Navigating External Hard Drive Troubles: Finding a Cost-Effective Solution for Data Recovery

It’s a scenario no one wants to find themselves in—your external hard drive is frozen and, along with it, your access to essential files. I recently faced this very issue with my 2TB external hard drive, which housed critical documents and files. Complicating matters, I had previously set up Dropbox on the drive to keep all files managed online only. Unfortunately, the setting was inadvertently changed, leading to a catastrophic attempt to write an overwhelming 17TB of Dropbox files onto my external drive.

The warning signs were clear when I received an alert about low storage space, but by the time I realized what was happening, the damage had been done. Now, whenever I connect the hard drive to my computer, it typically appears to connect without issues. However, the moment I try to open the folder, my computer freezes, rendering the drive virtually useless. Disconcertingly, when I remove the external hard drive, the computer returns to normal operations.

In my search for a solution, I discovered a recovery company based in New York that offered to retrieve my files. Their quote came back at a staggering $3,800—an amount that I simply cannot justify, given that while the files are important, they don’t carry a price tag of that magnitude.

I’ve been exploring other data recovery options, such as using software like Disk Drill and Recuva, but these programs have also led to the same frustrating freezing issues upon attempting to access the folders.

I’m reaching out to the community for guidance. Does anyone have suggestions or alternative solutions for recovering files from a malfunctioning external hard drive without incurring exorbitant expenses? Any advice or personal experiences shared would be immensely appreciated. Let’s find a way to salvage those important files without breaking the bank!