What to do right now
- Power the drive off now and do not keep retrying.
- If the data is valuable, contact a professional recovery lab.
- Only if the drive still reads reliably: image it once, then work from the image.
What to do
Stop using the drive
Shut down or unplug the drive. Each power-on with failing heads can scratch the platters and destroy data permanently.
Rule out power on external drives
Some external drives click when they do not get enough power. Try the original power adapter or a different port once. If it still clicks, stop.
Decide how valuable the data is
For irreplaceable data, a lab with a clean room is the right choice. Ask for a free diagnosis and a fixed quote; reputable labs explain the fault first.
If it still reads, image it once
If the drive is detected and reads with only occasional errors, create a disk image on a healthy drive. Imaging skips bad areas first, so most data comes off early.
Recover from the image
Scan the image file, not the drive. You can scan the image as often as needed without stressing the original.
What not to do
Do not run CHKDSK, defragmentation, benchmark tools or repeated full recovery scans on a clicking drive. Do not open the drive: dust on the platters destroys data. Freezing the drive, tapping it or swapping circuit boards are internet tips that often cause permanent damage.
Do not keep a failing drive running overnight in the hope that a scan will finish. A head failure can get worse with every minute of operation.
Why imaging comes before scanning
A recovery scan jumps around the disk, retrying difficult areas. An imaging tool reads the disk once in order, skips problem areas on the first pass and keeps a map of what is missing. That gets the most data off with the least work for the heads.
When software is the wrong tool
- A drive that is not detected or does not spin needs a lab.
- Grinding or scraping noises mean physical contact inside; stop immediately.
- Imaging can still fail on a drive whose heads are deteriorating quickly.
How FileFix Ultimate helps
- Detects read errors and instability during the pre-check and recommends imaging instead of scanning.
- Creates bad-sector-aware images: skip on first pass, retry later, resume from a map file.
- Stops a scan automatically when errors exceed a threshold instead of hammering the drive.
- Scans VHD, VHDX, E01 and raw images so recovery never needs the failing drive again.
FileFix Ultimate is free, works offline and never writes to the drive you are recovering from. Check the signature before you run it.
Frequently asked questions
Can software fix a clicking hard drive?
No. Clicking is usually a mechanical or head problem. Software can at best copy data off a drive that still reads.
How much does a recovery lab cost?
It varies with the fault and the country. Ask for a free evaluation and a quote before work starts, and be wary of very low fixed prices.
Is a clicking SSD possible?
SSDs have no moving parts. Clicking from a PC with an SSD comes from another component, such as a fan or another drive.
Can I keep using the drive if the clicking stops?
Treat intermittent clicking as a warning that will return. Copy or image the data while it works, then retire the drive from important use.