Solved External HD wants to format

[Matosk]

Hi,
I encountered an issue with my Western Digital 500 GB external hard drive which after plugging into USB in my laptop (tried 2 laptops) it says it need to be formatted. I use the hard-drive only in my laptop and plugged in TV as source to watch movies etc.. In the TV the HD still works without any issue.
I have searched many forums and tried 7-8 applications for data recovery but it was not working to at least copy the data to new hard-drive. Seems that some of the system files for windows are damaged.
When I tried recovery software scan, it started but after short while the disk disappeared from view and the scan stopped.

I want at least to copy the data, as I have almost full disk. Anyone that could advise? Many thanks

 

[vrosa]

Try to use EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard to copy your data...

 

[Matosk]

Try to use EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard to copy your data...

I have tried that program, but it couldn't copy. Perhaps it will help that when I performed chkdsk in command line: It's showing as RAW disk now...

 

[jumanji]

Please post a screenshot of a full screen, untruncated Windows Disk Management with only your problem drive connected as per instructions here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[Matosk]

please post a screenshot of a full screen, untruncated windows disk management with only your problem drive connected as per instructions here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Here you go, it is visible as the 465GB disk, but there is no sign of the disk in the list above. It should be normally visible as disk F:
Does it help?

 

[jumanji]

Quite strange. It doesn't even say Disk 1 just Disk.

Please do the following and answer the queries:

1. At this point of time, are you still able to play from the drive on the TV? Yes/No ( Actually try it and post your answer and not what was happening earlier. )

2. In the Disk Map right click on where it says Disk. What menu items do you see? Click on "Offline" to take it offline and once the disk is offline, Right click again and bring it "online". Are there any changes on how the drive looks after this toggle?

3. Close Windows Disk Management, safely remove the external , plug it again and look it in Windows Disk Management again. Do you see any changes?

4. Model/ P/N of the Western Digital drive???. I am assuming that it is a portable external. Is it Elements, Passport or Passport Ultra? Have you installed any Drive Utilities that came with your external drive?

5. Download and install MiniTools Partition Wizard Free Edition version 9.0 Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online. Run it with your external connected and post a screenshot.

Please post your answers point by point without skipping any query.

 

[Matosk]

Quite strange. It doesn't even say Disk 1 just Disk.

Please do the following and answer the queries:

1. At this point of time, are you still able to play from the drive on the TV? Yes/No ( Actually try it and post your answer and not what was happening earlier. )

2. In the Disk Map right click on where it says Disk. What menu items do you see? Click on "Offline" to take it offline and once the disk is offline, Right click again and bring it "online". Are there any changes on how the drive looks after this toggle?

3. Close Windows Disk Management, safely remove the external , plug it again and look it in Windows Disk Management again. Do you see any changes?

4. Model/ P/N of the Western Digital drive???. I am assuming that it is a portable external. Is it Elements, Passport or Passport Ultra? Have you installed any Drive Utilities that came with your external drive?

5. Download and install MiniTools Partition Wizard Free Edition version 9.0 Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online. Run it with your external connected and post a screenshot.

Please post your answers point by point without skipping any query.

Now I tried to do your list with my laptop in work (still Lenovo)

1. Yes, I still can play the drive on my TV.

2. When I clicked offline, then my laptop froze, I waited for 10 mins and unplugged the USB cable but I was able to do a screenshot from my phone (sorry for the quality) as Windows was frozen couldn't apply any screenhunter tool.


3. Cannot do that because when I tried to safely remove, then Windows gets frozen until I unplug the USB cable.

4. P/N WDBACY5000ABL-00 . Yes it's external portable - Passport version. No I haven't installed any utilities from the WD drive.

5.

 

[jumanji]

It makes it difficult to analyse the situation if you change horses midway.

Now from the pictures you posted last, what all I can say is your data is still there and we should be able to get it.

Please go home and do it leisurely on the same laptop/PC from which you presented the WDM Screenshot in post#4.

Now do it in this order.

!. Post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management.(After you changed the horse we have to redo it with the old horse )

2. Post a screenshot of Partition Wizard.

(In many situations (but not all ) where Partition Wizard shows the drive as Read only toggling the drive offline/online in Windows usually sets it right. That is what I wanted you to try but trying it on a different PC you have made it meaningless.)

 

[DavidE]

I have searched many forums and tried 7-8 applications for data recovery but it was not working to at least copy the data to new hard-drive.

Have you tried MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal ?
Right now you can get the paid version for free from WindowsDeal:
MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal (100% Discount)

 

[jumanji]

Put on hold my instructions in post#8, grab MiniTools Power Data Recovery and try it.

 

[Matosk]

I have searched many forums and tried 7-8 applications for data recovery but it was not working to at least copy the data to new hard-drive.

Have you tried MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal ?
Right now you can get the paid version for free from WindowsDeal:
MiniTool Power Data Recovery Personal (100% Discount)

No, I didn't. Many thanks for your post. I downloaded the free 'paid'version, but the problem is that if I plug the drive into USB and let the tool scan/refresh, it starts with 1%, but then stucks. Only after I remove the USB cable the system works again but the tool crashes :/

Jumanji: I tried to do the steps with 'old' horse but after I plug the drive into USB and in the disk management it starts to scan, it scans something like 5 minutes, then for half a second the drive appears and immediatelly dissapears from the disk drive list. So I cannot post any screenshot from that. How can I achieve that Windows doesn't (and program) freezes so I can perform some action?

 

[DavidE]

Some of these type of programs and options can take a LONG time to run.
How long did you wait ?
Maybe start it before you go to sleep, and see what it shows in the morning ?

 

[DavidE]

You could also use Task Manager (TM), perhaps even TM Resource Monitor to see if there is any activity that shows it's doing "something".

I prefer and use Sysinternals Process Explorer as it has more info than TM.
In my example I have it sorted by "CPU Usage" and i can see what processes are using how much, and see the changes ...

 

[jumanji]

While you carry on with DavidE, post a screenshot of Partition Wizard if your drive shows up in it on your old horse.

If it sees the drive, you can then run Partition Recovery Wizard. But do it only on further instructions.

 

[Matosk]

DavidE : I wanted 2 hours, but only for refresh button in the tool in order to make the external drive visible. But that is always freezing the system and nothing is happening also in task manager.



In case I don't have the USB drive plugged, the refresh is immediate - below 1 second. After I unplug the USB cable (mentioned 2 hours) and Mini tool crashes down and I open it again it shows this screen- recovery result but when I want to see the results the tool says it can't open the results...

 

[DavidE]

The only other thing i can think of to try is a Paragon Rescue Disk.
Rescue Kit 14 Free Edition - Overview

 

[Matosk]

The only other think i can think of to try is a Paragon Rescue Disk.
Rescue Kit 14 Free Edition - Overview

DavidE : You are the best! Thank you man. This finally worked

Thank you Jumanji as well for great support!

 

[DavidE]

You're welcome and glad to hear that worked for you !

 

[TechSeven]

Wow david and jumanji you fixed his problem.

What is the difference between paragon rescue and the other recovery softwares like easeus.. etc?

 

[jumanji]

^ No, it was out and out DavidE. I had no part or rather parted/departed midway.

I shall leave your the other question to DavidE