Any IT people around?

[Robin Sisland]

My external hard drive is refusing to be accessed. Light comes on, it whirs but when I try to access it I get a message telling me it isn't formatted. Doesn't seem to get warm either which it used to do.

Was working Ok on Monday. All I've done since then that might have affected it is download a windows XP update.

Any ideas?

 

[chicoazul]

Thanks for reporting the problem to the GOT IT Department Robin, remember your problems are valued by us and were here 18 hours a day, 6 days a week to help you.

This a is a common problem with external hard drives, Im guessing yours comes with a seperate power adaptior, perhaps 7 volts; am I right Robin, is it 7 volts? Anyway thats not important but what is that you follow these following steps to resolve your problem;

1 - Disconnect your external hard disc drive from the PC and the power lead.
2 - Put it on a floor, preferably tiles but not best to use carpet for this.
3 - Go into tool shed/side place tool box and find a general use hammer.
4 - Put the hammer right through the hard disc drive numerous times until smashed up.
5 - Go to play.com and pay £55 for a trendy usb powered external disc for 250gb.
6 - Your porn that you couldnt access is now gone on the old one, even that dodgy one that you wanted no one to find called "Daddy's Little Helper".

Sure all the models are over 18 Robin, sure they are.

MONSTER.

 

[Goat]

I like chicos method, but i do go with his rather twisted logic that your porn is gone and you must buy a new 1.

 

[uknightbreed]

My external hard drive is refusing to be accessed. Light comes on, it whirs but when I try to access it I get a message telling me it isn't formatted. Doesn't seem to get warm either which it used to do.

Was working Ok on Monday. All I've done since then that might have affected it is download a windows XP update.

Any ideas?

is it connected through the usb ? (could be a faulty usb port)
is the operating system registering the drive ? (silly question , otherwise you wouldnt have seen the format message)
if you look in device manager , is the drive ok , ie is there a yellow alert symbol)

rather than reformatting , this may help - www.cgsecurity.org

ps never used the software myself btw so im not much help.

 

[uknightbreed]

just done a search for how to use testdisk and came up with this ...


Download the Windows version of cgsecurity.org TestDisk.

A. At the first window select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select what drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC.
D. Select “Analyse” then <Enter>. The drive/partition will be analysed.
E. Select “Proceed” at the next screen, then <Enter>.
F. Press “Y” if the partitions were created under Vista – “N” if not.
G. TestDisk should say “Structure OK”. Choose the drive/partition to fix. Then press <Enter>.
H. It didn´t found the partition so i had to search again on FAT32, wich the disk was formated on.
I. TestDisk should say “Structure OK”. Choose the drive/partition to fix. Then press <Enter>.
I. It said later that the Boot sector initial was diferent from the one found, so i had to rebuild boot sector
J. Select “Write” and press <Enter>.
K. Press “Y”.
L. Press <Enter> and close TestDisk. Reboot the computer.

fingers crossed fella that will help.

 

[uknightbreed]

hatrick !!!!!! in the net

just read that even if testdisk recovers your files it may not rebuild the boot sector.

if it doesnt , the way around it is to copy the folders and files , then reformat the drive , then move the files back onto the drive once its reformatted.

 

[chicoazul]

Go get the hammer Robin, thats really what you want to do.

 

[Robin Sisland]

hatrick !!!!!! in the net

just read that even if testdisk recovers your files it may not rebuild the boot sector.

if it doesnt , the way around it is to copy the folders and files , then reformat the drive , then move the files back onto the drive once its reformatted.

Cheers - I'll give that a try.

 

[TX Bill]

Throw it (place it) through Vim's window.

That seems to be a popular fix these days.

 

[Vim Fuego]

Throw it (place it) through Vim's window.

That seems to be a popular fix these days.

The single most rational post in the entire thread.