External hardrive not "loading".

I have the same question, I need someone to explain it to me, perhaps someone here may know.

I think this is the answer

A RAW file system defines a situation when your operating system fails to recognize the associated volume because the file system extension has been deleted. The system cannot access data from such partitions. When Windows reports this error, it could be because you haven't initialized the partition, haven't formatted the drive or you are trying to access a partition that is corrupt. In such situations, various errors may appear, the most common being is discussed further.

Cause

The file system type is defined at least two different locations: partition table (or LDM in case of dynamic disks) or volume boot sector. The above situation can occur in one of the following possibilities:

Both volume boot sector and partition table possess incorrect file system type information The file system type information contained at these two locations contradict with each other Neither of the two locations contain the correct file system type information

These conditions arise when the partition table, volume boot sector and/or LDM database is corrupt. In NTFS volumes, damage to MFT can also cause this behavior.

Solution

Check for the latest backup you have and restore your data if it fulfills your requirements. Later, you can reformat the drive to solve the error.

In case when no valid backup is available, Windows Partition Recovery utilities can work. The partition recovery utilities are highly competent tools, equipped with graphically rich features, that can recover lost data from corrupt, lost, inaccessible or formatted disk partitions.

I'll try it out, I've downloaded one of the Seagate utilities which is supposed to diagnose errors, but it failed to even start the scan. Hopefully this may at least show us something. Also, no, I don't "tinker" unless I'm very confident and know what I'm doing. I haven't touched the registry.

--- EDIT ---

There is a lot of "red", this can't be good. I'm not sure if this is what I have to post, but here it it, the image included.

Skulblaka said:

...Also, it's the same USB port as always, also, the external drive isn't making the "usual" clicking sound when I access it. I hear the disks spin up, but no major clicking... strange.

Healthy drives do not make a clicking sound.

Unhealthy drives make a clicking sound.

DeVandal said:

Skulblaka said:

...Also, it's the same USB port as always, also, the external drive isn't making the "usual" clicking sound when I access it. I hear the disks spin up, but no major clicking... strange.

Healthy drives do not make a clicking sound.

Unhealthy drives make a clicking sound.

Not really, this drive does that when reading data. It's a rather cheap drive. I don't like it, but I got it during August.

sreedhav said:

Dear Skulblaka,
My apologies to Punkster, because being a slow typer i missed His/Her post! The post was educative. I have cultivated a habit of "creating" system restore points, before installing or any major change! I do not want to insult your intelligence by explaining as to how to go about creating them!

I have a seperate power connection to the EXTN.HD,but the connection via USB to the CPU is untouched! This is b'cause, repeated inserting and removing the USB plug-in WILL damage the hardware! I recently bought a Transcend 8GB pen drive and it is already loose after repeatedly connecting to the USB dongle (the one which has 4-6 usb slots)! When did you buy the Seagate Free Agent Pro? Usual life span of any HD is 5-7 years and beyond it is a blessing!
Regards,
Sreedhav

No, I don't make those mistakes, this is a "bit" more serious. The drive is always connected.

Check above post for what you have asked.

Also, I'm going to bed, I'm tired and have school tomorrow. I'll respond asap.

Clicking sounds from a hard disk drive may emanate from the head actuator as the drive repetitively tries to recover from one or more errors. The clicking sounds can be the heads repetitively loading or unloading, or they can be the sounds of the actuator striking a stop, or both.

See Failing hard drive sounds - Datacent.com - Datacent for audible samples.

DeVandal said:

Clicking sounds from a hard disk drive may emanate from the head actuator as the drive repetitively tries to recover from one or more errors. The clicking sounds can be the heads repetitively loading or unloading, or they can be the sounds of the actuator striking a stop, or both.

See Failing hard drive sounds - Datacent.com - Datacent for audible samples.

So you're saying I could have received a defective product?

All that I am saying is that healthy drives do not make a clicking sound.

Defective product is a loaded term. The facts, as you have provided, are that a working formatted drive now presents as raw.

You are in the warranty period and should exercise it. Prior to doing so, you should also use a tool like File Scavenger to recover your data to the extent possible.

Many experts on this site will afford you their opinions as to the better, more cost effective, options for data recovery software.

It is possible that the drive mfgr will guide you through the process necessary to remove the drive from its assembly so that you can attach it directly to a working system SATA/IDE port.