[Yes, similar questions have been asked before - I did check - but I don't think it's a virus as the responses suggested.]
Four of my six large (3TB - 8TB) external hard drives have most of their content missing suddenly.
Nothing was done on the PC between the time all drives worked fine and when this was discovered.
Viewing all drives in 'Computer', the used space on each is correct. Navigate to a drive, all folders show. 90% of folders, when hovered over, show empty. Some folders show their content. However, content is not playable (media player states 'file not found').
'Properties' of drive appear normal (used vs. unsused pie chart, etc.). However, under Tools, Error-Checking does not work (nothing happens).
'Show hidden files' is enabled, I have top-notch antivirus (besides, 3 drives are fine), so this is obviously a file directory problem I think. It can't be a problem with the individual drives themselves: they all worked fine for months and I highly doubt such a coincidence (4 drives having this problem at the same exact time).
I am afraid to even run checkdisk as a command - or to do anything. Why? Because both the original files AND the drive backing up those files are affected by this. I could lose years worth of important personal files by doing the wrong thing.
Any help appreciated.
Four of my six large (3TB - 8TB) external hard drives have most of their content missing suddenly.
Nothing was done on the PC between the time all drives worked fine and when this was discovered.
Viewing all drives in 'Computer', the used space on each is correct. Navigate to a drive, all folders show. 90% of folders, when hovered over, show empty. Some folders show their content. However, content is not playable (media player states 'file not found').
'Properties' of drive appear normal (used vs. unsused pie chart, etc.). However, under Tools, Error-Checking does not work (nothing happens).
'Show hidden files' is enabled, I have top-notch antivirus (besides, 3 drives are fine), so this is obviously a file directory problem I think. It can't be a problem with the individual drives themselves: they all worked fine for months and I highly doubt such a coincidence (4 drives having this problem at the same exact time).
I am afraid to even run checkdisk as a command - or to do anything. Why? Because both the original files AND the drive backing up those files are affected by this. I could lose years worth of important personal files by doing the wrong thing.
Any help appreciated.
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