BleepingComputer.com: External Hard Drive

Hi all. I have an external hard drive that was given to me a few months back. It has worked perfectly until yesterday when I tried to access it and the computer said it wasn't formatted. I hooked it up to my
second computer and it said the same thing. After numerous attempts, I figured "to heck with this" and I said yes to formatting. Then after a few minutes, the computer said that windows couldn't finish the formatting. It reads that the drive is plugged into a usb port but when I click on properties it says that the drive is full, when it should only be about 1/4 used up.
Please help, thanks....Ken

Maybe that's why it was given away...problems with the drive.

I suggest running the appropriate hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic on it, Hard Drive Installation and Diagnostic Tools - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic28744.html

Run the long/extended test, if long/short options are offered.

Louis

I went to my computer and right clicked on properties/tools error check and it says that it cannot run on this volume. This is so strange because I never did anything but turn this darn thing off the other night.

Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ken

Thanks Louis for the tip. I will give it a try.

Hey Louis, I did what you suggested but when the program finished, it said I have 3 hard drives including the external one (it even list the name of it as PLATINUM 250G 8F7200 USB Device [Hard drive] (250.99 GB) -- drive 2) but does not list it under "local drive volumes). Do you think it is just busted and should be replaced. Another program said it's (the external drives) file system was unknown.

Thanks, Ken

There's only one utility that counts (IMO)...the appropriate manufacturer's diagnostic (long test).

What does it say about the functionality of the drive?

Louis

hamluis, on Nov 12 2009, 03:11 PM, said:

Good, thanks, this helps me as well.