Question Can the hp factory restore feature effect external hard drive if left connected?

[JoeMcFly]

I decided to reset an old laptop to factory settings. I saved the backup to an external hard drive but forgot to disconnect it before I ran the hp restore. Now most devices don't even show the external drive's connected and if they do they say it needs to be formatted to use. I really need the data if there's any way to get it back.

 

[hang-the-9]

It should not have formatted the external drive, but really depends on exactly what happened during the restore, it may have given you several options about picking a drive letter or disk to work with. Do you remember exactly the prompts you got and how you answered them?

 

[JoeMcFly]

It should not have formatted the external drive, but really depends on exactly what happened during the restore, it may have given you several options about picking a drive letter or disk to work with. Do you remember exactly the prompts you got and how you answered them?

It never asked me to select a drive. It made it very clear that it would be reset to factory condition and gives you the opportunity to back up, I didn't because I'd already done so then you click next and there was nothing else for me to do until the restore was finished.