Downloaded file than it deleted everything on my hd

WD External and Portable SSD
1

I downloaded a file and when I clicked to open it everything in the file was deleted. I’ve tried recovering it using different tools and they don’t work. The files were on my external hard drive. how can i get the files back

4

Sounds like the drive’s file system got corrupted the moment you opened that file. Please stop using the external drive right away because every write reduces the chances of recovery. At this point, your best bet is to plug it into a Windows 11 PC, run a quick chkdsk /f from an elevated Command Prompt, and see if the directory structure comes back. If it doesn’t, you will need a proper deep scan with a reliable recovery tool like Stellar Data Recovery or a local data recovery service because the corruption is likely at the file system level, not normal deletion.

5

First, connect the portable SSD to a different computer or USB port to rule out any issues with the connection.

Next, run CHKDSK to fix file system errors and recover the directory structure:

  • Connect the drive to a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.

  • Open Command Prompt (as Administrator).

  • Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X: with the correct drive letter of your portable SSD) and press Enter.

If the CHKDSK command fails to fix your SSD and you still cannot access the files, try using additional data recovery tools to scan the SSD and attempt to recover the files.

Further reading: Recover Lost/Deleted Data from WD External Hard Drive

6

You can still try a few quick checks. Stop using the external drive, then run a deep scan with a sector-level recovery tool. If nothing shows up, the file table may be heavily damaged. In that case, a pro data-recovery service is your best shot.

7

The drive didn’t really erase your files. What actually happened is the file system got damaged, so the computer can’t see anything even though the data is still there.

The good news is that in most cases the files are still physically on the drive, they just aren’t showing up because the structure that organizes them broke. I would suggest Stellar Photo Recovery software or similar recovery tools which has the ability to search the entire drive at the raw level and find files even when the folder structure is broken..