External Hard drive malfunction - Seagate 3TB

I have a Seagate 3 TB external hard drive (model SRD00F2) that I use on my desktop dell pc (windows 7 64-bit). I purchased the hard drive on 7/30/13 so it is not even a year old yet. I get an error message saying "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel."

I have tried reformatting the drive, changing the drive letter, etc. I use the drive just for personal use, movies, music, word docs, etc. I have already removed everything from the drive in hopes to completely uninstall and start over with the drive but I still get the error message. Not sure what else I can do. Please help. Thank you

What type of file were you trying to open that got the error message?

What extension did it have?

Were you able to open other files with the same extension at the time you first got that error message---or did you get the error ONLY for that one file?

Were you ever able to open this particular file or files with a similar extension on this external drive?

I'd be surprised if a re-format is necessary, but I guess you've already done that.

Opening PDF, AVI, MP4, MP3, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Not sure about the extension...sorry

Yes, I could open similar files with the same extensions previously. Never had issues before.

As of right now, everything has been removed from the drive. I just dont know why I would still be getting the error message.

Thanks for the reply.

jhouston128 said:

Opening PDF, AVI, MP4, MP3, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Not sure about the extension...sorry

Yes, I could open similar files with the same extensions previously. Never had issues before.

As of right now, everything has been removed from the drive. I just dont know why I would still be getting the error message.

Thanks for the reply.

Extensions are the letters following the dot in the file name: PDF, AVI, MP4, MP3, etc.

When this problem first showed up, you could not open ANY file on this drive?

And you still cannot if they are sitting on this drive, after re-formatting?

Can you open any of these problem files when they are sitting on some other drive?

Scratch the last part: the unallocated volume is no longer split. However, formatting it again, I still receive the error message (as if it is a new drive)

You could and still can open all files, but only intermittently?

The error message you mention includes "for performing this action".

What was that attempted action? Opening? Closing? Deleting? Modifying?

And that error was intermittent and for no particular file?

The thing about the 2 unallocated volumes is resolvable. You need to format the drive as GPT, not NTFS.

ignatzatsonic said:

You could and still can open all files, but only intermittently?

The error message you mention includes "for performing this action".

What was that attempted action? Opening? Closing? Deleting? Modifying?

And that error was intermittent and for no particular file?

The thing about the 2 unallocated volumes is resolvable. You need to format the drive as GPT, not NTFS.

Yes, I can open all files.

I seem to get the error message when my computer is restarted and once it has detected the drive connected to it. Yes, it does include "this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action". But I do not even have to open a specific file on that drive to get the message.

Correct, that message is not connected to a particular file.

I am unable to format the drive as GPT. My options are NTFS and exFAT. The other drives I have (C) and another external hard drive are NTFS...

Drive manufacturer's sometimes have a downloadable tool that will allow you to format a drive that large as NTFS. Seagate may have such a tool. I suggest you look at the drive manufacturer's web site. It's possible that your motherboard manufacturer would also have such a tool.

That aside, I gather your ONLY problem is an error message and if it went away, you'd have no problems other than formatting that drive? You can otherwise do whatever you want with the PC?

Have you tried the drive in another port?

Ok, I will look into that.

Yes, it appears the only problem is the error message and the drive not showing up occasionally. I can do whatever I want with the files on the other drive just fine.

I have tried the drive in other ports. I have a multi-usb that I have tried plugging into. As well as plugging into the back and front ports.