Resolved Lost Access to Maxtor 20GB HDD

I have a 3.5" Maxtor Quantum Fireball 20GB HDD which had a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit and I did not verify the copy within the specified time frame so it ceased to work after booting, and showing the message that it was a 'bootleg' copy of Windows 7. The desktop background was black!

I therefore tried to put a copy of Windows 2000 on it but although the BIOS, ASRoc N68 Motherboard, can see it, no Windows or other software, not even Windows 7 installation, which I have can access it. Windows 2000 Disk Management, Storage can see it, but I have a 'No Entry' sign. The HDD is shown as Unallocated, and I cannot get fdisk or format to work as they cannot 'find' the HDD. The Windows 7 installation program cannot achieve a repair either.

Any ideas on how I can access this and format it with NTFS would be greatly appreciated.

 

I would sincerely suggest if you have the W7 64bit OS Disc that you purchase a much larger HD (possibly 250GB size) and install to that.
These days, 20Gb drives are not going handle the jobs you can do with the new OS's.
I can't suggest a way to recover what you have on the 20GB HD, but someone more knowledgeable will look in. Neil.

 

Thanks Neil, I know that 20GB is not a large disk these days, but I was only using it for a trial of the Motherboard, a fast 3GHz+ one, and put the PC to one side and went on holiday.

I just hate to throw anything away but as the HDD was second hand anyway, it won't be a great loss. There is nothing to recover on it, but I would like to use as I still believe in Win2k!!

However it all adds to the fund of knowledge if I can get an answer to the problem.

 

Unable to see the HDD using any Windows/DOS software

Thanks for the reminder, but as I have already pointed out, I am only able to identify the disk in the BIOS, but I am not able to access it using fdisk or any other Windows installation or DOS software.

The Windows 7 is a legitimate copy which I own and use on another PC. As I have also pointed out, I was only using it to test the motherboard. I had nothing else on the HDD and did not intend to use it other than I have already stated, to test the motherboard. It was never connected to the internet, nor did it have any other installed software.

What I need is to find some software which will access the disk and then allow me to format it. I find it unusual that the BIOS software can see the disk and identify it, but that programs like fdisk can't. I am using fdisk from a DOS boot disk and also have tried Partition Magic.

 

Thanks for your advice, Neil. I will put it down to experience and next time remove the program immediately! It must have been one incredible and untimely coincidence that my HD should fail at that particular point in time.

I am sure there is a low level answer to the problem but not one which I can implement without some more in depth knowledge of the testing and low level formatting of HDDs.

 

Thanks for the information about Seatools for DOS. I will download a copy and give it a try and let you know if it works.

 

Thanks for the information about Seatools for DOS, Pete. I downloaded and ran it and lo and behold, my 20GB HDD is now back in service. I have no idea what it did!

I did however find that when I ran the 'Long test' it came up with 1 Error, but did not specify the type of error. It Passed the short test. It also said that the HDD Failed the long test. However it works now.

 

Then it can no longer be trusted.




Note: All hard drives wear out.