External Hard Drive Problem

[Montrealman]

Hey all,

Woul anyone know how to restore the data on an external drive after the blue screen of death has somehow made my laptop think the drive is empty? Is the drive now really empty? :eek:

I need help on this because there is 3 years' worth of data on there and would really like to get it back ASAP and I want to finish with this fucking bullshit.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

MM :hatsoff:

 

[jod0565]

Damnit!
I wish I could help MM.

 

[JayJohn85]

You should google for free data retrieval programs I am nearly sure there are some out there.....Remember doing a stint in a computer hardware shop and one of the discs with the handy programs the actual data retrieval software was freeware. Unfortunately cant remember its name. Though having said that you will most likely only make a partial data recovery.

 

[Ace Bandage]

If the drive is truly external (connected via USB) then the data should be there. Now, what you need to do is check it on another computer to see if it's there. Picture and movie (JPEG, MP3, MOV, WMV, PNG) files should still be usable. If you ran programs off of the external drive, those aren't going to work if you had to wipe your C drive clean. They'll need to be reinstalled.

 

[maildude]

Jesus, MM. I just bought a new laptop which I am typing from now. It would be a cranial disaster if I lost HD memory and function. I better find out what to do too!! :crash::eek:

 

[Montrealman]

Yes Andronicus Ry, I did all of those. Checked it (it is a USB btw) on the Mrs.' laptop and nothing works, Asks if I want to format, everytime. I know the data is still there though. There is a way. Yes Maildude, learn with me because this royally stinks.

Thanks to all of you guys, including JOD and JJ, every bit of info helps and it's the thought that counts. :thumbsup:

MM :hatsoff:

 

[JayJohn85]

I would try the free trial of this http://www.snapfiles.com/features/filescavenger-803-406688.php

I see from my own searches that they have started to cash in on this type of software but hopefully that one provides a decent trial....Should be simple to use, then uninstall it after you use it. Hopefully it helps.

 

[JayJohn85]

Balls I should have read it all the file size too small for images I guess. lulz. But yea man hunt around for a better trial if there data on it, The software will find it.

 

[Jagger69]

If the drive is truly external (connected via USB) then the data should be there. Now, what you need to do is check it on another computer to see if it's there. Picture and movie (JPEG, MP3, MOV, WMV, PNG) files should still be usable. If you ran programs off of the external drive, those aren't going to work if you had to wipe your C drive clean. They'll need to be reinstalled.

What he said! :thumbsup:

Obvious answer but did you try rebooting? Also, if you can try to restore the registry to an earlier time when your computer was working OK. Bottom line is....failure of your computer should not have any effect on the data stored on your external drive. It's a really great reason for having an external drive to begin with. Good luck....I feel your pain.

 

[Montrealman]

What he said! :thumbsup:

Obvious answer but did you try rebooting? Also, if you can try to restore the registry to an earlier time when your computer was working OK. Bottom line is....failure of your computer should not have any effect on the data stored on your external drive. It's a really great reason for having an external drive to begin with. Good luck....I feel your pain.

:1orglaugh

Yes, rebooting tomorrow and will also try the registry to an earlier time.
Thanks Jagger.

 

[Sicario]

Hey all,

Would anyone know how to restore the data on an external drive after the blue screen of death has somehow made my laptop think the drive is empty? Is the drive now really empty? :eek:

I need help on this because there is 3 years' worth of data on there and would really like to get it back ASAP and I want to finish with this fucking bullshit.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

MM :hatsoff:

Try to find your answer here: http://lifehacker.com/

 

[24788]

Depends on the type of data on it. You can download free programs to find deleted files since some types of hard drives don't delete the entire file while others do. Most of them just rewrite over them this is what I love about Windows vs Macs.

 

[Montrealman]

Try to find your answer here: http://lifehacker.com/

Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[shayd]

Hey all,

Woul anyone know how to restore the data on an external drive after the blue screen of death has somehow made my laptop think the drive is empty? Is the drive now really empty? :eek:

I need help on this because there is 3 years' worth of data on there and would really like to get it back ASAP and I want to finish with this fucking bullshit.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

MM :hatsoff:

Sounds eerily like a corrupted driver or boot file on the HD. To be honest, unless another computer can see the files, I don't think it's salvageable.

 

[Montrealman]

Sounds eerily like a corrupted driver or boot file on the HD. To be honest, unless another computer can see the files, I don't think it's salvageable.

I tried the external on my GF's laptop and it didn't work either. Rebooting my laptop royally failed so I brought it in with the external. I think you might be right though.

 

[shayd]

I tried the external on my GF's laptop and it didn't work either. Rebooting my laptop royally failed so I brought it in with the external. I think you might be right though.

The only other option I can realistically come up with is that whatever port you're using on the HD might be broken, (I'm assuming USB). The only other solution would be if it's got a Firewire or similar plugin and to try that.

 

[deno21]

ulitmate boot disk cd you download the iso file burn it to a cd and put it in cd /dvd drive and restart the pc follow the menu it has a bunch of utilities recover files plus many other things good luck .