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Question

external 1tb hdd not showing in my computer

Dec 13, 2014 7:22AM PST

Hello,
Desperately need to salvage this HDD as ALL my important files are on it.
Had recently copied large files to it without problem but today, when connecting it to laptop (with double usb lead) it did not show in My Computer.
I have checked in Computer Management and it is showing 931GB of Healthy Primary Partition.
My question is please, what exact steps do I take to recover full use of the drive and ensure the data on the disk is not lost by virtue of finding that it is suddenly necessary to Format etc as I have found with other drives in similar situations.
Many thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
forgot to say
Dec 13, 2014 7:26AM PST

am using a Windows 7 Home Premium laptop i5 HP ProBook.
thnx

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Answer
should have said
Dec 13, 2014 7:37AM PST

"moved" files to it not copied.

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"Moved files" is not good.
Dec 13, 2014 7:56AM PST

If you'd copied files you'd be in a better position. There may be ways to get these files off but I'll leave this open to the best suggestions.
Dafydd.

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Answer
There are rarely "exact steps."
Dec 13, 2014 7:57AM PST
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thank you but
Dec 13, 2014 8:06AM PST

does that mean there appears to be no quick fix via the Disk Manager ?
It is showing as a Healthy Primary Partition but if I try to rename it it might require Formatting ? I'm not sure .
Thanks

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Linux disc worth a try Bob?
Dec 13, 2014 8:11AM PST

Dafydd.

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I've heard of
Dec 13, 2014 8:16AM PST

Linux disk but never used one. The creation of it completely foxed me before. Didn't understand the process at all.

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Hi, I'm in the UK.
Dec 13, 2014 8:23AM PST
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one of the options in
Dec 13, 2014 8:18AM PST

Disk Management is "mark the drive as active"
would that not return it to normal use please ?
or any other option ?

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will have to look
Dec 13, 2014 8:21AM PST

at this again tomorrow, bedtime now. cheers guys

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have just noticed
Dec 13, 2014 8:13AM PST

drivesavers.com looks to be in USA. I'm in UK

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worldwide shipping
Dec 13, 2014 9:58AM PST
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update but not resolved
Dec 21, 2014 1:25AM PST

Hi, sorry taken a while to get round to this but have tried Test Disk which appears to be a useful program.
It stated on the appropriate menu function that the External drive in question "file system seems to be damaged"
I could not access the files or copy them via this program but at least it did confirm the above.
I then downloaded Ubuntu iso. & Burned to DVD (981mb)
Set laptop to boot from Optical Drive, connected External drive and loaded Ubuntu DVD.
Chose to load Ubuntu without installing (default menu setting)
Unfortunately Home Screen Ubuntu did not recognise the External Drive any more than Windows did, so
was a wasted effort. Except for familiarising myself with Ubuntu, I am no further forward

Questions please:
1) Are there any viable actions from within either program that I could have used but didn't see?
2) Are there any other utilities that can deal effectively with a damaged file system such as I have ? (it certainly wasn't physically damaged so must have become corrupted somehow, maybe by not being uninstalled safely).
3) Bearing in mind I might not want to lose Windows 7 functionailty, is it possible and safe to Install Ubuntu on the laptop and run the two systems side by side?

I only ask that because it does look appealing and I would like to give it a try.

Many thanks

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Sorry no.
Dec 21, 2014 1:31AM PST

Sometimes a drive is too far gone for any of the DIY apps to get in there. Many of these apps are listed at the "Lost and Found" top post in the CNET Storage forum.

Some scan the drive for pictures without any need for a file system but your drive, as you claim isn't showing in EXPLORER so at least it's operating, spinning but the file system is blown.

If you are getting into recovery systems, you know to clone the drive (I use CLONEZILLA) and operate on the clone copy. That way I can try and try again and again.

Only those very new to such work, work on the last copy.
Bob

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I'm anything but very new to it
Dec 21, 2014 2:19AM PST

but the pressure of circumstances too huge to begin to describe here, made me overlook or deprioritise the potential for failure. I started using PC's in 2001.
I have been using these external drives (from ebay) for some time and they have always been excellent but this one, when it mattered most, let me down. Maybe it was my fault, I cannot be sure.
I do have a cloning program with the USB adapter, cant recall the name of it now, it begins with A but I dont think its Acronis.
Will have to dig that out. It's two floors away from me at mo. Will update when I have any news.
Huge thanks to everyone and Merry Christmas to you all Happy)
Regards

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The thing is
Dec 21, 2014 2:37AM PST

Acronis has so many versions and I can't tell what you have. CLONEZILLA is free, well discussed and along with many Linux commands *see the web? can do a sector copy when the file system is blown.

That way can try over and over. If we try to repair the original we might succeed or do more damage.
Bob

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Apricorn
Dec 21, 2014 6:26AM PST

was the Cloning program and very good it is too.
Will update asap

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Windows & Ubuntu can coexist with limitations
Dec 21, 2014 1:48AM PST

You can install Ubuntu (or several other versions of Linux) on a Windows system, but be aware that Linux uses a different file system which comes with some limitations. For one thing you can never resize a partition because that confuses the grub loader (which Linux replaces your boot mechanism with), resulting in inability to boot from your hard drive. If you put Linux on a flash drive, you can boot from it in about 2 min. using USB 2 (USB 3 is probably a good bit faster, but I haven't tried that).

Good luck with the recovery effort. I can't really add to what's already been said other than to agree with Bob's comment that you should use COPY instead of MOVE. If you only have one copy of important data, it's just a matter of time until you find yourself in the position you are in now unfortunately.

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when you say
Dec 23, 2014 8:10AM PST

put Linux on a flash drive, are you referring to Ubuntu or a different version ?

I have Ubuntu on a DVD now and quite like the GUI but am wary of the idea of installing it anywhere near Windows as a result of your advice above. Not a problem of course but would like a safe way of test using it on another machine perhaps. (just dreaming)

I have been advised to use Clonezilla Free but the jargon involved in setting up the flash drive seems a little over complicated to a domestic user like me. Is there not a simple method to just down load it onto a USB drive and plug & play? I must admit to being a bit flummoxed by that.

It's all very well being Free but it seems rather involved for such a straightforward task of cloning. I have Apricorn (Disk & USB lead) which I have used with reassuring success in the past but as the faulty external drive is 1TB & my laptop's HDD is only 500GB, I imagine I may need to buy a new (internal) 1TB HDD to use externally with the Apricorn lead just for the purpose of having space enough to clone to ??

Would be very grateful for any clarification there please.

Very grateful, thanks

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Here's the link for putting Ubuntu on a flash drive.
Dec 23, 2014 8:22AM PST

If you want to put Ubuntu on a flash drive, here's the link to the instructions:
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows .
`
Bear in mind that I'm only a casual user of Ubuntu and Mint versions of Linux and am by no means an expert on the subject. I have put Ubuntu on a flash drive, and I have Mint on a DVD. I know a whole lot more about Windows than I do about Linux, but I have offered what little I know. I'll just point out that it wasn't me who recommended Linux based programs. I've never used them because I've never found myself needing them. I never have just one copy of any of my data, so I can always afford to format a drive if needed.

Good luck.

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it sounds odd but
Dec 23, 2014 11:39PM PST

never having only one copy of data is exactly what has got me into this mess indirectly.

Over the last ten years or more, I have been working towards being as paperless as possible, having full confidence in my ability to store data.

the drawback comes where I have very frequently needed to add to it and lost track of what is the latest copy etc, thereby ending up with zillions of duplications that have become muddled..

The 1TB ext drive was supposed to be my saviour when I had whittled them down to about 600+GB over three or four bulk folders for convenient editing & deleting. I had been working towards this reduction for a very long time, with various different lesser storage drives.

It was to be the final edit, albeit one that would still take a long time again, before it was what I would know to be a proper orderly bunch of folders, with no duplications. (for further back up), then 2this" happened.

I know, a hard lesson learnt.

Will update with any news, thanks

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Thanks for the update.
Dec 24, 2014 2:52AM PST

I hear you. There are folk that reduce the number of Windows accounts to just one and learn why we need a spare admin account the hard way as well.
Bob

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am going to try
Dec 21, 2014 1:30AM PST

disk-internals and see if that will help.

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and
Dec 21, 2014 1:32AM PST

roadkill ... can only try.

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(NT) Don't expect Roadkil to apply to this one.
Dec 21, 2014 1:43AM PST
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would
Dec 21, 2014 1:34AM PST

partition recovery tools be appropriate or would that just overwrite the data please?

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Link only.
Dec 21, 2014 1:38AM PST
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Ooops, already replied with link.
Dec 21, 2014 1:42AM PST

Dafydd.

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Overwrite?
Dec 21, 2014 1:44AM PST

ANY recovery app that attempts to repair will be overwriting. That's why we work on the clone for recovery.

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disk internals
Dec 21, 2014 1:42AM PST

at least recognises the drive so will try that.
problem i have is external drive is much bigger than receiving HDD but will see how it goes.