My external USB 3.0 HD was working perfectly well yesterday. However, today suddenly became an "unallocated" drive without even a drive name. I'm able to detect the drive but I have no way of accessing it.
The only solution that I've tried so far is to access the HD with another computer. But, the results are the same with those computers. I haven't done anything else...
Here's a screenshot of the problem:
Unallocated space is free space or unused space. I couldn't begin to say why the space suddenly became available; generally, it requires formatting the drive. Recovery of data, for a home user, is not very promising. There are companies that specialize in recovery, but they are costly. Depending on the importance of the data, it is a personal call as to the value relationship.My external USB 3.0 HD was working perfectly well yesterday. However, today suddenly became an "unallocated" drive without even a drive name. I'm able to detect the drive but I have no way of accessing it.
The only solution that I've tried so far is to access the HD with another computer. But, the results are the same with those computers. I haven't done anything else...
Here's a screenshot of the problem:
You can download "MiniTool Partition Wizard", from the following site for a more advanced partition tool;
http://www.partitionwizard.com/
They provide free e-mail support and have been responsive to my requests for assistance. So, you may want to give it a shot, it's free with good instructions on how to use it and has free customer support. Certainly, can't hurt to give it a try.
HTH
I don't know whether this is relevant, but your screenshot also appears to indicate you don't have an active flag on any of the four partitions on Drive 0. I would have expected to see the recovery partition marked as active, because that's where the boot files are.
Are you able to boot into Windows OK?
If so, Partion Wizard's Partition Recovery tool is well worth a try, as suggested by Sir George.
You need to fully expand your disk management layout by double-clicking the separators at the top of the screen, and then post again so that we know for sure.
Have you downloaded Partition Wizard yet as that may be the only answer.
I would also recommend the Partition Recovery Wizard feature included in free Partition Wizard.
If it doesn't find anything to recover then run Check File System on external as I have had that bring several back to life.
If any of the above does not help, try TestDisk
TestDisk - CGSecurity to fix the partition table.
Read the documentation on the site diligently. My guide Regain a lost drive using Test Disk - An Illustrated Guide should also be of help.
(In that trial, I had deleted the partition table, made the drive unallocated and then recovered the partitions using TestDisk.)
Thanks. I tried the Home Edition of Partition Wizard and it worked marvellously. It "found" my "lost" partition and within minutes brought it back to life...Unallocated space is free space or unused space. I couldn't begin to say why the space suddenly became available; generally, it requires formatting the drive. Recovery of data, for a home user, is not very promising. There are companies that specialize in recovery, but they are costly. Depending on the importance of the data, it is a personal call as to the value relationship.My external USB 3.0 HD was working perfectly well yesterday. However, today suddenly became an "unallocated" drive without even a drive name. I'm able to detect the drive but I have no way of accessing it.
The only solution that I've tried so far is to access the HD with another computer. But, the results are the same with those computers. I haven't done anything else...
Here's a screenshot of the problem:
You can download "MiniTool Partition Wizard", from the following site for a more advanced partition tool;
http://www.partitionwizard.com/
They provide free e-mail support and have been responsive to my requests for assistance. So, you may want to give it a shot, it's free with good instructions on how to use it and has free customer support. Certainly, can't hurt to give it a try.
HTH
I think it must have been a file system error or something weird with the HD. :S
Good work.
Now run Check File System on the drive with both boxes checked to find and repair errors. Same as Disk Check
Wow! What a Life Saver! You guys Rock! Exactly my problem to a T and this app really worked! Thank you guys!
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