Solved Will My Data Be Safe If I Use Diskpart To Deactivate an External Drive

[Durango]

Somehow my 2TB Seagate external drive got marked as Active and it causes my system to crash (system goes straight to BIOS). The drive contains many valuable photos and short videos; even though they are backed up, I really don't want to lose them off this drive.

So my question is.......if I use Diskpart to mark the drive inactive, will my data remain intact?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Layback Bear]

If done correctly you will not loose your data.

This tutorial by Brink will explain things.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

First we need to know something.
Does you system boot properly with the external drive unhook from your computer?

Now we need to see your Disk Management so we understand you setup better.
Complete this tutorial by Brink so we can have a look see.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[Durango]

I had actually read Brinks tutorial, but it was silent on the subject of data contained on the drive. I used his tutorial to make another external drive inactive, but that drive contained no data.

And yes, if the external drive in question (M is unhooked from my computer, the system boots just fine.

Attached is a jpg file of my disk management (in three parts).
- The volume in question is Drive M - Drive for Trail Cameras (I need to make it inactive)
- Subsequent to snipping this jpg file, I did deactivate Drive K - 232GB External Hard Drive

Thanks for your help.

 

[Layback Bear]

I know of no reason why Partition (M) should be active.

Why do you have Partition (K) active?

 

[Durango]

I know of no reason why Partition (M) should be active.

Why do you have Partition (K) active?

Come on Layback.......please answer my question. I didn't ask why Partition M should be active. What I asked was "if I use Diskpart to mark the drive inactive, will my data remain intact?

And if you read my response with the disk management you requested, you will see that subsequent to snipping those jpg files, I used Brink's tutorial to make Partition K inactive.

Now you have me nervous about any other response you might give me. You pay little attention to my original question, and to my reply to your request.

I hope there is someone else on the forum who can really help me. Regards........

 

[whs]

If you setup Layback Bear = one of the nicest members on this forum - you won't get much sympathy from us.

 

[Durango]

If you setup Layback Bear = one of the nicest members on this forum - you won't get much sympathy from us.

I didn't set him up at all....please go back and read the sequence of postings/replies.

I asked a very fair question. He asked for more data so he could understand my setup better. I gladly provided such data, which I guess he pretty-much ignored.

If Layback is busy and will get back with me later, that's fine......I can accept that. Just please don't ignore my request for help.

Regards.......

 

[Layback Bear]

From your post #1

So my question is.......if I use Diskpart to mark the drive inactive, will my data remain intact?

From my post #2

If done correctly you will not loose your data.

From your post #3

- The volume in question is Drive M - Drive for Trail Cameras (I need to make it inactive)

From my post #4

I know of no reason why Partition (M) should be active.

I did answer your questions.

The other information I requested was to make sure the information I gave was correct and would not cause problems.
I wanted to see what was active and what wasn't, just to be careful.
I request information so I can try my best not to give incorrect guidance and cause damage to someones computer. You don't like my answers is obvious so I suggest you wait for other to give guidance.

Have a nice day.

 

[Durango]

From your post #1

So my question is.......if I use Diskpart to mark the drive inactive, will my data remain intact?

From my post #2

If done correctly you will not loose your data.

From your post #3

- The volume in question is Drive M - Drive for Trail Cameras (I need to make it inactive)

From my post #4

I know of no reason why Partition (M) should be active.

I did answer your questions.

The other information I requested was to make sure the information I gave was correct and would not cause problems.
I wanted to see what was active and what wasn't, just to be careful.
I request information so I can try my best not to give incorrect guidance and cause damage to someones computer. You don't like my answers is obvious so I suggest you wait for other to give guidance.

Have a nice day.

OK then, my apologies. I know you said in your initial response that if done correctly I will not lose my data. But then you requested more info, including disk management photos. I assumed that was to make doubly sure that making Drive M Inactive would indeed leave my data intact. So I guess I was expecting a confirming answer after you inspected the requested data......something like, your data should be safe.

BTW, I looked back at an old printout of disk management data from when I purchased Drive M a few years ago and the drive was Active then. So I can only assume that it came that way from Seagate. It being Active didn't seem to bother the boot order on my old computer, but it caused my new computer to crash and go straight to BIOS. Thus my need to make Drive M Inactive......and I plan on doing that this morning using Brink's tutorial.

Again, I apologize. I thought you were blowing me off, but I see now that you weren't.

Regards...........

 

[Durango]

Layback Bear - I used Brink's tutorial and was successful in marking my Drive M as Inactive, without losing any of my data. Just as you predicted.......thanks.