Hi folks

I have a pretty essential problem here! I have an old external harddisc with about 2 TB audio data that seems to have died!

The odd thing is that my computers actually accept the harddisc when I connect it but it doesnt show up and can´t be opened from my computer!

I´ve tried tree different computers now and its the very same issiue on them all!

Im have a theory that the harddisc is still alive (so to speak) but only can be accessed by a recovery app, so..........

Do you have any solutions, and if I need a recovery app for doing the job, what app would you suggest me to use - a free app of cause!

Thanks in advance

phloopy

 

phloopy , You Don't Need 'recovery app' ,
Just Right click on "my computer"
Choose MANAGE
Then find DISK MANAGEMENT
You should see your External hard drive under the list.
Right click on it, and choose CHANGE DRIVE LETTER
Choose anything, but I recommand something higher than M:

I've seen this problem with alot of STORAGE DEVICE

It happen more often with Laptop because they usually have Card reader.
So it makes couple drives like e:, f:, g:.
Storage device tries to install themself with the drive letter next to CDROM
c: - HD1
d: - HD2 or CDROM
e: - Mass storage device (maybe for card readers)
So your external HD tries to have the E: drive (probably a bug)

 

you can also use a Linux LiveCD to access HDD and transfer files

 

this was posted a little while back and worked great when my disk died last weekend (thanks saint)

I wont post the link as i dont know if that cool but just search easeus data recovery on audioz

 

or it could be that the controller part of the hard drive is still communicating with whatever computer you plug it into (so the computer sees it), but the motor or the actuator or the head disk itself is toast. when you plug it in, can you hear the disk spinning? can you hear the actuator moving?

 

I have had this happen with seagate externals before, removing the drive from the external enclosure and connecting it directly as an internal hard drive worked for me.

 

I recomend Hard Disk Sentinel Pro to analyse the health level of the HD.
Because you must know if your problem is mechanic or logic (lose the partition table for example)


RECOVERY APP:

Complete File Recovery
Data Recovery Wizard Professional
Recover My Files
Runtime GetDataBack
Smart NTFS Recovery

(I dont know about the last version of each one, but all of them have cracked versions on the Net and easy to find it)

Good luck!!

 

Before doing anything, run the DOS command:
CHKDSK C: /F

replace C letter by the letter of your HD
It's perhaps a pagination error...

And +1 for HD Sentinel Pro, very handy program

 

Thanks a billion Mr_Amine .... really apriciated!

Been in the studio all day! Thats why I didnt reply earlier!!!!!

I have followed your directions, and have one basic problem! I can see the drive but Im not able to change the name (letter) of the drive ... tried on both XP and Win7! ... the harddisc excist ok, but of some reason it will not show up in in my computer! Any chance I have some alternative for changing that letter?

Thanks for your efford so far! And thanks to all others in here too!!!

 

First of all, if you see the data, back them up somewhere else.
When that's done, download bootable Linux distro PartedMagic, then remove the NTFS partition and recreate it on 2048 sector (1 MiB) alignment (be sure to have that backup!).
This is correct alignment that works well with all drives, opposed to 63 sector alignment (odd number), which actually slows your HDD down and reduce lifetime.

After that is done, copy your data back.

Also try to split your data to multiple single-platter drives (such as 500GB 2.5" 5400rpm). Purchasing 7200rpm drive wouldn't add noticeable performance, on the contrary increases noise and consumption <- not worth the investment.
5400rpm high density drives are fast enough (that "minimum system requirement" concerned smaller drives 80-160GB where 7200rpm might have some sense). *yes*
320GB runs about 70MB/s
500GB about 90MB/s

 

This is Video about how to change the letter of your hard drive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w4BQuo7qiI

 

Problem seems to be solved - recovering right now, and it all seems to be ok!!

Thanks a billion for your support!

NB: Using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard 7.5 for the job!

Cheers