My Hard Drive no longer shows up in My Computer

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  1. Posts : 4,161
    Windows 7 Pro-x64
       #11
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #12

    carwiz said:
    Does your Mac use HFS+? Windows is NTFS or FAT. Writing to a NTFS disk with a Mac will destroy the file system unless you're using a plug-in on the Mac or writing to separate partitions. And I think you have to partition the drive on the Mac first, then Windows skipping the Mac partition area.
    I have no idea what the mac uses. It's a Macbook Pro which had Snow Leopard.

    My mac was able to view all the files on my HDD prior to and after copying. So I am having a hard time understanding why the hard drive was destroyed after it was finished copying.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 28
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #13

    Okay, I took the hard drive out of the casing/box.

    I plugged it directly to my desktop's eSATA.

    it shows up in Device Manager fine.

    In Computer Management's Disk Management, it tells me I have to initialize the disk before I can access it.

    BUT WHY WHEN IT WAS WORKING FINE BEFORE!?!?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 28
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #14

    *sigh*
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 742
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
       #15

    Was the file system on the external drive FAT32 or NTFS? How many partitions were there?

    You can recover the partitions using the free Easeus Partition Recovery Software. This site also has tutorials on recovering the deleted partitions.

    After you recover the partition, it is better to copy recoverable files off the hard disk to another hard disk (internal or external).

    Once the files are transferred to another hard disk, remove all partitions from this hard disk, and freshly create new partitions and format to NTFS file system before you use it again.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 28
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #16

    I honestly don't remember if it was FAT32 or NTFS. My drive only had one partition. Thanks for the link. I hope it works because all the other partition recovery software I've used can't even detect the drive. When I get back home for the holidays I will hopefully come back with good results. Thanks.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #17

    Well, before you try any Partition Recovery software, check to see whether you can access the drive and copy the files with another OS - and what else other than Linux.

    My thread Lucid Puppy way to recover files from a non-bootable computer should help you doing that. ( Though it was written to recover files from an internal drive, you can use it to recover files from an external drive too, if the Linux sees it)

    Try.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 28
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #18

    I've transformed my external drive into an internal drive. I took it out of the box and plugged it directly to the eSATA of my computer. I did this with the assumption that Western Digital's USB interface was the one that crapped out.

    Only thing that my computer does is detects my HDD in Device Manager. In Disk Management it tells me the HDD needs to be initiated. Windows Explorer it doesn't show up of course.

    I know that with the USB it didn't show up in MAC anymore either. So I guess I'll download LINUX and see what that does. Thanks for your help. I will check out your thread.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 7,055
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
       #19

    Yep, try it.

    In my write up. it was recovering files from an inaccessible C drive to an external drive.

    In your case you will be trying to read from an inaccessible external drive to your C drive (if enough space is there in it) or to another external drive.

    All this if Lucid puppy can mount and read the problem drive. I am keeping my fingers crossed.:)

    If not successful, you may have to revert to conventional recovery options.
      My Computer


 
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:49.
Find Us