How to Recover Data from SATA Hard Disks

Are you still using a hard drive with a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) interface and need to recover data? Or maybe you’ve found an old SATA drive you want to extract data from? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about SATA and show you, step-by-step, how to recover data from SATA hard drives in just five simple steps.

Is It Possible to Recover Data From a SATA Hard Drive?

In most cases, yes. You can recover data from SATA hard drives with a proper data recovery software solution. However, there are a few important factors to consider, as SATA is an older technology, and the computers using it are likely aged as well. Here’s what can impact SATA hard drive data recovery:

Healthy SATA Drives

A healthy SATA drive is the best-case scenario because data recovery from it is usually straightforward. But here’s the catch: SATA drives often serve as internal system disks, so if you delete or format files on a drive with Windows, the OS itself can overwrite data—especially when those files were on the same partition. Windows constantly creates temporary files, which may overwrite the data you want to retrieve.

It gets even trickier if your Windows becomes unbootable or if you format the OS drive. In those cases, extra steps are needed. You could connect the SATA drive to another computer as an external drive and run recovery software there. Another option is to reinstall the OS on the same PC and then run the recovery software, though this risks overwriting some of the recoverable data on the SATA drive.

Failed or Corrupted SATA Drives

If your SATA drive has become corrupted and doesn’t appear in File Explorer when connected—data recovery might still be possible. The important part is that the drive is recognized in Disk Management. Issues like abrupt power loss, faulty Windows updates, or malware can lead to corruption, but as long as the drive shows up in Disk Management, you still have options to recover your data.

To check if your SATA drive is recognized in Disk Management, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management from the menu.
2. In Disk Management, look for your drive in the list of disks at the bottom of the window.
3. If the drive appears and shows its correct size, that’s a good sign—it means the drive is recognized, and data recovery options are more likely to succeed.

Damaged, Broken, or Dead SATA Drives

SATA hard drive not working? In cases of severe physical damage, the SATA drive may die and stop working entirely. Unlike in the case of logical corruption, you usually can’t recover data from a dead hard drive, except in a few cases.

It can be tricky to tell if your drive is logically corrupt or physically damaged, but these signs can help you get a clearer idea of its condition:

These are common signs, but often these symptoms can co-exist. For example, you might experience BSOD errors because of physical damage or your computer may run slow because of logical corruption.

What Software to Use for SATA Hard Drive Recovery?

There are many data recovery tools available for Windows, which makes it tough to pinpoint exactly what you need. So, what tool works best for SATA hard drive recovery? Let’s break down the features to look for:

• Since SATA drives are often used on older PCs, the ideal recovery software supports a wide range of Windows versions—from Windows XP to Windows 11—if you plan to perform recovery on the same old PC.
• Look for software that can recover various file types, like documents, photos, and videos. It should also handle different file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT, to cover any storage format.
• A deep scan mode is a must for data recovery in the most extreme situations, like after severe corruption, accidental reformatting, or system crashes.
• Look for software that includes a drive backup feature, which allows you to create a full disk image of the SATA drive. This approach lets you scan the disk image rather than the physical drive, useful in cases where the SATA drive itself is too fragile for a scan.
• If you’re new to data recovery, a clean, easy-to-use interface is a big help.
• A file preview feature is super useful, especially if you deal with an old SATA drive packed with years of data.
• Most data recovery tools are paid, so it’s ideal if the software offers a free or trial version.

There are a few tools that meet all these criteria and are well-suited for SATA hard drive recovery, including Disk Drill, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, PhotoRec, and UFS Explorer.

Disk Drill’s deep scan mode, file preview, broad file system support, and safety make it a top choice, backed by a stellar track record for recovery. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard also offers solid features and an intuitive design, though it doesn’t go quite as deep as Disk Drill. PhotoRec, a powerful free tool, works well for multimedia recovery but lacks a practical interface and preview feature. UFS Explorer, with its extensive control, is ideal for complex cases but is more suited to advanced users. For the best all-around experience, Disk Drill is our top recommendation.

5 Simple Steps to Recover Data from SATA Hard Drive

Let’s start with the recovery process! To make things straightforward, we’ll break it down into 5 simple steps and use Disk Drill as an example for each. You’ll see exactly how to recover data from a SATA hard drive.

Step #1: Install Data Recovery Software

To start the SATA data recovery process, head to the official CleverFiles website and download Disk Drill. You’ll see several versions available, each designed for different Windows systems:

• Disk Drill 5.x: Compatible with Windows 10 (64-bit) and Windows 11 (64-bit). This is the latest version.
• Disk Drill 4.5: Suitable for older systems, this version works with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.
• Disk Drill 2.0: This version is for Windows XP and Vista users.

To prevent overwriting any files on your SATA drive, it’s a good idea to install Disk Drill on a different hard drive. The free Basic version of Disk Drill will let you recover up to 500MB of data.

Step #2: Connect the SATA Hard Drive to Your Computer

Next, you’ll need to connect your SATA hard drive to your computer. If it’s a SATA drive from another PC that won’t boot, you have a couple of options. You can connect it directly to your motherboard if you’re comfortable opening your computer case, or you can use a SATA-to-USB adapter to connect it to your computer or laptop. It’s best to avoid USB hubs, as they can sometimes cause connection issues. A direct connection will give you a more stable link for the recovery process. Once the drive is connected, power on your computer and check Disk Management. If it shows up there, you’re all set to move on to the next step.

Step #3: Scan the SATA Drive

Launch Disk Drill after you’ve installed it. You’ll see a list of internal and external drives on the home screen. Select the SATA drive and click on the Search for lost data button to start the scan.

1. In the left panel, choose Byte-to-Byte Backup.
2. Select the SATA drive you want to back up.
3. Specify a healthy storage device with enough space for the backup.
4. Once the backup is complete, go to the Data Recovery section, click Attach Disk Image, and select the backup file to scan for recoverable data. If you choose not to create a backup, you can simply select your drive here and click Search for lost data to begin the recovery process directly from the original drive.

Disk Drill will go through several scanning modes, each designed for different data loss situations. These modes include:

• Quick Scan: This mode quickly searches for recently deleted files; it is ideal for data lost situations due to accidental deletion.
• Deep Scan: This thorough scan digs deeper into the drive’s file system, which is great for recovering data from formatted drives, severely corrupted files, or more complex data loss scenarios.
• Signature Scan: This mode identifies files based on their unique signatures, which will allow you to recover files even if the file system is heavily damaged or missing.

Step #4: Select Files to Recover

You can wait for the scan to finish or click on Review found items to see what the software has already discovered.

You can use the left sidebar to filter results by file type, such as Photos or Documents. If you seek something specific, like Photoshop projects with the .psd extension, enter the file names or extensions in the search bar at the top-right corner.

Next to each file, a Recovery Chances indicator shows how likely it is that the file can be successfully recovered.

To see exactly what you are recovering, click the small eye icon next to each file. Disk Drill can show previews for all kinds of files, from simple JPGs to RAW image files. If your Windows system supports it natively or has the appropriate third-party software installed to handle these file types, you can preview any type of file before recovery.

Step #5: Recover Data

Select each file or folder you want to recover, then click the Recover button at the bottom. A new window will pop up and ask you to choose a location to save the recovered files.

Make sure to pick a different drive than your SATA hard drive to avoid overwriting any remaining data on it. Once you’ve chosen a safe location, click OK to start the recovery process. Disk Drill will restore your selected files to the chosen location.

What If My Computer Doesn’t See My SATA Drive At All?

If your computer doesn’t recognize your SATA drive at all, there are a couple of things you can try.

Since SATA drives can stop working and lose data because of multiple reasons, it’s important to take a systematic approach. Below, we explain the process for recovering SATA drive and bringing it back to its normal, operational condition and recover data you may have lost.

Check Your SATA Connectors

Check the SATA connectors on your motherboard to make sure the cables are securely attached. A typical motherboard has four to eight SATA ports, but the exact number depends on its size and chipset. If you know which connector needs attention, focus on that one; if not, check all of them.

You can identify the ports by their L-shape design. The ports are generally labeled as SATA1, SATA2, etc. Once you find the ports, make sure the connectors are firmly seated. Give it a wiggle (though gently) and tighten the ports. You might even want to remove the connectors to clean any debris that may have built up.

Check Your BIOS Settings

In some cases, the problem may be related to the BIOS settings. Check your motherboard manual for instructions on how to enable the SATA connection. This process can vary by manufacturer, but it usually looks like this:

1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI. To do that you can press the designated key at the startup (commonly F2, DEL, or ESC).
2. Navigate to a section labeled “Integrated Peripherals” or “Storage Configuration.”
3. Look for options related to SATA configuration, such as “SATA Mode” or “SATA Controller,” and make sure the SATA ports are enabled.

If nothing worked, it may indicate that your SATA drive is too damaged to recover at home. SATA drives usually have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years, but some can last longer or shorter; it depends on usage and conditions. In this case, consider reaching out to a professional data recovery service. They’ll have the experts and equipment required to physically recover data from your disk, and they’re your last resort.

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