSD, external hard drive, pen drive or the like devices? OK! Here, three common methods will be introduced and hope they will help you out:

1). Format drive to erase everything inside & Rewritten this drive with other data

Generally, the deleted or lost information stored on a storage device often will not be permanently wiped. However, it will be easily damaged or erased when it is rewritten by anything fresh. Therefore, you can easily format your selected hard drive and go rewrite it with other data two or more times. In this ways, you often will finally secure erasing everything inside.

2). Format drive to wipe all stuffs inside & repartition hard drive

Many drive repartitioning software do have offered similar drive wiping function. Therefore, if you do have similar software installed on your computer, after formatting your original drive, flash drive or SSD, you also can repartition it to erase everything inside completely.

3). Apply secure erase software

Still worry your drive information will be restored by others with data recovery software? OK! You can directly apply secure erase software to completely wipe your hard drive contents. Merely open your laptop or computer and choose a proper one through the internet.

Read More Useful Notes Here:

1). Export useful SSD, flash drive or hard drive data to other storage devices firstly.

Are you sure all your SSD, flash drive or hard drive information is useless or unnecessary? If not, go patiently double check all the left drive photos, files, messages, videos, songs or software and export still useful ones to other storage devices firstly.

2). Go try to recover drive information with data recovery software.

Also want to know whether your secure erasing methods really permanently delete all drive stuffs? Or have deleted something useful or format hard drive mistakenly? OK! Go try drive data recovery software to scan this SSD, flash drive or hard drive and see whether your deleted drive data could be restored with ease. If even the best drive data recovery software can rescue nothing original back from this drive, your secure erasing methods really work and can be used for next time. But, if you only accidentally erase them, OK! Hope you can learn to make drive data backups at first.

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