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General discussion

Can't access one folder in my Simpletech external HDD.

Aug 5, 2011 9:11AM PDT

I have a 500GB Simpletech external hard drive that has one folder I can't get into. I use it on a Windows 7 computer normally, but I went on vacation and plugged it into my friend's old XP laptop. It worked the first time I plugged it in, but the next day, just the folder that I accessed does not open. Now I have the same problem plugging it into any computer. Every other folder opens instantly, but the one that doesn't gives me the "not responding" message. It doesn't seem like a hardware issue with the drive. Any ideas?

Discussion is locked

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Too many causes.
Aug 5, 2011 9:59AM PDT

Be sure to see if you can use a command line DIR to list the folder contents. If you can, it's likely that old unpatched issue with Windows we've had for years (Explorer hangs on content it can't figure out such as video and images!)

It's a shame MSFT has left that bug in this OS.
Bob

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Ran the dir command...
Aug 8, 2011 3:20PM PDT

I take it this is a bad sign:

F:\>dir misc\downloads
Volume in drive F is 500GB
Volume Serial Number is 60B0-5DFC
Directory of F:\misc\downloads
File Not Found

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That's a start.
Aug 9, 2011 1:14AM PDT

OK. Try just DIR to see if MISC is there. Then

CD F:\MISC

Another DIR to see if downloads is there. Then

Then DIR DOWNLOADS again.
Bob

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Tried it just now.
Aug 9, 2011 4:20AM PDT

F:\>cd f:\misc
f:\Misc>dir downloads
Volume in drive F is 500GB
Volume Serial Number is 60B0-5DFC
Directory of f:\Misc\downloads
File Not Found
f:\Misc>dir
Volume in drive F is 500GB
Volume Serial Number is 60B0-5DFC
Directory of f:\Misc
08/09/2011 12:24 AM <DIR> .
08/09/2011 12:24 AM <DIR> ..
12/23/2010 12:31 AM <DIR> Downloads
08/14/2009 08:52 AM <DIR> Misc 0 File(s) 0 bytes 4 Dir(s) 34,899,959,808 bytes free
f:\Misc>dir downloads
Volume in drive F is 500GB
Volume Serial Number is 60B0-5DFC
Directory of f:\Misc\downloads
File Not Found<span id="INSERTION_MARKER"><span id="INSERTION_MARKER"><span id="INSERTION_MARKER">

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One more time.
Aug 9, 2011 4:27AM PDT

At the F:\Misc type

DIR /S/A/P

It's possible there is a PERMISSION issue but so far it sounds like a damaged folder.

Look at GOOGLE and XP TAKE OWNERSHIP
Bob

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Tried both.
Aug 9, 2011 5:40AM PDT

It shows the same listing:

F:\Misc>dir /s/a/p
Volume in drive F is 500GB
Volume Serial Number is 60B0-5DFC
Directory of F:\Misc
08/09/2011 12:24 AM <DIR> .
08/09/2011 12:24 AM <DIR> ..
12/23/2010 12:31 AM <DIR> Downloads
08/14/2009 08:52 AM <DIR> Misc 0 File(s) 0 bytes

Also I tried taking ownership, but the process never completes and the folder is still inaccessible. Definitely sounds like a damaged folder.

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If that's all it is and nothing to be saved.
Aug 9, 2011 6:43AM PDT

Just start over by dusting off the drive by removing the partition and and creating a new NTFS partition then quick formatting.

There are tools at the top of the forum if you want to try to save stuff.
Bob

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chkdsk
Aug 14, 2011 10:30AM PDT

I tried running chkdsk from the command prompt. It took 3 full days for it to finish, and gave me this:
75008 file records processed.
File verification completed.
1 large file records processed.

Errors found. CHKDSK cannot continue in read-only mode.

I guess I have to use something else to try and fix the errors. I looked through some of the tools at the top of the forum, but didn't find anything that looked great for this type of error.

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What about CHDKSK?
Aug 15, 2011 12:00AM PDT

I read you ran CHKDSK but nothing about the required /F parameter.

It's interesting you dismissed the usual tools as well as not mentioning the /F command to CHDKSK.

Sorry if this seems hard but it's time Windows got better at the repair tools (MSFT has only begun to figure that out.)
Bob

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CHKDSK
Aug 17, 2011 3:04PM PDT

I did use the /F command specifically. What are the usual tools that you're talking about?

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The ones at the top of this forum.
Aug 18, 2011 12:47AM PDT

For example the Live CD method of access would give up a clue.

And sorry about all this but when a detail is left off such as the /F I have to comment. Some folk get upset over that.
Bob

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Tried Live CD
Aug 19, 2011 3:05AM PDT

Just tried the Live CD and it does the same thing, it just doesn't recognize the folder I'm trying to copy. I can copy anything over except for that one folder.

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Then the folder is corrupt in some new or odd way.
Aug 19, 2011 3:09AM PDT

I had a drive do that and we kept it around for about 4 years trying all sorts of repairs and tests. Last year we called it and copied out the last few things we forgot then deleted all the partitions on the drive, created a new partition, formatted it and it's still working.

Your choice.
Bob

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I win!
Aug 24, 2011 3:41PM PDT

I was able to get everything recovered using easeus data recovery wizard! It took days for all of the processes to run, but it's all done now. Thanks for all the help!