Windows 7: Macrium Reflect caused problem

Hi,

I'm not computer literate so when my 14 month old PC running Windows 7 Home Premium failed to restart I took it to Staples for a recovery installation. Since bringing it home I downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials, then downloaded PC Decrapifier to remove the bloatware, and then downloaded Macrium Reflect and made a rescue disk and my first image backup.

I then started reinstalling programs starting with Microsoft Office suite from disk. That worked without a problem. Then I tried to reinstall the Hallmark Card Studio program from disk and the PC wouldn't read a disk anymore. The light flickered and then went solid. When I went to "computer" and selected the drive the heading at the top of the window said "DVD RW Drive (D HCS 2010 (Not Responding). I tried other disks including the Microsoft Office suite disk that had worked an hour previously and got the same results.

I also noticed that having my Seagate external HDD connected to a USB port prevented my PC from booting. That is the same problem that caused me to take the PC to Staples in the first place, and yet I've had that external drive plugged in permanently for months without a problem.

I finally connected the dots. The last thing I did before I had to take the PC to Staples was to install Macrium Reflect, and the last thing I did before the CD/DVD drive failed after I got it back from Staples was to install Macrium Reflect.

I uninstalled Macrium Reflect and now my CD/DVD drive works again. But, I still can't boot with the Seagate external HDD plugged in. Does anyone know how to fix that?

Thanks for your help.

Art

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized full Disk Management drive map with listings showing all columns and external HD plugged in, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

Never heard of that before.

Hi Gregrocker,

Thanks for the quick response. I'm sorry but, as I said, I am computer illiterate and don't know what a full Disk Management drive map is.

Art

To get to the disk management screen type
disk management
in the bottom left search box
Here is how you post a screen shot
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Also post a screen shot with your external drive unplugged, presumably so you can boot.
Then, after booting, plug your USB external HDD in. Described it's behaviour and another screenshot if possible.

Even if the screenshot doesn't show External to be Active or System, in most cases wiping it will solve this problem. Move the data off and wipe it from Partition Wizard bootable CD using Option 3 in this tutorial to see. Partition Wizard Use the Bootable CD

Hi Gregrocker and MJF,

Here are the screenshots you requested.







The first and third pictures with the external drive attached look identical to me. The only difference is that the third is after rebooting with the external drive plugged in. Naturally, now that I started this thread I cannot reproduce the problem. I rebooted with the external HDD plugged in to the USB and it started without a problem. Kind of like taking the car to the mechanic and it doesn't make that funny noise anymore.

I'm still not going to reinstall Macrium Reflect though. Thanks for your help.

Art

It looks correct x3.

If the problem persists move the data off the external and wipe it using free Partition Wizard bootable CD, Option 3 here: Partition Wizard Use the Bootable CD. Then create and format a Logical data partition.

Thanks Gregrocker, I'll do that.

Art

I don't doubt your problem is not real but apparently not visible now.
I would do nothing until it "reappears". I would be hesitant to format your external HDD until you know the cause of the problem.
If you decide to format it I would keep it as a primary not logical - it's a little (portable?) 320GB drive.

Given it's a Seagate Freeagent, I would download the free Seagate "SeaTools" from their website and run diagnostics on the drive.
Also try the Windows disk/filesystem check on H:
Open "Computer"
Highlight H: > rightclick > properties > Tools > Checknow

1) First run with top box only checked - this will check the file system
2) Second with only the bottom box checked - this will do a detailed scan for bad blocks. It will take ~ 1 hour or so.