After months of use... it now asks for formatting !
I bought this external HD months ago with no problem using it/transfering files.
But now, everytime I plug it in the USB 2.0 port, I can see my drive still but i get a message when I want to open it: Need to format the disk.
Of course I said no since I have 140G+ data... How can I solve this? I thought it was pre-formatted already... I couldn't find any answer to my problem in other posts... thx in advance !
But now, everytime I plug it in the USB 2.0 port, I can see my drive still but i get a message when I want to open it: Need to format the disk.
Of course I said no since I have 140G+ data... How can I solve this? I thought it was pre-formatted already... I couldn't find any answer to my problem in other posts... thx in advance !
Computers & Internet - Iomega - (33600) 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive
Answers & Comments
I had this very same problem...
I found good advise on another message board and it has worked!! I downloaded a program called TestDisk from www.cgsecurity.org. It's a free program that runs in a DOS form so it's a bit confusing. But it can read your files off a secondary boot. Follow the steps below and you should be ok. Hope it works for you too!
1. Start Testdisk.
2. Select [Create] to create new log.
3. Select the drive you are trying to recover.
4. Select [Proceed].
5. Select platform. I used [Intel] since I am running this on a Windows machine.
6. To restore your files, select [Advanced].
7. Select [Boot].
8. Select [List]. This will list all the files and folders on your drive.
9. Highlight each file and folder one at a time and type "c". Make sure it is a lower case "c" since it is case sensitive. This will copy the files to your hard drive.
Under any condition do not format the external HDD,
try using a different USB plug.
if you have been removing this unit unnecessarily without plugging out correctly using the "safely remove hardware" there is a possibility that the USB firmare is corrupted