HELP - External Hard Drive Has Gone Kaput! - Page 3

**Xxphd** · March 2nd, 2013, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Blue

If you read my original post #1, it certainly isn't a problem with just the casing or my laptop (as all my other external hard drives work fine through it), which is a shame.

Sorry, but when I read the words "Maxtor" and 'defect' it immediately reminds me of my own bad experiences with Maxtor HDDs. I lost two Maxtors (1 internal & 1 external drive) since 1992 due to fatal hardware errors.

In your case, it could a software issue with the filesystem/registry of that HDD. When this registry has been corrupted, the operating system cannot properly recognize the disk and its contents. However, problems with the registry could also be an indication the HDD is developing hardware issues, the socalled "Bad Blocks".

http://system-repair-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Mighty Blue · March 2nd, 2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xxphd

Sorry, but when I read the words "Maxtor" and 'defect' it immediately reminds me of my own bad experiences with Maxtor HDDs. I lost two Maxtors (1 internal & 1 external drive) since 1992 due to fatal hardware errors.

In your case, it could a software issue with the filesystem/registry of that HDD. When this registry has been corrupted, the operating system cannot properly recognize the disk and its contents. However, problems with the registry could also be an indication the HDD is developing hardware issues, the socalled "Bad Blocks".

http://system-repair-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Thanks for that Xxphd...I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to things like this. Do you recommend I get one of these programs and if so, which one? Also, how do I run the program when my laptop does not register the damaged external drive when I connect it to it?

Sorry for being a pain!

MB

**Xxphd** · March 2nd, 2013, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Blue

Thanks for that Xxphd...I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to things like this. Do you recommend I get one of these programs and if so, which one? Also, how do I run the program when my laptop does not register the damaged external drive when I connect it to it?

I would go for the good old Norton Utilities* for Windows and start with running "Disc Doctor" to check your external volume. It will try to repair any problem it finds. After that, your HDD will hopefully mount.

Normally, any problematic HDD volume would pop up in a repair program, unless the disk has a hardware failure.

(* this set of tools has saved my ass a number of times during my early days on Mac OS 9)

Mighty Blue · March 2nd, 2013, 04:24 PM

Thanks Xxphd - will have to give it a go. There's so many options from the responses on this thread but at least it's helped me decide that I'm not going to send the hard drive to a 3rd party, so thanks to everyone.

So, I get Norton Utilities, run that on my laptop and then connect the damaged hard drive to it and see what happens. Shall I run Norton Utilities on the damaged hard drive as well- will it help to recover lost data etc?

Last question - promise!

**Xxphd** · March 2nd, 2013, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Blue

So, I get Norton Utilities, run that on my laptop and then connect the damaged hard drive to it and see what happens.

No, don't check your Laptop HD. It isn't the HDD that is damaged is it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Blue

Shall I run Norton Utilities on the damaged hard drive as well- will it help to recover lost data etc?

You install Norton Utilities on your laptop, connect your external HDD, start up Norton Disk Doctor, and only check & repair your external volume. So only select [x] the external Drive icon.

Btw which operating system do you run? The latest version of Windows or? I may have a 'pro deo' solution.

Mighty Blue · March 2nd, 2013, 05:32 PM

Now I'm clear Xxphd!

I'm running Vista home premium.

Many thanks

MB

**Xxphd** · March 2nd, 2013, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Blue

Now I'm clear Xxphd!

I'm running Vista home premium.

I've looked for a "cracked" version of Norton Utilities, but only found one (version v15.0.0.122) with Dutch installation ("cracking") instructions, so I can't help you with a 'pro deo' version I'm afraid.

Mighty Blue · March 2nd, 2013, 06:39 PM

No worries, will probably purchase. Here's hoping!

MB

**Xxphd** · March 3rd, 2013, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty Blue

No worries, will probably purchase. Here's hoping!

OK check back should you have more questions about Norton Utilities.

Important: when you run Disk Doctor, DO NOT SELECT "surface scan". This will take hours to complete and has no use in the initial process of restoring the file system.

Rommelbommel · March 10th, 2013, 07:13 AM

Please please please, if you're going to repair a harddrive, only use these two programs:

Spinrite - http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm
GetDataBack - http://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

Having experienced HD loss too, these are the only two that really work. Unfortunately they're both commercial.

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March 2nd, 2013, 04:24 PM	#24
Mighty Blue Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 72 Thanks: 1,022 Thanked 590 Times in 67 Posts	Thanks Xxphd - will have to give it a go. There's so many options from the responses on this thread but at least it's helped me decide that I'm not going to send the hard drive to a 3rd party, so thanks to everyone. So, I get Norton Utilities, run that on my laptop and then connect the damaged hard drive to it and see what happens. Shall I run Norton Utilities on the damaged hard drive as well- will it help to recover lost data etc? Last question - promise!

March 2nd, 2013, 05:32 PM	#26
Mighty Blue Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 72 Thanks: 1,022 Thanked 590 Times in 67 Posts	Now I'm clear Xxphd! I'm running Vista home premium. Many thanks MB

March 2nd, 2013, 06:39 PM	#28
Mighty Blue Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 72 Thanks: 1,022 Thanked 590 Times in 67 Posts	No worries, will probably purchase. Here's hoping! MB

March 10th, 2013, 07:13 AM	#30
Rommelbommel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 338 Thanks: 160 Thanked 1,119 Times in 244 Posts	Please please please, if you're going to repair a harddrive, only use these two programs: Spinrite - http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm GetDataBack - http://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm Having experienced HD loss too, these are the only two that really work. Unfortunately they're both commercial.