Loss data due to Time Machine mistake

Portable SSD Extreme Portable SSD
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I mistakenly began using the Scan Disk as a Mac OS Time Machine backup. Stop the backup midway through setup process. Hoping to recover the original data on the Scan Disk External drive.

1 Like
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Hi @SteveSherman
You may refer to the below article about the data recovery for flash drive and memory card:
lInk:USB Drive and Memory Card Data Recovery Options

Have you opened a Support Case? If not opened, for more information, please contact the SD Technical Support team for best assistance and troubleshooting:

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To recover the original data from your SanDisk external drive after an interrupted Time Machine setup, try the following:

  1. Stop Using the Drive: Immediately disconnect the drive to prevent any further data overwrite.
  2. Use Data Recovery Software: Tools like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or Disk Drill can help recover data from drives that have been partially formatted or modified.
  3. Check Disk Utility: Use macOS’s Disk Utility to see if the drive still shows the original partitions or if it needs reformatting.
  4. Professional Recovery: If the data is critical and software solutions don’t work, consider a professional data recovery service for further assistance.
    EaseUS Free Data Recovery Software for PC [2024 Updated] - EaseUS
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In such a case, recovery is quite difficult because your old data may have been overwritten. However, there is still hope. Try some trusted data recovery tools to scan and recover your original data. Such as:

  • 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery
  • Disk Drill
  • Stellar Data Recovery for Mac
  • Data Rescue

If you’re unable to recover the data yourself, consider contacting a data recovery professional. They have specialized tools and expertise for recovering data from drives with issues.

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@primetester nice infromatin :smiling_face:

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I’ve experienced a similar situation before. Since the Time Machine setup process was stopped midway, some data may have been overwritten, but much of the original data could still be intact. I recommend using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to scan the drive. It’s effective for recovering data even after partial overwrites or failed backup setups. Perform a deep scan to locate the lost files, and avoid using the drive further to prevent additional overwrites.