External hard drive not showing files

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RafikiJackson

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Jun 14, 2016
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I recently had to replace my old hard drive and go through a nasty reformat. Now I am just using a new computer, however when I plug my external hard drive (4tb western digital my book), it sees the hard drive but lists it at 1.9TB space available but only shows 3gb as being used. It lists the following folders as only being on the drive

3b07e670955b40c1b975aae4
6db54add951f6e3b9069f80be1d9
WD SmartWare.swstor

Neither of these folders have my files on them. When I open the 6db one, it lists a folder named "1035", when attempting to open it says "I do not have permission to open this folder, please see security tab". I have attempted trouble shooting it and have gotten the folder open but see no files.

I am using Windows 10 but tried on another computer using Windows 7 and had the same problems. When I moved all this information over, I did not set it as a back up using Western Digitals software. I just drag and dropped all of it. I am also not 100% that I have the original discs for it.

This is what I have tried so far.

1. Changed view settings to show "hidden files and folders"
2. Changed the mapped network drive letter.
3. Attempted using the command prompt function but was unable to really get any progress on it.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I have a lot of information that I do not want to lose. Close to 2TBs worth! Please help!

 
Solution
SuperSoph_WD



Well, it really depends on the backups that you are doing. However, backup software applications definitely have the advantage here.
Copy/Pasting your files allows you to backup only a certain number of files and it's definitely not going to backup your system files, for example. This means that this procedure will only secure (back up) the files that you manually select and drag & drop onto the backup hard drive (storage...
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NZTinker

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Jun 12, 2016
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Hi RafikiJackson,
I have just gone thru a similar saga with a 2Tb Seagate external. Had to jump thru many many hoops when dealing with Seagate support and the general flavour was to blame everything but the drive. Ultimately I managed to proof that the drive had gone faulty and have sent it to Singapore (at my cost) and just received advice that they are sending me a replacement. Yet to receive it.
The data I had on the drive is lost as recovery could be attempted with no guarantees and at my cost again. Fortunately just backups, but all the same, they could have done better I feel.
In your case I suggest to research the Western D website for tools to recover data from your drive as at least you can see it.
These externals are a cheap alternative to large data storage but I wouldn't depend on them based on my experience to date.
Good luck
NZTinker
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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Welcome to the community, RafikiJackson!

I'd recommend you go to Disk Management in Windows and check how your WD My Book appears there. Taking a screenshot would be really helpful, too.
You mentioned that this is a backup, so you should have a copy of those files stored somewhere else as well, right? In order to access a WD SmartWare backup file, you will need to install the software on both Windows systems and use it for the backups. Dragging and dropping should be a copy/paste procedure and not a cut/paste one.
I'd recommend you repeat the backup procedure using the software. Here's a link to the WD Software downloads, where you should be able to find the WD SmartWare. I'd recommend you reinstall the application on both systems.

I'd also advise you to try taking ownership of the external drive using some other methods as well.

Hope it helps. Keep us posted!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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RafikiJackson

Commendable
Jun 14, 2016
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Thank you for your information. Here are the applicable screen shots requested. Unfortunately I do not believe I used the software the first time to set it as a designated back up traditionally and just drag and dropped the files. Sadly the hard drive these items were on failed requiring me to replace the original operating hard drive that they were contained on.

Disk%20Management_zpsl3tnxggv.png


My%20Book%20Error_zps1sb4s77z.jpg


Thank you for your assistance!
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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Hey there again, RafikiJackson!

Unfortunately, I'm unable to see your screenshots. Could you simply post the links to them?
The fact that the only copy of those files is contained on the WD My Book is pretty concerning. I'm not sure that the drag-and-drop have even worked properly the first time. :( I'd suggest you check the taking ownership guide from MS as well and see if you will be able to get access to the data using one of the other methods.

Let me know how it goes!
Good luck!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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RafikiJackson

Commendable
Jun 14, 2016
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Here are the requested links to the screen shots directly.


http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p486/RafikiJackson/My%20Book%20Error_zps1sb4s77z.jpg

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p486/RafikiJackson/Disk%20Management_zpsl3tnxggv.png

When I originally transferred them they were working as intended. I would play movies from the drive and access the photos that were transferred over. Even after I originally reformatted my computer, I was able to see files on the hard drive. It was once I actually removed the hard drive that came with my original dell computer and installed a replacement hard drive that I lost access to see files. I have tried installing the original hard drive but can not install/update usb drivers anymore.

 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
6,758
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Hey there again, @RafikiJackson!

I'm sorry for the late reply but I was on a vacation for the past few days.
Oddly, I am able to see both screenshot links now. It seems like you might want to consider re-formatting the 4 TB WD My Book, though. You have most probably used the MBR partition table which makes 2 of the 4 TB unavailable. In order to fix this, you will need to re-initialize the HDD in GPT (GUID Partition Table) and then partition & format it. This partition table will provide you with the whole storage capacity, instead of just 2 TB of it.
Keep in mind that this procedures will erase all the files you have on the WD My Book HDD at the moment.
If you have a copy of the backup files, I'd strongly recommend you simply repeat the backup procedure and see if you will be able to fix the issue like that.

Keep me posted!
SuperSoph_WD
 
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RafikiJackson

Commendable
Jun 14, 2016
4
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No problem, I hope you had a great vacation! Everything is now solved. I ended up downloading a program called AOEMI Partition assistant from CNET and merged the two partitions to show only one with the correct storage. However it seems that during the original stages of my reformat, it must have deleted my information on the external hard drive at that time as all of my files were not there when I was able to see the hidden/unallocated partition. I have since reformatted the blank drive.

Quick question though, is using the back up function through the western digital software different then just drag and dropping files to the external drive? I appreciate all your assistance in this matter and have learned that you have to have multiple back up drives with important documents

 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
6,758
3
45,960



Well, it really depends on the backups that you are doing. However, backup software applications definitely have the advantage here.
Copy/Pasting your files allows you to backup only a certain number of files and it's definitely not going to backup your system files, for example. This means that this procedure will only secure (back up) the files that you manually select and drag & drop onto the backup hard drive (storage device/service). Either way, this procedure works well too, because you know exactly what file you have copied and where you have located it.

However, Backup utilities catch much more than your personal data. There are different kinds of tools you could use to securely backup only your personal data, but also your whole system (Windows Backup and Restore, for example). Moreover, these utilities give you the opportunity to do the backups automatically, meaning you won't need to go through the struggle of manually selecting each and every file. Some people describe them as 'set and forget', because once you configure the type and frequency of the backup, you won't have to worry about it. I personally have both the backup utility and Windows reminding me to plug my portable destination drive for one of my system backups.

If you plan to use WD's software, keep in mind that the WD SmartWare performs only file/category backups of your personal data. Which is what, I guess, you do when you copy/paste them. However, it gives you the opportunity to do this automatically. The Acronis True Image WD Edition software on the other hand, allows you to backup the operating system, settings and all of your data.
You can find the WD Software Downloads here.

Hope it helps. Let me know if you have more questions! :)
SuperSoph_WD
 
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