Solved Cannot access external hard drive.

[mkmkmk4780]

I've been using this hard drive for a while, and now all of a sudden I cannot access it. Under My Computer, it is referenced by Local Disk (H: ). Usually, it says MK HD (F: ) or (E: ). When I left or right click on the disk, Windows Explorer freezes. I have tried changing the letter of the drive by using Disk Management,however Disk Management gets stuck while saying "Connecting to Virtual Disk Service...".

Any suggestions on how I can access my hard drive? Data recovery is sort of important, but if a reformat is necessary, then that is fine.

 

[Dude]

I would try another cable first, or another port. What type drive is it?

 

[mkmkmk4780]

I've already tried those suggestions. It is a 500GB Verbatim hard drive.

 

[jumanji]

Please post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management with your external drive plugged in. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Please make sure that you hide the Actions pane by clicking on the Show/hide action pane in the Toolbar, so that we get a full view.

If you have problems on your PC, try connecting it to another PC to get the screenshot.

 

[mkmkmk4780]

I will have access to another PC tomorrow. I will test the hard drive on that to help identify the problem.

In the mean time, here are some screenshots of Disk Management:

-Here is what it looks like without the hard drive connected:


-Here is what it looks like when I connect the hard drive while the Computer Management window is open:

Note that Disk 1 is my external hard drive. When I try to click on it, the window becomes non-responsive.

-Here is what it looks like when I close Computer Management, connect my hard drive, then re-open Computer Management:

It stays like this for a while (but doesn't become non-responsive). Note that this is the first time I have seen the message at the bottom "Loading disk configuration information".

-Finally, here is the screen that I have always been getting:

It stays like this, but doesn't become non-responsive.

 

[jumanji]

OK,that is one too many screenshots. My bad, it doesn't take me anywhere but I shall not jump into any hasty conclusions.

My thinking at this point of time is that if it repeats the same in another PC, we may have to get into data recovery mode. I shall wait for the screenshots from another PC. (If by any chance your external drive is readable on another PC, copy all data in it to another external drive/storage media and then we shall format it. That is my plan as of now.)

 

[mkmkmk4780]

The problem definitely lies with the hard drive. We'll have to do the undesirable: re-format it. The only way I know how to do that is by right-clicking on the hard drive and selecting "Format". However, as I mentioned before, whenever I click on the hard drive the window becomes non-responsive.

 

[jumanji]

What happened? Did you try the HDD on another PC? With what results?

Now Run MiniTools Partition Wizard Home edition. Download the bootable CD version from Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the last one on this page)

You may either burn the ISO to a CD and boot from it or create a bootable pen drive with that ISO using Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Note: If you had created a bootable pen drive, when booting with it you have to type linux0 against the boot prompt and press Enter for the boot process to continue. ( It is zero and not the alphabet O. You may press TAB key to see all available options linux0, linux1, local, I think.)

Let us know how it shows up in Partition Wizard. Take a camera snapshot and post it. Let us see whether data recovery is possible before trying to format.

 

[octoben]

I seem to have the exact same problem with my hard drive. It freezes when I try to do anything with it and will only be read if the power supply to the hard drive is reset, disconnecting and connecting the USB does not let my computer read the drive.

The weird thing is, the drive works on Macs and not other Windows PC so I was wondering what steps I should take to solve this.

As a sidenote, I did not format it for the Mac.

 

[jumanji]

Hi Octoben.

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Just a quick note before leaving station.( I am out for the next two days.)

When you can read the drive, copy all data to another drive (backup) and then try to format your problem hard drive. ( If Windows Disk Management cannot format it, try formatting with MiniTools Partition Wizard. I would prefer that you run PW from a bootable CD/pendrive.)

Download the bootable CD version from Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (the last one on this page)

You may either burn the ISO to a CD and boot from it or create a bootable pen drive with that ISO using Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Note: If you had created a bootable pen drive, when booting with it you have to type linux0 against the boot prompt and press Enter for the boot process to continue. ( It is zero and not the alphabet O. You may press TAB key to see all available options)

OK, I got a call to rush to the Pickup vehicle. Bye.

 

[mkmkmk4780]

Here's an update for you:

I downloaded Partition Manager and used Rufus to allow my laptop to boot from my USB drive. From there, I was able to view the data on my hard drive. I didn't have a viable transfer location available (and the data isn't too terribly important) so I decided to re-format the hard drive. Note that this wasn't possible before as Windows Explorer would freeze every time I tried to click on my hard drive (be it left- or right-clicking). Thus, my hard drive was wiped clean. I think this was the best option in the end. It is now working fine again, being filled with remnants of its previous contents. Thank you all for your help.

 

[jumanji]

Hi triplemk4780,

I am glad to note you successfully ran Partition Wizard from the Rufus-created bootable pen drive as per the instructions contained in my post #8.

You perhaps ran the Partition Recovery Wizard in it and could view the files in the partition explorer. Had you finished the operation, it would have repaired the partition table and your hard disk would have been restored. Anyway, data recovery not being a necessity, you chose to format it with PW. Good.

I am happy to see the solved tick mark. Thanks for the update.

 

[anantgaurav]

I tried booting with the same way.
It says some kernel loading problem.
I need to recover my hard disk.
Kindly help

 

[jumanji]

Please start a new thread explaining your problem clearly. If an external drive is involved give all details like make, model /P/N , capacity etc.,. Also post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management with only the problem external drive connected.

 

[Wamfie]

I am having the exact same problem as user mkmkmk4780. Could you please assist me. The data on my external is extremely important,and having to format it would be no option,unless there are other ways of retrieving the data

 

[jumanji]

Hi Wamfie,

Welcome onboard.

You may feel it is the same problem. But we may feel different if you explain the problem clearly.

So please start a new thread explaining your problem without referencing it to this thread - as if you hadn't seen or read this thread.

Please give complete details of your external drive and what exactly is happening. If possible post a screenshot of how the drive appears in Windows Disk Management. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Hope to see you return in a new thread.

 

[psychOtycOOn]

Hi triplemk4780,

I am glad to note you successfully ran Partition Wizard from the Rufus-created bootable pen drive as per the instructions contained in my post #8.

You perhaps ran the Partition Recovery Wizard in it and could view the files in the partition explorer. Had you finished the operation, it would have repaired the partition table and your hard disk would have been restored. Anyway, data recovery not being a necessity, you chose to format it with PW. Good.

I am happy to see the solved tick mark. Thanks for the update.

Hi Jumanji,
Please show me step by step for the post#8, i already download but still dont know how to use that..facing same problem & the content of HD very importatn to me