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General discussion

External Hard Disk Empty

Apr 21, 2009 6:30AM PDT

Hi.

I have 250GB external hard disk wherein I stored most of my files. I plugged it in on my computer at my office and it was working perfectly. After safely removing it and plugging it again my folder says 'EMPTY'. I checked the properties and it shows my files, but unfortunately i cannot find any of them.

I tried restoring by way of downloading alot of softwares but eventually it cannot be restored. Sad

Is it because of the virus why this thing happened?

How can i recover my files.

Please I need help.

Appreciate it. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Re: data recovery
Apr 21, 2009 6:44AM PDT

Your post isn't very clear, alas.

I've never seen a folder say "EMPTY". And it's not clear what "it shows my files, but I cannot find any of them" means. Nor if it's only ONE folder that has this problem or all folders. Nor what software you downloaded and what you did after you downloaded them.

- What does the pie-chart in the disk-properties say about total and free disc space? Is it what you expect or are files lost?
- Did you do a chkdsk on the drive?
- Do the files show up if you show hidden and system files?
- Do they show up in the attrib-command?

It's not yet time to cal a professional data recovery company, like ontrack.com or drivesavers.com. But that might become necessary/

Did nobody ever tell you that external hard disks are RATHER UNRELIABLE? And that you MUST make a backup copy of your files (burn to DVD, for example, or copy to one or two internal hard disks) if you don't want to loose them? With a little bit of bad luck, you can tell others!

Kees

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Re: data recovery
Apr 22, 2009 2:10AM PDT

Hi Kees!

Sorry if i got you confused. Let me rephrase it. I tried to open the hard disk but there's absolutely nothing on it. But if you check the disk properties, i still get the same used space size as before. That means all the files are still there. i'am a noob here and really don't know what to do. i know some basics like "show hidden files and finding it through command prompt" but still it doesn't work.

I tried using zar84 data recovery but i only retrieved 1 folder out of 50+ and it took more than 4 hours just on scanning the disk. It's just a trial version anyway.

Any suggestion? Can you please give me some solutions that are not that complicated?

Thanking you in advance!

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Data recovery will take a few days.
Apr 22, 2009 2:33AM PDT

It's on USB and there are gigabytes to sift through so set aside time for the following titles to do the work.

GETDATABACK
ZERO ASSUMPTION RECOVERY
EASYRECOVERY

Now we have had a few folk complain the demos don't recover the data. That's how demos work. Nuff about that.
Bob

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data recovery will take a few days.
Apr 22, 2009 3:04AM PDT

Actually, I tried using all these demos unfortunately only one folder got retrieved.

Absolutely! it will take a few days or weeks trying to get back my files.

I was just wondering if there would be an easy way. Sad

I guess by patience will be tested then.

Thanks for the help. Happy

Missy Happy

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If those demos only show that much. Next stop?
Apr 22, 2009 5:38AM PDT
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data recovery
Nov 13, 2011 11:47PM PST

Hy missyleeloo09!

I have the same problem.
How did you solve your problem?


Thanks!

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Years later.
Nov 14, 2011 11:22PM PST