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Accidental formatted external drive

Discussion in 'Windows - Software discussion' started by Barond14, Feb 3, 2013.

  1. Barond14

    Barond14 Member

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    A little while back I was re-installing windows xp, and accidentally checked to defragment my external drive. I wanted to know if there were any programs I could try that might be able to recover some of the files. Lot fo video edits, and design files I'd like to try and get back. Thanks.
     
  2. Barond14

    Barond14 Member

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    I apologize. I meant to say formatted.
     
  3. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  4. Barond14

    Barond14 Member

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    These programs look good but my computer wont recognize my hard drive. When I plug it in it beeps liek its connected liek things normally do on xp. But it wont show up under my computer. First time I plugged in it in a long time it went through the found new hardware procedure and said ready to use, but still didnt show up. Its connected now and the light is lit up green but nothing.
     
  5. scorpNZ

    scorpNZ Active member

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    use another case or install it as a slave
     
  6. Barond14

    Barond14 Member

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    Can you explain to me what that means, or how to do that?
     
  7. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    take the drive out of current drive enclosure as might be bad & either get new enclosure or direct connect to motherboard as secondary drive.
     
  8. Barond14

    Barond14 Member

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    Yikes. Sounds like I'm gonna end up breaking it.
     
  9. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    nope. probably 2 screws holding 1 end with the usb & power connectors in it onto enclosure, take those 2 screws out, pull that end out & drive should pull out.
     
  10. Barond14

    Barond14 Member

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    Then just try and directly connect it from there...once the casing is off? Just like I would normally do, just with the casing off of the actual drive?
     
  11. attar

    attar Senior member

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    Google the name of the drive, e.g 'HP remove case' WD, Lacie etc, for a YouTube video.
    Some are simple and obvious, others are put together by Kung Fu masters.
    That's how I got the drives out of my Lacie and HP cases.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2013
  12. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    Barond14, yes as long as it is sata drive & sometimes ide drive.
     
  13. omendata

    omendata Regular member

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    Before you go pulling things apart

    If it has had its volume wiped it may not show in my computer.

    Go to administrative tools and check the disk management section to see if the disk exists but just has not been formatted / volume created.

    If it shows up then just create a new partition that should solve the problem without ripping things apart.
     

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