external hard drive asking for format although all files still exist but partition not considered deleted

emuashui · Nov 29, 2017

Well the title is so long "external hard drive asking for format although all files still exist but partition not considered deleted", basically a HDD of 298.08G data is not selectable in Explorer that asks for a format action, but using several HDD tools I already managed to copy away nearly all files from the invisable partition.

Now gonna repair the invisable partition, with another tool EXXXXX I even got the scanned result for this NTFS partition, namely
From Start Sector 63 to End Sector 625121279 for the partition
(which is not considered deleted or lost, thus the HDD tool refused to revive it! )

I guess with proper tool or commands a normal "MBR" can be built up and the drive should become selectable again in Explorer, so would you give me some advice? Thanks

RolandJS · Nov 29, 2017

I hope this will be helpful -- MiniTool Partition Magic version 9.x has brought back some but not all partitions for various users. "Failure" normally was the fault of the previous partition having been partially overwritten - if memory serves me.

emuashui · Dec 3, 2017

Good news, i used the feature repair bad sectors in a tool called part. guru and 7 bad sectors were detected and repaired, and then suddenly the external hdd drive became selectable again!

The I used the check file system with read only in MiniTool Partition Magic version 9.x but still found errors, so I simply have it perform checking with fixing option enabled ( = chkdsk /f ) and then the chkdsk did many index recovery actions and MFT bitmap correction... the result is, HDD errors all fixed and it became functional again, no more errors detected by chkdsk in Explorer.

Though I will replace it later with a new HDD due to bad sectors detected. Thanks.
A note: before the drive became re-selectable, I already used restorer 2k pro to copy away all important files hidden in the still unselectable drive.

" I hope this will be helpful -- MiniTool Partition Magic version 9.x has brought back some but not all partitions for various users. "Failure" normally was the fault of the previous partition having been partially overwritten - if memory serves me. "

boggen · Dec 4, 2017

it has been 4 to 7 years since i had to deal with hard drive failure, at that time, it took a few programs of running trials of them to see if they could even pull up files and what folder/files combinations the could get back.

be easy on the drive if it is failing, meaning try and select small amounts of stuff at a time, it takes longer, selecting a couple things at a time to restore files/folders. but the hard drive does not "OVER HEAT" this way, and cause more damage to it.

=============

also be watchful, that the operating system may want to "hang up" completely or come near a complete stop when turning on / rebooting. due to hard drive is failing, all the error messages of HD failing slams the computer and it takes longer for it to boot up, and even then it might slow down the computer. (been there done that)

generally pickup a usb or sata hot swappable external connector for failed hard drives. so i can boot up the computer normally, then connect the bad hard drive. i also generally pickup an external hard drive case with a fan, so i can keep the hard drive cool for a longer amount of time as i run diagnostics on it and attempt to pull files off of it.

a hard drive that is failing, can go out rather suddenly, and you could loose everything possibly.

Search

external hard drive asking for format although all files still exist but partition not considered deleted

emuashui

Prominent

boggen

RolandJS

Reputable

emuashui

Prominent

boggen

Prominent

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page