What is a SATA Drive?
A SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) drive uses the Serial ATA (SATA) interface to connect to a computer’s motherboard. The standard interface found in most modern PCs and laptops for connecting hard drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs).
These drives are popular because they offer large storage capacities and are cost-effective. They define how data is transferred between the motherboard and storage devices.
SATA drives come in two main types: traditional HDDs and faster SSDs, which provide better performance.
SATA technology has evolved, with versions like SATA I, II, and III offering increasing data transfer speeds. Most modern systems use SATA III, which supports speeds up to 6 Gbps (~600 MB/s), making it suitable for everyday tasks in both desktops and laptops.
But it’s never claimed to be a foolproof drive. Data loss can happen with any hard drive, whether it’s an internal SATA hard drive connected to the motherboard or a PATA-attached drive. Reasons for data loss could include accidental data deletion, partition damage, drive corruption, formatting, viruses, and more.
Quick Navigation
Can I Recover Data from SATA Drives?
How to recover data from SATA drives?
Symptoms of SATA drive failure
Fix Corrupt/Damaged SATA Drive
Is it possible to recover Data from SATA hard drive?
Irrespective of the reasons, SATA hard drive recovery is possible. If you have accidentally deleted or formatted the drive, data is not permanently erased from the drive. Instead, the pointers holding the address of the data will be erased and the space is allocated for next use. However, if you tend to use the same drive for writing the new data, the existing data will be overwritten. Therefore, it is recommended not to use the drive until you retrieve data from the SATA hard drive.
How to Recover Files From SATA Hard Drive?
1: Data Recovery Software
If you don’t have a backup of the files on your SATA hard drive, the next option is to recover data from the deleted or formatted SATA hard drive, all you need is an efficient hard drive recovery tool. SFWare hard drive tool is Integrated with a deep scan algorithm, that scans the drive sector by sector to recover data from SATA laptop hard drive in just a few clicks for free now.
SATA hard drive is designed to verify the valid and correct the data if no longer valid the with the help of ECC (Error Checking and Correction) in the drive using party checking. Despite being able to correct the errors the hard drive can get corrupt over time and you end up losing your important data. Recovering data from the corrupt hard drive is still possible if the SATA drive is recognized.
Steps to Retrieve Data from SATA Hard Drive
Step 1: Launch the tool, select the SATA drive, and click on Scan.
Step 2: After quick scan completion, check the folders for the recovered data from the drive.
Step 3: Choose the files that you need.
(TIP: Use Search box and Filter options to ease the process)
Step 4: Preview the files for free by Double-clicking on them.
Step 5: Select the data and Save to restore them on your device.
Recommended: Save the recovered files in a new location to ensure the safety of the files.
The tool is capable of retrieving data from dead SATA hard drives or corrupt SATA drives as well. However, once the data is recovered, you can go ahead and fix the corruption on the drive.
2: Data Recovery Service
If your SATA hard drive has severe physical damages, Then DIY solutions wouldn’t help on this situation, Consider 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.
How do I know SATA drive is failed?
Here are a few indications of your SATA drive failure:
- The computer crashes frequently while booting the operating system. Try retrieving data from an unbootable drive before it gets late.
- The SATA hard drive produces a clicking and grinding sound while running.
- Files and folders start to disappear frequently.
- When the hard drive starts failing, it takes longer than usual to access data from the hard drive.
- The computer shows error messages while moving or copying a file in the hard drive
- If the bad sectors on the drive increase and are not fixed, it results in software errors. Due to this the computer slows down and freezes frequently, affecting performance. It is recommended to recover data from a bad sectored drive before data is lost completely
When the computer starts showing the above symptoms, it is better to take frequent backups on an external hard drive or cloud storage. By doing so losing important data in the SATA hard drive can be avoided. Sometimes SATA hard drives might just be working fine but the problem with the components exists. Such issues can easily be solved on your own. Here is how you can do it.
How to Fix Dead SATA Hard Drive?
Dead SATA Drive: When an internal component fails or stuck head gets damaged or using the old drive for a long time makes the SATA drive inaccessible or unusable. The hard drive is said dead when data or files from the hard is inaccessible.
As SATA drive comes with spinning platters and a moving needle that writes data on the sectors on each platter. Verify if the problem is with the physical component and go further to fix the logical issues and recover data from the dead drive.
SATA Cable Problem
Open the CPU cabinet with the help of a star screwdriver. Turn on your computer and check to see if the hard drive is making any sounds. If you don’t hear any noise from the drive push the connecting SATA cable into the drive for a firm connection
In case you find any damage to the SATA cable, replace it with a new one to make your hard drive work smoothly
If SATA Drive Goes Unrecognized
If your drive is not detected it may be because it is turned OFF in System Setup. Some motherboard manufacturers disable unused ports in the BIOS by default. You will need to enter the BIOS setup in order to verify their current state. If you ask “How to recover data from SATA hard disk which is not detecting?” We recommend you use Data Recovery tools like SFware Hard Drive Recovery to
Restart the computer and press F10, Del, or F12 (Depending on the manufacturer) to enter the BIOS or UEFI setting.
Navigate to the Boot Tab; under boot option priorities, choose your hard disk as the primary drive.
Verify Damaged PCB/Motherboard
If you find any rust or damage to the motherboard, you can easily replace them with a new one. However, it is recommended seek experts help to replace the motherboard.
How to Fix Corrupt SATA Hard Drive?
If the hard drive is corrupted, you can easily fix it using CHKDSK in command prompt. CHKDSK is the inbuilt utility in all Windows system that fixes logical errors on the drive. To fix corruption or errors on the drive, follow the steps given below.
- Go to Windows Search and type command prompt >> click on Run as administrator
- Next, type “C: /f”(where C is the drive letter of the drive to be scanned)
After the scanning process is complete restart the computer and check the drive for functionality. By performing the above steps, you will be able to fix the errors in the SATA hard drive.
Conclusion:
SATA hard drives are the most commonly used internal storage drives for their reliability. Despite having several advantages, the drive is not free from data loss situations. With all the above-mentioned methods, recover data from and fix the SATA drive. It is always suggested to keep the backup of the data to avoid any data loss conditions in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1: Can the SATA hard drive be repaired?
Yes. A SATA hard drive can be repaired, Depending on the issue:
Logical issues: Try using CHKDSK (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac) which can fix file system errors.
Physical damage: Severe hardware problems require professional repair by a data recovery specialist.
2: How do I check my SATA drive health?
You can check the SATA drive’s health using several methods:
Windows: Open Command Prompt > Type wmic diskdrive get status, You will see OK, if your drive is healthy.
Mac: Go to About This Mac > System Report > Storage and check S.M.A.R.T. status. If it says “Verified,” the drive is healthy.
3: How do I check my SATA in BIOS?
Restart your computer and press (F2, DEL, or ESC) key to enter BIOS. Look for “SATA” or “Storage” section under settings. Your SATA drive should be listed there if it’s detected.
4: How to Reset SATA hard drive
You can reset the SATA drive by formatting it, which will erase all the data
Open Disk Management >Locate your SATA drive >Right-click and choose Format to reset the SATA hard drive
