can't access data on my usb mass storageSolved/Closed

Question

Hello,

I have a 500GB Western Digital usb mass storage device with lots of data on it, and I have been using it without problems for several months.  Now when I plug it in, the drive comes up in my computer as drive E as it usually does, but when I click it it asks me if I want to format it-when I click "no" I can't access the drive.  If I format it again won't I lose all my files?  The drive properties show 0kb for free space and 0kb for used space.  What happened to the 300+ GB of files I stored on the drive?  Is there another way to access the data on the drive?  Thanks in advance for the help!

rOOfraBBit · Accepted Answer

Try to run "chckdsk x: /f", without the quotemarks and where x is the drive. I think you have to do it in Safe Mode MSdos [restart, press F8, go for "safe-mode with command prompt"], or when in XP mode: right-click on drive X, open Properties, Tools-tab, click "check now". You'll get message is not possible, only after restart: it will be scheduled at next reboot - just reboot.

If your disk is just too old, funked-up, or qurwalized and you just want to try to save the data, then please do use special software (or some PC-freak near u) - don't let XP try to fix it! For

xpcman · Answer

Do NOT format the disk - That will make it much much harder to recover the data.

I think you have a MBR (master boot record) problem  - there is a fix.

Google MbrFix -  download the program - burn it to a CD - boot from the CD (you might need to change the boot order in the BIOS to boot from the CD)

fix the MBR on drive 2 your E drive  (((( NOT on drive 0  which is your C drive))))

Evilone · Answer

I have this same problem easily solved heres what to do this worked for me:

load up in safe mode (tap f8 on boot up) choose normal safe mode (rather than with command prompt or networking)

if asked load in as administrator

once loaded in locate problematic drive in my computer (double click on it and it should open)

next go back to my computer and right click on drive selecting properties

goto security tab and click on advanced to change permissions

then click on owner followed by edit

you should have a check box on the bottom of the screen to replace owner on subcontainers and folders tick it and click ok

all subfolders will be reset to you as owner and will be able to open it I believe this to be a problem with vista and on.

hope this helps someone :)

aotk · Answer

Hello
I have the same problem with my external hard drive (1tb) I followed the instructions and it seemed to work on the Partition wizard program, I can right click on the selected drive and see all my data is still on there. The only problem is when I try to open the drive via my computer, it does not open. "Location is not available - The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error message >.< any advice would be greatly appreciated.

http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg

xpcman · Answer

I suspect the hard disk is broken beyond user repair.  What the computer sees is the "USB hard disk adapter" hardware and not the hard drive. The software software is rather dumb and thinks if it can't read the data then it MUST format the drive.   The hard disk DATA might be salvaged by a professional data recovery company.  They can disassemble the drive in controlled conditions and pull the platter from the drive and place it in a identical drive housing.  All this costs mega bucks (at least $500).  If you want to use that option Google "Ontrack data recovery" .

Good Luck

elleboef · Answer

Hello,
I'm having also a external disk. But a different situation. Its a disk from a laptop which I connected by a USB 2 adapter to my windows 7 pc. Windows 7 is detecting the disk, but I can't do something with it. I tried patition wizard, but it sees only my internal disk. I got also the message: virtual disk manager incorrect function
It's there but how can I get my data. Its important business related data.
please help

Kumar_9669 · Answer

This is Kumar Pushkar from Bangalore India; even my seagate usb  hard disk was not detecting error was something like all data has been corrupted   cant detect  even the segate disk manager was useless ,but friends there is one solution  that worked for me just goto command prompt type   chkdsk G:/f     G:-is my usb drive  just check it  whether its  useful for you.

best of luck
Kumar

HAPPY MAN · Answer

Partition Wizard Home Edition SAVED MY EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE YEAHHHHHH

krishna · Answer

you have to click the folder option on the toll bar Then in the right side your hd will show you YOu have to click tthat usb drive then only it will be open ..

fionnion · Answer

Ive looked through all the answers and none of them worked for me, my 1tb HDD decided it wanted to be formated and I couldnt get any of my files off it. 

Finally I found some freeware that is able to locate either deleted files or access this cuntish HDD. 

https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

Trust me on this one its works. Just go into options and tick the wee box that says scan undeleted files or something.

Hope that helps, because I found it torture trying to get my files back.

Conf00zed · Answer

I too am having the same problem.  My Seagate 500GB HD was unplugged before ejecting and now comes up that it isn't formatted.  I took it to the Geek Squad and of course they want $100 to restore it for me.  I figured if they have some kind of program to be able to see the files on there and get them back for me, then there must be something out on the market (for way cheaper) that I can get to do it myself.  Or that someone might have a trick up their sleeve for me to be able to access my files once again?

gail · Answer

power on your usb device, restart your pc ( while your usb is on), your windows will automatically boot to your usb device, your windows will fix it for you

blah · Answer

I have the same problem.  I was able to recover most of my files using "PC Inspector File Recovery" (free, http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,23069-page,1-c,utilities/description.html  (Some files were damaged, but they might have already been damaged when my hard drive crashed.)  I'm surprised they didn't get higher ratings, but it worked for me!

nice · Answer

Well, technically speaking formatting won't make the data in your usb deleted permanently at least for the short term. But the best way to access your data before formatting is get the data back safely. You can use some data recovery software to do the job for you. 

https://download.cnet.com/Wondershare-Data-Recovery/3000-2242_4-10974297.html

thanks

blagh · Answer

http://www.nsharp.org/15/how-to-fix-a-dead-flash-drive-or-usb-key/

Can't access data on my usb mass storage

15 responses

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