External Harddrive problem

[jordan novice]

I just recently moved files to my external harddrive from my desktop because I wanted to reformat my computer. Well, now that I try and access these files, an error pop up comes up and says that the folder is not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.

Is there any way to fix this problem or are these files just gone? These files were important too

 

[daproblem53]

maybe you transfered em wrong and i heard that recovering files from a hard drive cost a bit of cash but im not too sure if its true

 

[livewyre]

are you digging down into the external to access the files or are you going through a program to access the files. if it's the latter, your application doesn't know where you moved the file to and you have to tell it where it has been moved to. if you can look onto the hard drive and the file is there, it isn't corrupted and you should be able to access it.

also how did you move the files from the original location to the external, was it just a simple cut/paste job? what type of files are you trying to move? i could probably help but i would need more info.

 

[jordan novice]

Yeah, I cut the files from my comp, and moved them onto the external. I didn't know there was another way? Also, the files are word documents, photos, music, etc.

 

[nikeairsncrispytees]

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

Yeah, I cut the files from my comp, and moved them onto the external. I didn't know there was another way? Also, the files are word documents, photos, music, etc.

Dang, man. You should've copied them instead. When you reformat it would've wiped them out anyways. Sounds like you're having a partition problem. Did you ever plug it into a Mac/PC (whatever the opposite of what you're running) is? Google "force mount __________" and fill in the blank with the type/brand external you have. Sad to say that I had that problem when installing Windows 7 and tried to mount my external using Linux and Ubuntu and couldn't. I lost everything that wasn't already on my external.

 

[yungchris504]

You could try booting with a UBD and seeing if you are able to see the hard drive with one of the programs they have on there.

 

[livewyre]

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

Yeah, I cut the files from my comp, and moved them onto the external. I didn't know there was another way? Also, the files are word documents, photos, music, etc.

have you tried going my computer> external> folder> file, or are you trying to access the files via a program. if you cut and pasted the files, they should be readable from the external.

 

[shatterkneesinc]

open up the external hard drive enclosure and install as an internal hard drive

 

[hawtsauce]

mine does this too, its really old, and if i use it too much and it overheats, it tells me some files are not available.

i just let it rest and it works again later, even though im mad

 

[jordan novice]

Originally Posted by NikeAirsNCrispyTees

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

Yeah, I cut the files from my comp, and moved them onto the external. I didn't know there was another way? Also, the files are word documents, photos, music, etc.

Dang, man. You should've copied them instead. When you reformat it would've wiped them out anyways. Sounds like you're having a partition problem. Did you ever plug it into a Mac/PC (whatever the opposite of what you're running) is? Google "force mount __________" and fill in the blank with the type/brand external you have. Sad to say that I had that problem when installing Windows 7 and tried to mount my external using Linux and Ubuntu and couldn't. I lost everything that wasn't already on my external.

I didn't know copying them would make a difference instead of moving them? And I never switched it onto a Mac before. My external is a maxtor by the way. What is fore mount?

You could try booting with a UBD and seeing if you are able to see the hard drive with one of the programs they have on there.
I don't know what that means

have you tried going my computer> external> folder> file, or are you trying to access the files via a program. if you cut and pasted the files, they should be readable from the external.
That's how I try and access the files, but it doesn't work. I don't know how I would access it through a program?

open up the external hard drive enclosure and install as an internal hard drive
How would I go about doing this?

 

[nikeairsncrispytees]

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

Originally Posted by NikeAirsNCrispyTees

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

Yeah, I cut the files from my comp, and moved them onto the external. I didn't know there was another way? Also, the files are word documents, photos, music, etc.

Dang, man. You should've copied them instead. When you reformat it would've wiped them out anyways. Sounds like you're having a partition problem. Did you ever plug it into a Mac/PC (whatever the opposite of what you're running) is? Google "force mount __________" and fill in the blank with the type/brand external you have. Sad to say that I had that problem when installing Windows 7 and tried to mount my external using Linux and Ubuntu and couldn't. I lost everything that wasn't already on my external.

I didn't know copying them would make a difference instead of moving them? And I never switched it onto a Mac before. My external is a maxtor by the way. What is fore mount?

Copying would just make it safer because it would leave your files intact. Cut and Copy are the same thing except Cut deletes the original. They both technically COPY the file, it's just that Cut removes it. The originals would've gotten wiped clean in the reformat anyways. Does that make sense?

Force mount is when the computer tells you it can't access the files because of some technicality and you go into command prompt and basically tell the computer to f*** itself.

 

[shatterkneesinc]

I assume you have the cables for it
you just unscrew the external harddrive enclosure and take the hard drive out ( assuming your external enclosure is sealed with screws if not you might have to pry it open )
then you install it in your computer, open your computer up and and plug in the proper cables, depending on how old your hard drive is, the older hard drives use IDE, a wide ribbon like data cable and a 4 pin molex power cable
new hard drives use SATA, a narrow flat data cable and a slightly wider power cable. they are L shaped plugs.
if you dont have any cables, just borrow it from your dvd drive ( if it uses the same connections as mentioned above).
if everything is well , you should see an internal hard drive in my computer
the reason why you are testing this is you want to make sure and pray that it is your enclosure that is broken and not your hard drive.
if your hard drive works, than your enclosure is damaged . you can easily buy one online for a fairly cheap price although the trend nowadays are hard drive docks

 

[jordan novice]

Would it make a difference if only the files I tried to move from my desktop don't work? The other files that have been on the external before I reformatted my computer work fine.

 

[donpoppa]

sounds like you tried to copy them all at once and had too many programs running at the same time

 

[mr fizzy womack]

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

Would it make a difference if only the files I tried to move from my desktop don't work? The other files that have been on the external before I reformatted my computer work fine.

I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but have you tried unplugging it yet? Use a different USB port too.

Does your external have a power switch or it's powered straight off USB?

Mine has a power switch and, sometimes, when I start my external, the files/folders don't show up at all. I turn it off, give it a minute, turn it back on, and then they show up.

 

[hawtsauce]

^exactly what i do

 

[stopit5]

It always a possibility that it corrupted during the transfer, but try checking the permissions on the folder, right click properties. I would try changing the ownership to your new reformatted drive. Also what OS are you using.

 

[stopit5]

Dont feel like typing how to change the ownership so here is a link you can use. http://www.blogsdna.com/2...-folder-in-windows-7.htm

If your not using windows 7 you can get a general idea how to do it.

 

[jordan novice]

It has been a while, and I still can't figure this out.
This is what I see

 

[atlien seeko]

"external hard drive" and "problem" are synonymous.

 

[seniosoul]

Originally Posted by Jordan Novice

It has been a while, and I still can't figure this out.
This is what I see

DAMN bruh

sorry to brake the bad new but the fold IS CORRUPT
by looking at the properties you can see that the folder is completely EMPTY.
1. did you see a difference of space on your hDD after you transferred the files? lets say for ie. your HDD is 20GB total and the files you transfere were 3GB... did you hdd space come out to be 17GB?????
2.the way you transfered your files wasimproper... you cut the files instead you're suppose to copy. was the connection from the HDD to the comp secure?

 

[jordan novice]

Originally Posted by seniosoul

DAMN bruh

sorry to brake the bad new but the fold IS CORRUPT
by looking at the properties you can see that the folder is completely EMPTY.
1. did you see a difference of space on your hDD after you transferred the files? lets say for ie. your HDD is 20GB total and the files you transfere were 3GB... did you hdd space come out to be 17GB?????
2.the way you transfered your files wasimproper... you cut the files instead you're suppose to copy. was the connection from the HDD to the comp secure?

I didn't really pay attention to the space, but now that you mention it, when I did move the files something went wrong. I think the computer ended up restarting during the moving process. But after it rebooted, I checked to see if the files were moved and it appeared to work fine. Then I tried to move the rest, and after that finished up, and I reformatted, this happened.

So does this mean it's done? Should I just move on and forget about it

 

[mronegative]

yuku'd

 

[mronegative]

Originally Posted by STOPIT5

Dont feel like typing how to change the ownership so here is a link you can use. http://www.blogsdna.com/2...-folder-in-windows-7.htm

If your not using windows 7 you can get a general idea how to do it.

THIS
When you copied your entire drive over, it turned into a bootable drive that only that owner could access. When you reformatted, you locked yourself out. 

If that's your problem, it's pretty easy to fix in Properties. check the link.

 

[jordan novice]

Originally Posted by MrONegative

Originally Posted by STOPIT5

Dont feel like typing how to change the ownership so here is a link you can use. http://www.blogsdna.com/2...-folder-in-windows-7.htm

If your not using windows 7 you can get a general idea how to do it.

THIS
When you copied your entire drive over, it turned into a bootable drive that only that owner could access. When you reformatted, you locked yourself out. 

If that's your problem, it's pretty easy to fix in Properties. check the link.

I tried this, but I'm on windows xp. I don't see a security option after I right click>properties