Backup, Backup

[dbcTX]

I need any helpful anyone can provide.

My hard drive where all my lovely pics and vids are stored just suddenly quit working. I add some pics to a new folder. Next thing I know I can't access the drive and I'm being asked to format the drive as it isn't formated according to my computer.

Anyone have any idea what happened and if I can get those images and videos back?

[Bovon]

DTX - I'm no Techie (One will be along very shortly!), but, have you tried re-booting everything; or disconnecting and then re-connecting the Ex H/D etc. It can't do any harm, I presume?

[Xxphd]

Which OS? XP / Vista /Mac
What make/kind of drive? LaCie? USB/FireWire?

[flake56]

http://www.active-undelete.com/

i used this stuff and got back most of my hard drive that crashed. if it will spin you can get about 50 to 75 per cent back vids and jpgs. it posts the file as 0001 etc thru however many there are. you have to rename every one. will also recover zips and rars.
this is not a comercial site reply, just what worked for me. went thru four such software recovery items b4 this one actually worked. i get no compensation or anything at all for the name. there is also a thing called zar which did not work for me but others say is good.

[Xxphd]

Originally Posted by flake56

http://www.active-undelete.com/

i used this stuff ..

Not so fast my friend..
In most cases only the filesystem is slightly damaged.
This can be repaired by it's OS standard tools.

[clonevs]

I had a problem a while back with a WesternDigital external. Seems I deleted a file on it that caused iy to not read any of my files.

I went to WD's home site and was able to download the files missing, put them back on the hard drive and "poof" all was well.

My first tip would be to go to the brand of your drive's website and troubleshoot.

[Xxphd]

Basic rule is to backup your stuff twice..
So when you want to store 500 GB, you'll need 1 TB of storage capacity in fact..

[dbcTX]

Thanks for the tips...I'll see what works.

It is a Western Digital External 500 MB. The problem is it is like nothing is there. Like it has never been formatted. Any of the OS tools (Using Windows XP) don't recognize anything on the drive.

This is the second one I've had. I'm really confused because in checking the website it says improperly disconnecting can cause this problem but that isn't what did it. I was able to name a new folder and add pictures right before all this happened. So I'm pretty confused and unhappy about why it happened.

Thanks again for the input. I'll keep checking and trying things. I'll let you know if I have any luck.

[brausch]

Go to http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en and download their latest tools and data lifeguard to see if those help. Try My Computer/View System Information/Hardware/Device Manager/Disk Drives to see if your drive is being recognised. Check all your cables are snugly seated.

[viper217]

Hi,

You say it is an external Western Digital Hard Drive.

What type of external connector do you use to connect to the PC, is it USB or External SATA?

IF USB try the following:-

• When PC boots up log into Bios and check that USB ports are enabled.
  
• Try another USB Cable.
  
• Try plugging USB cable into another USB port on PC.
  
• In your hardware settings check that all USB ports are on and none are showing errors.
  
• Check that USB hubs are not stuck in the power saving mode, switch power saving on USB hubs to off.
  
• Click on detect hardware changes in device manager just in case windows has reallocated it to a conflicting position - therefore windows will not detect it.

If SATA

• When PC boots up log into Bios and check that E-SATA ports are enabled.
  
• Check SATA cable and swap for another
  
• Try cable in another external SATA port on the PC.
  
• If using a SATA PCI card in the PC check in device manager that it is working correctly and the drivers are installed.

If External Drive is in an external enclosure using an external power supply check that it is operating at the correct voltage - the drive won't show up if there isn't enough juice coming from the adapter.

OK so you have checked all the previous things - time to get a screwdriver and open the external enclosure (this invalidates your warranty - but can you afford for it to go back to the manufacture baring in mind the file content you put on it?)

I did this with a Freecom about 2 weeks ago, guess what is inside the USB external enclosure? - a standard IDE IBM 40 pin hard drive with an interface connector to translate it to a USB cable.

In the case of an external SATA it should be just as simple, disconnect whatever type of drive it is and then get the appropriate USB/SATA cable and power connector and plug it into an available port on your PC's Motherboard.

Switch the PC off and place your fingertips on top of it lightly, now power up the PC - can you feel it spinning up, or is it clicking.

If clicking it's gubbed - if it spins up then it might have a problem with the Main Boot Record files at the start of the hard drive - this basically tells windows the parameters and file format to access the drive by.

Now you will have to get a file recovery utility to get back your data or format the drive and kiss it goodbye.

The Utility I have used in the past is Ontrack Easy Recovery Professional, you can download it as a bit torrent file on various P2P sites.

It is self-explanatory to use.

All the best, I have been there and understand what a pain in the posterior windows can be when you can't get at your files