[jrwb]

Hi everyone

My Simpledrive external hard drive seems to be showing up in my laptop, but I can't open it or use the files in it. I get a message saying I have to format it to use it.

This drive has worked very well until today, and has valuable files in it.

Anyone know whats wrong?

Thanks

Edited by jrwb, 26 March 2011 - 10:25 PM.

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Hi jrwb
The 1st thing I would suggest is attempting to retrieve the data from the drive as a precaution.
Check out this data recovery software http://www.snapfiles...tarecovery.HTML
try Recuva 1st it has a high success rate.
Has the drive been knocked or the power turned off suddenly prior to this happening, how much
available storage space was available on the drive, any unusual noises from the drive or have you
downloaded from the net to it recently or installed new software.
Things you can try include using another USB port if you have one, disconnect and then uninstall the
drive in device manager and the software for the drive in Programs and Features (or the W7 equivalent)
and then reinstall both and finally try connecting it to a 2nd computer and see what happens.
If all else fails is the drive covered by the Hitachi 3yr warranty, it will not get your data back
but it may save you the cost of a new drive.

[phillpower2]

Hi jrwb
The 1st thing I would suggest is attempting to retrieve the data from the drive as a precaution.
Check out this data recovery software http://www.snapfiles...tarecovery.HTML
try Recuva 1st it has a high success rate.
Has the drive been knocked or the power turned off suddenly prior to this happening, how much
available storage space was available on the drive, any unusual noises from the drive or have you
downloaded from the net to it recently or installed new software.
Things you can try include using another USB port if you have one, disconnect and then uninstall the
drive in device manager and the software for the drive in Programs and Features (or the W7 equivalent)
and then reinstall both and finally try connecting it to a 2nd computer and see what happens.
If all else fails is the drive covered by the Hitachi 3yr warranty, it will not get your data back
but it may save you the cost of a new drive.

[jrwb]

Thank you. I am going to try what you suggest.

[jrwb]

I have tried the 'Recuva' programme and it seems to be able to retrieve all my files, what I cannot understand is why my computer can't do the same, and why it should be saying it needs formatting when it's been working fine all the time.

[hfcg]

Hello,
Please click the start button
right click on "computer"
Select "storage"
Select "disk managment"
Is your external drive listed?, Does it have a drive letter?

You may need to right click on the icon of the hd
And left click on Initialize

[jrwb]

I right clicked on that drive, but do not see any 'initialize'....

[devper94]

Have you retrieved all important files on that drive? We are going to attempt a rather dangerous operation on your HDD.

[jrwb]

I have the important files safe...

[devper94]

Okay...
Since your PC is still assigning your drive a drive letter, let's attempt to fix the filesystem.
Open a Command Prompt as an administrator. Type in the command window:

chkdsk /r X:

where X: is the drive letter of your external HDD, then press Enter.
If it tells you it wants to force a dismount, select No, then while the drive is still attached to the computer, reboot the computer. Chkdsk should start soon. This would probably take hours, so do it when you are free.
Finally, tell me if it works.

[jrwb]

Sorry about not getting back to you, still recovering files, there are a lot and big...

[jrwb]

When I try that command prompt, the black screen flashes very briefly and disappears.

[devper94]

Open the command prompt, then do it again please, this time:

chkdsk /r X: > C:\log.txt

When it's done, please attach the C:\log.txt file.

[jrwb]

Still flashing black screen...

[devper94]

Did you open the Command Prompt as Administrator?
Can you see any output at all?

[jrwb]

how do i open as admin, just a quick flash of the black screen.