Problems with external HDD: fake empty folder

[phys_hdd]

Hi, I have a serious problem with my external hard disk (a 500GB WD).
I have read a lot about this kind of problems, but I'm scared to lose data and I need a customized help.

The hdd is almost full: there is an important folder inside, called Documents, that appears empty even if there are 15gb (I can say this by checking the total occupied space on the hdd). The other folders of the hdd can be regularly accessed.
There are also two trash folders: trash-1000 and trash-999, the latter contains part of my precious data, the first some old data.
The Documents folder has been copied under Linux, I double-checked that everything was ok.
No other copy of the Documents folder exists.

I have just used the chkdk E: /f command under Windows: some errors have been corrected, there is no serious error message. Nothing changed: the hdd is fully accessible, the Documents folder is still empty.
Typing ls on the Linux terminal gives:
ls: reading directory .: Input/output error

Before doing anything else, I would like to receive some advice. I don't want to lose these important data. Thank you for any help.

 

[GhislainG]

If that data is important, then you should keep it on 2 hard disks or other media. If you can't keep a copy on your system's drive, then get another external drive and make a copy (or use an online storage service).

 

[phys_hdd]

I know, but now I can't copy those files, the hdd doesn't let me do that.
I should have copied those files in an other source.

 

[GhislainG]

If you absolutely need them, then sending the drive to a data recovery service may be the best option. You could try various data recovery utilities, but you may end up causing even more problems.

 

[phys_hdd]

Yes they are important. And I don't want to do anything risky.
But in other threads I have read about totally unaccessible hdd that have been repaired with a chkdsk and other software, my case is strange: the problem is only a single folder. I thought that it would have been simple to restore the hdd functionality.

 

[GhislainG]

It's up to you; I never had much success with recovery tools and chkdsk can't fix that type of issue.

 

[A_prob]

Hello,

I seem to have a very similar problem.

Properties of external SSD shows 212/256G occupied.
Properties of all content (marking the folders, including hidden ones) adds up to 160G
So there is a discrepancy of about 52G. Which is roughly the size of my most important backup folder containing pictures, documents etc...

The backup folder show up as empty (0byte). Otherwise the SSD works fine, I can access other folders and data.

I've run chkdsk, spacesniffer, windirstat. The two latter ones show a 52G space of "unscanned-" or "unaccessible space".

I've run photorec (recovery program) which finds A LOT of files, including deleted and old ones.
Problem is all the data is scrambled and with new names. It would take forever sorting out what files to keep/delete and even then I wouldn't be shure if I got it all.

What has happened and how do I "unlock" this singel very important folder.
I know the information is there but for some reason I can't access it.

Please help!
Best regards
//Adam

Windows 8.1
Verbatim external SSD 256G