Windows 7 - Can't Access External Hard Drive

**321** · 03-13-2010

Hello!

I've just installed windows 7 today, so it's my first time using it.

Currently, I have a problem with my external hard drive because I can't access it in My Computer. It's being detected in the driver manager and computer management, but I don't know how I can get it to show up in my computer.

I MAY have accidently formatted it during windows installation, but I'm unsure. I would really like to retrieve my files!

I've attached a few screen shots to help with the explanation of my situation.

Thank you in advance for your help!! :D

**DocBrown** · 03-13-2010

I am assuming Disk1 298gb unallocated is the drive you are talking about ?

Can you right click on it & initialize it ? Not format it ! And assign it a drive letter.

**321** · 03-13-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by DocBrown

I am assuming Disk1 298gb unallocated is the drive you are talking about ?

Can you right click on it & initialize it ? Not format it ! And assign it a drive letter.

I'm not too sure how to do that. I right click it and it doesn't have an option to initialize it. So, how do you assign the drive?

Thanks!

**DocBrown** · 03-13-2010

What Operating system was the ext HD hooked up to before.

It seems to me the last time somebody had this problem, we selected

New Simple volume and it worked.

**win7clutz** · 03-13-2010

Since it's marked unallocated there's apparently no partition information on the drive. You can't assign a drive letter until you create a partition, and creating a new partition will probably destroy any possibility of recovering data although it appears there's nothing to recover anyway...

**Dweezy** · 03-13-2010

I ran into a problem with a hard drive earlier today and I tried to initialize the hard drive. I found that I had to right click on the Left-side where it says "Disk 1, Basic, Online, etc..." to get the option to Initialize it. The picture you have there is you right clicking on the longer horizontal box. Try the one to the left of where you're clicking, maybe you can initialize the drive from there.

**tw33k** · 03-13-2010

That drive has has been formatted and all data erased. You will need to right click it and create a new simple volume. To get the data back, well good luck. I'd try Easus data recovery (Free Download Data Recovery Software.) and if it can recover your files you can look at either buying it or looking for a free alternative

**321** · 03-13-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Dweezy

I ran into a problem with a hard drive earlier today and I tried to initialize the hard drive. I found that I had to right click on the Left-side where it says "Disk 1, Basic, Online, etc..." to get the option to Initialize it. The picture you have there is you right clicking on the longer horizontal box. Try the one to the left of where you're clicking, maybe you can initialize the drive from there.

I tried right clicking on the left side of the box, but the option to initialize it is no where to be seen!

I think maybe my files are erased, if I were to try to recover them would I create a "New Simple Volume"?

**tw33k** · 03-13-2010

Your files ARE erased. To get the drive working you have to create a new simple volume