[agent_numpty]

Initial thread is here

 

I have 3 hard drives now.

An SSD which Windows 10 now runs off.

The original hard drive that Windows 10 used to be on has now been wiped and ready to use. Win10 detects this one.

A third hard drive, the 2TB one, shows up in Device Manager and BIOS (I think, unless its the "System Reserved" partition of the SSD) but not in "This PC" where I want to access it and its files.

 

Please help.

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·         Right click This PC > Manage > Disk Management.

·         Click Start Menu and then type Disk Management to search.

·         Click Start Menu and type cmd to open command line and then input compmgmt.msc and then click Enter.

 

To capture and post a screenshot;

 

Click on the ALT key + PRT SCR key..its on the top row..right hand side..now click on start...all programs...accessories...paint....left click in the white area ...press CTRL + V...click on file...click on save...save it to your desktop...name it something related to the screen your capturing... BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A .JPG ...otherwise it may be to big to upload... then after typing in any response you have... click on browse...desktop...find the screenshot..select it and click on the upload button...then on the lower left...after it says upload successful...click on add reply like you normally would.

 

Screenshot instructions are provided to assist those that may read this topic but are not yet aware of the “how to”.

[phillpower2]

·         Right click This PC > Manage > Disk Management.

·         Click Start Menu and then type Disk Management to search.

·         Click Start Menu and type cmd to open command line and then input compmgmt.msc and then click Enter.

 

To capture and post a screenshot;

 

Click on the ALT key + PRT SCR key..its on the top row..right hand side..now click on start...all programs...accessories...paint....left click in the white area ...press CTRL + V...click on file...click on save...save it to your desktop...name it something related to the screen your capturing... BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A .JPG ...otherwise it may be to big to upload... then after typing in any response you have... click on browse...desktop...find the screenshot..select it and click on the upload button...then on the lower left...after it says upload successful...click on add reply like you normally would.

 

Screenshot instructions are provided to assist those that may read this topic but are not yet aware of the “how to”.

[agent_numpty]

As requested

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[phillpower2]

Best Answer

The reason why Windows is not seeing the other drive is because it has been changed from Basic to Dynamic somehow, any ideas as to how it could have happened.

 

The drive concerned is a 2TB, how much data is on it, reason I ask is because it should if possible be backed up before you do anything else.

[agent_numpty]

Theres alot of data on it. Im not sure how i could back up the data if i cant access it?

Im not sure how it became a dynamic drive. The only way i can think of is during the windows 10 installation i mentioned earlier. Even though the drive was never touched, could it have been altered? I did disconnect it a couple of times when i was trying to install windows 10 on the ssd like before.

[phillpower2]

Puppy Linux is my tool of choice for problem drives but there are other options for your situation, example here any such program comes with the warning of potential data loss so be careful, Puppy Linux info below;

 

=================== 

***Required Hardware*** 

CD Burner (CDRW) Drive, 

Blank CD, 

Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)  

=================== 

 

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

• Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso) 

  Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software 

   

  There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; / 

   

  For computers that have UEFI as opposed to legacy BIOS, to be able to boot from your USB device you may need to disable secure boot and change UEFI to CSM Boot, not all computers and BIOS are the same, please refer to your user manual if you have one as the following steps are only one such example.

   

  Restart the computer, Windows 8 and 8.1 from the Start or desktop screen move your mouse pointer over the upper or lower right corner of the screen, when the Windows Charms appear click the Settings Charm, click on Power and then the Restart option.

   

  Windows 10, Click on Start,Power and then Restart.

   

  While the computer is re-starting,you will need to continually tap or hold down the particular key that will allow you to access the BIOS on your computer, we will use the F2 key as an example here;

   

  After restarting the computer, when the screen goes black, press and hold down the F2 key, wait for the BIOS to load.

   

  Select Security -> Secure Boot and then Disabled.

  Select Advanced -> System Configuration and then Boot Mode.

  Change UEFI Boot to CSM Boot.

  Save the changes and Exit the BIOS, commonly F10.

   

  If your computer will not boot into Windows at all, power up or restart the computer continually tap or hold down the key that will allow you to access the BIOS on your computer and then do the following;

   

  Select Security -> Secure Boot and then Disabled.

  Select Advanced -> System Configuration and then Boot Mode.

  Change UEFI Boot to CSM Boot.

  Save the changes and Exit the BIOS, commonly F10.

   

   

• Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer 

• Extract All files to a location you can remember 

• Double Click BurnCDCC 

• Click Browse and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded 

• Open/Double Click that file 

  IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x 

• Click Start  

• Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically 

• Insert a blank CD and close the tray 

• Click OK 

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created 

 

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second 

•  

• Start the computer/press the power button 

• Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup" 

  (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen) 

• Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to: 

  CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd 

• Open your ROM drive and insert the disk 

• Press F10 to save and exit 

• Agree with "Y" to continue 

• Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD 

   

   

 

 

 

3.  Recover Your Data 

• Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM).  You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer".  Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning.  Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy.  To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once.  Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to.  This is normal.  Ready?  Let's get started. 

   

  3a. Mount Drives[list] 

• Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop.  

• A Window will open.  By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted.  Click on Mount for your hard drive. 

• Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount. 

• USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. 

• If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. 

 

3b. Transfer Files.

•  

• At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon. 

• Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1 

• Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1 

• If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows) 

• From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window. 

 

For The Novice:  The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders for XP is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each individual name of each user, for Vista and above  C:\Users\$USERNAME\[...]. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos. 

 

Remember to only click once!  No double clicking!  Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy.  Choose COPY each time you drag and drop. 

 

YOU ARE DONE!!!  Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer.  Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations! 

 

 

 

 

[agent_numpty]

Recovery done.

 

I've rebooted back into the SSD with Windows 10, checked the files I've transferred and they're all there.

I've gone back into the Disk Management again, there's an option when I right-click on the "Dynamic" drive to convert to Basic, is that what happens next?

Edited by agent_numpty, 01 January 2017 - 07:32 PM.

[phillpower2]

I've gone back into the Disk Management again, there's an option when I right-click on the "Dynamic" drive to convert to Basic, is that what happens next?

 

 

Correct but only if you are 100% certain that everything backed up ok 

[agent_numpty]

Everything was backed up. I converted to Basic. The rest of it seemed pretty obvious with right-clicking to create a new partition (I used the whole hard drive) using the wizard. Problem solved. Thanks.

[phillpower2]

Glad to hear that all is now well and thank you for letting us know 

 

You are welcome btw agent_numpty