What to do when files disappear from an external drive

Separate logical and hardware problems

Accidental deletion, formatting, and directory damage may be software-recovery cases. Repeated disconnects, mechanical noises, unstable capacity, or system freezes during reads point toward hardware trouble.

Handle a stable device

When the device is consistently recognized, scan the relevant volume read-only. Check file-system records first and use a deep scan only when needed. Recover to an internal drive or another healthy disk.

Avoid repair, defragmentation, or formatting operations that write to the source.

Stop when the device is abnormal

Repeated power cycles and full scans can worsen a mechanically failing drive. Important data should go to a professional service with hardware capabilities. Super Recovery does not repair hardware or rebuild arrays.