Solved help my D HDD drive just re-formated it self

reble

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This is on my Dell Inspiron 15-3541 laptop, OS Win 7 Home 32bit. The HDD in question is a 500GB Sata laptop drive in an external case that plugs into the USB port.

I was working on putting a Windows password recovery prog on a USB flash drive and making the flash drive self booting. I am working on an Asus model X541NA laptop OS Win 10 home 64bit. I forgot the the windows 10 login password. And for some reason I can't get the Asus laptop to boot off the optical drive. I tried changing out the optical drive, it didn't do any good. The Asus laptop will boot from the HDD or a self booting USB flash drive. And I have been looking on the internet for a freeware windows password remove/reset prog that will work on Win 10. I found 1 prog that will work and I have tested it, the name is "PcUnlocker" but the demo version won't finish the unlock. I have to buy product code to unlock the prog. I was trying other password prog's. Making iso imagines then burning them to the USB drive as a self booting drive.
All of a sudden out of no where a Windows box came up saying "The D: drive needs to be re-formated" Windows has done that to me in the past and I just unplugged the USB cable then shut down the 5 volt power pack to the external case, wait about 30 seconds, turn on the 5 volt power pack back on and then plug in the USB cable and that fixes the problem and the D: drive comes back up. NOT this time. The drive came up formated but blank. NOT one single file. The drive was about half full. I use the D: drive to store prog install files, all the backup files for my web page are gone "still have the working files on the C: drive for that. And most of the Android prog's and files are on the C: drive. I have no clue what happen to the D: drive this time. It is unplugged and nothing has been written to the D: drive since this happen. I learned that lesson a long time ago. I was doing something back then with a USB drive and I accidentally reformated the D: drive without looking very close at the drive letter back then. This time I was watching the drive letter very closely. If there isn't a way to recover the drive. I can use the backups that I have and recover about 1/8 of what was on the drive.

Is there a prog that I can put on the D: HDD that will pop up "make a sound" and say "do you really want to format this drive" or won't let the format go on without entering a code or something?

It took a long time to recover from the last format of the D: drive, and some install files I have never been able to find because I can't remember the file names. I know what most of the files do. But there is so many out there to look at by subject.
The pictures bellow show the current state of the D: drive.
 

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My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
I am uploading new version of my boot media. It includes several free partition and data recovery programs.

Recuva may be able to find the stuuf on that formatted drive.

17514x64-v10.iso
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
I looked at the http://down.easeus.com/product/drw_trial and tried it. It won't let me recover the D: drive.
I tried "icare data recovery" and after 8 hours of deep scan all it found was 3/4th of a Windows 7 files. This HDD hasn't been a primary C: drive in over 3 years and I wiped the partition and reformated the drive before storing my files on it. So how did that icare prog find Windows OS files on the D HDD I have no clue.



 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
By the way my OS is Win 7 Home 32bit. I download "1751414x64-v10.iso". Burned it to a DVD and I got the picture bellow. What prog do I use to recover the HDD?



I am uploading new version of my boot media. It includes several free partition and data recovery programs.

Recuva may be able to find the stuuf on that formatted drive.

17514x64-v10.iso





 

Attachments

  • screen capture.jpg
    screen capture.jpg
    58.5 KB · Views: 2

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
As my previous post says, try Recuva.

It is under the start menu in the Data Recovery folder.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
After 3 scans with Recuva all that Recuva saw was scan after scan of the C: HDD not the D: HDD. And I set the settings in Recuva to scan the D: HDD.



As my previous post says, try Recuva.

It is under the start menu in the Data Recovery folder.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
You might try Active@ File Recovery is a tool for data recovery. LSoft Technologies

It will scan free. If it finds what you are looking for, you need to purchase a key to recover the data.

It is one of the better ones, and cheaper than most.

Failing that, you are SOL - unlees you want to send the disk to specialist firms, which are expensive.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Well I can recover some of it via cd/dvd backups if the tool bellow doesn't work. Question is there a prog that I can put on the HDD that will say something like "STOP do you really want to reformat this drive" if this happens again. Or some other way to prevent accidental reformat of this HDD. I have the Windows password recovery prog from Lsoft Technologies. It works good.



You might try Active@ File Recovery is a tool for data recovery. LSoft Technologies

It will scan free. If it finds what you are looking for, you need to purchase a key to recover the data.

It is one of the better ones, and cheaper than most.

Failing that, you are SOL - unlees you want to send the disk to specialist firms, which are expensive.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
Question is there a prog that I can put on the HDD that will say something like "STOP do you really want to reformat this drive" if this happens again.

Apart from the warning windows gives:

warning.jpg

Not that I know of. It isn't an issue for anyone else, as far as I can tell.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
As far as I know I have never seen this format warning box for an HDD. I have seen it for formatting USB flash drives.

PS: the Recuva prog is running right now. Correction the prog from Lsoft is running now

406350d1545618721-help-my-d-hdd-drive-just-re-formated-self-warning.jpg



Apart from the warning windows gives:

View attachment 406350

Not that I know of. It isn't an issue for anyone else, as far as I can tell.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
It is the normal windows warning box for formatting any drive.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Well I couldn't find any prog that would see the files. All those prog saw on a deep scan was the files that make up Windows. Like a new Win 7 install on the D HDD. On normal view the D HDD is empty and formatted. I did do a partial backup a few months back. And from the backup DVD's I was able to recover all of my install prog's except the very latest saves, all my Android app's except for the very latest. I was able to recover the working files on the C drive for my web page and my clubs web page. The latest documents are gone but I can find them again. All most all of the movies are saved already on DVD and the rest I can find again. All and All I recovered a little over 1/2 of what was on the HDD. It is a lesson well learned. Do Regular backups to what ever you have to backup on. In my case I use DVD's, that what I can afford.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 3541
OS
windows 7 home 32 bit, I just changed back from 64 to 32bit
CPU
amc a6-6310, radon r4 graphics 1800mhz with 4 cores
Memory
6.8gb
Graphics Card(s)
not sure off hand
Sound Card
not shure off hand
Monitor(s) Displays
built in lcd
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
1 500gb sata internal HDD and 1 250 gb's sata HDD in a USB external USB case.
Keyboard
Wifi with attached wifi mouse
Internet Speed
don't know
Antivirus
Zone Alarm
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
The gateway laptop model MD2614U died because a voltage regulator on the motherboard went poof. The Gateway laptop has been scraped.
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