I keep getting a message to "Format" my external HDD

[FerociousMaidenPrincess]

The thing is, it was working fine for months & now it tells me to format it. I'm afraid if I do, I will lose all of my files on the harddrive. Is there any idea what could've happened that now I'm being asked to format this drive? I have four usb plugs & I've tried more than one with the same message

 

[steve10001]

happened to me a bunch of times, i usually use file scavenger to recover all my files in lkong search mode.
http://www.quetek.com/products3.htm

that has always worked when i get the format message recovered 600gb of data with that software - takes a whiile though

good luck

steve