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Resolved can't access external hd

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by enyaw1w, 2009/12/01.

  1. 2009/12/01
    enyaw1w

    enyaw1w Inactive Thread Starter

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    Have a celeron D 3.2 hz xp sp3 system w/2 sata internal hd's and a 500gb external drive (usb) which all were working until yesterday. Clicked on file sharing for the external drive, and it proceeded to access folder and set up share. Then the power went out and now all I can access is the drive number with no data data tree (and that takes 5-10 min using 'my computer'). How can i recover the the data? It was all my backup stuff from win 95 to present.
    enyaw1w
     
    enyaw1w,
    #1
  2. 2009/12/01
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    wildfire,
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  4. 2009/12/04
    jpChris

    jpChris Inactive

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    You could try taking the USB drive to another computer, plug it in, and see if you can access the info.
     
    jpChris,
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  5. 2009/12/05
    enyaw1w

    enyaw1w Inactive Thread Starter

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    Did all the switching first off. it is a WD caviar se 16 , 500gb. WD site didn't help. used a ap called ADRC & it shows drive and the files but many files have a ????? location address. can not undelete w/this app (or any other function). this was my bkup drive for everthing! i was just trying to share it w/main comp. ??
     
    enyaw1w,
    #4
  6. 2009/12/05
    jpChris

    jpChris Inactive

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    I'm sure someone will correct me, but, I believe the "?" marks derive from where the drive is looking for the files.

    Are you able to access any of the "?" files?

    Can you "unshare" the drive?
     
    jpChris,
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  7. 2009/12/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    This is the diagnostic software you require from WD .....

    Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD)
    Not a good omen :(
    Sounds like the file system is corrupt or the platter damaged.

    Run the disk diagnostics and see what comes up.
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2009/12/05
    enyaw1w

    enyaw1w Inactive Thread Starter

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    no i can't access and i tried to unshare right away. actually pwr out is wrong term. my machine has been blue screening and it reboots. didn't see all the message as it went down but something about "if files not saved you may lose data ???? so on "
     
    enyaw1w,
    #7
  9. 2009/12/05
    jpChris

    jpChris Inactive

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    Hi enya,
    OK, let's stop the reboots and get the info from a BSOD.

    1) Right-click My Computer
    2) Left-click on Properties
    3) Left-click Advanced
    4) Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings
    5) In the middle pane of the window, you'll see "Automatically Restart ". Uncheck that box.

    Now, instead of your computer rebooting, you'll get a BSOD with information on the screen. Write all the information down (example: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL STOP: 0x0005040a, or some such number).

    Once you have the info, Google it or post it here.
     
    jpChris,
    #8
  10. 2009/12/06
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    In addition to what jpChris posted re .....

    Set up the computer so that it does not automatically restart on system failure .....

    Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings ....

    Under System failure uncheck 'Automatically restart' and under Write debugging information select 'Kernel memory dump' from the dropdown list and OK out.

    The computer will now show the BSOD in the event of a System failure giving details of the Stop message and the contents of the memory will be dumped to disk.

    Run the dump data through our Dump Data Collection Tool and post the log here (copy/paste).

    Unfortunately these logs require expert knowledge to analyze and there are currently no members that have the depth of knowledge necessary. Members can only make observations and suggestions as to how you might proceed toward finding the cause .....
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2009/12/07
    enyaw1w

    enyaw1w Inactive Thread Starter

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    RESOLVED thanks all. i did try the dos program but it never could find usb drive, but after trying 5 data recovery apps (windows) found one that worked (open source PC investigator). it located all files deleted and undeleted and evidently reprogramed the boot sector of the usb drive. now all is well!!!
     
    enyaw1w,
    #10
  12. 2009/12/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Great to hear of a happy ending :)

    I've marked this thread as 'Resolved', please see .....
     
    PeteC,
    #11

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