💡 Use data recovery software (like Recuva or PhotoRec) before formatting if the files are irreplaceable. Right-click Start and select Disk Management . Right-click the problematic partition and select Format . Choose NTFS for internal drives or exFAT for USBs. Perform a Quick Format .

By midnight, the drive was making a new sound. A faint, high-pitched whine.

, the drive may be physically failing. Check if the drive shows up in Disk Management (Right-click Start > Disk Management). If it says "No Media" or "Unallocated," the hardware is likely dead, and you need data recovery software.