9 replies to this topic

[katz1113]

I have 3 external hard drives with huge amounts of data on each of them and lately each one sporadically will show empty???? Not all at the same time but all will do it. Can anyone explain whats going on with these hard drives.. 2 of them are Seagates and one is a Western Digital. I'm very worried I am going to lose some data here. Is there something I can do to prevent this from happening.. I've shut down the computer, unplugged the usb, restarted the computer and plugged the usb back in but it still will show empty. Totally confuses me. Any advice would be appreciated

Thank uou
katz1113

[Broni]

It's not the best idea to play with plugging in, unplugging external drives, when computer on.

Now, how do they show in Disk Management?

Also....

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingc...rive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

[JohnT]

I have three external drives myself but I transfer data to Dual layer DVD's at least once a month so that I can keep free space as well as not overload the disks. I would be concerned about your main cpu. Is it overheating? No intermittent power problems that would indicate a power supply problem?

[katz1113]

Broni, on 25 July 2010 - 10:12 PM, said:

It's not the best idea to play with plugging in, unplugging external drives, when computer on.

Now, how do they show in Disk Management?

Also....

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingc...rive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

Not sure I understand what you mean by how do they show in disc management? This is too deep for me. downloaded file iso[b] type????????????? but this morning they all opened up. yesterday I kept getting popup saying {delayed write failed} I'm scared to death I'm going to lose the data

Arlene

[Broni]

Since those are eternal drives, you can't use .iso version.
That's for the situation, when you're testing primary drive and you want to create bootable CD with drive testing program on it.

In your case, download Windows test version and run the test from within Windows.

[katz1113]

Broni, on 26 July 2010 - 10:34 PM, said:

Since those are eternal drives, you can't use .iso version.
That's for the situation, when you're testing primary drive and you want to create bootable CD with drive testing program on it.

In your case, download Windows test version and run the test from within Windows.

[katz1113]

Broni

I went to download Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows v1.09b (03.30.2007) It took me to the Western Digital Support Site
and my external hard drive is not listed there. I have the Western Digital My Book Premiun Edition. It's probably been discontinued? Now what?

Katz1113

[Broni]

Get any of those tools listed there. They should work...

[Man'n'Black-4xp]

Quote

I have the Western Digital My Book Premiun Edition.

I to have the 'my book'. From painful experience I'll give a couple of tips regarding 'my book'.
1)remove any and roxie, sonic solutions, and sonic products immediatly and thourghly {they tend to leave traces that 'wins add and remove programs' doesn't even "see"}
2)Format {to NTFS} the main storage area usually the second of its drive letters {as the first and smaller of the two cannot be changed} The 'my book' 'virtual cd' WILL conk out sooner rather than later, and it does your won't be able to read the drive{unless formated}. I paid good money for data recovery on mine only to get a few 'ghost' files that were worthless. I would also suggest partioning it into smallerunits {then you only lose some data not all}

Research, call wd check it out- I lost more than terabyte of family pixs, work docs etc. {thats a LOOOT of stuff} And back up stuff on a cd instead.

[Man'n'Black-4xp]

Quote

1)remove any and roxie, sonic solutions, and sonic products immediatly and thourghly

This even suggested by WD themselves{first question out of their mouths when I called to report my failure in fact}