This may indicate damaged sectors on the drive that impairs its ability to read and write data. The next section of the article details steps you can take to try and resolve this specific issue. Here are some of the most common signs your external hard drive is damaged, broken, or experiencing problems that may soon lead to its failure. There are multiple indications that an external hard drive is experiencing problems or has already become damaged or broken. Signs of a Damaged or Broken External Hard Drive
Preventing Data Loss on External Hard Drives.
