BleepingComputer.com: Maxtor External Hard Drive problems

I am having problems with the external HD on my PC.
Yesterday I pulled out the cable from it to the PC by mistake. When I re-started the PC a black screen came up with a message saying that NTFS (I think) wasn't working and it needed to scan or check for something. I glanced through the message briefly and it was on a countdown unless I tapped any key on the keyboard. I reached to do this too late and a speedy roll of delete something or other continuously scrolled up. I ended up turning off the PC manually to stop this.
I haven't a clue what it is or what it did, but the PC is now crawling along. The external hard-drive is showing empty, but I can access all the files on it. The problem is that the files are not happy being moved, copied or attached to emails. When I go to the image files they will not show icons without contacting administrator. All sorts of other stuff has probably happened that I don't know about.
IE is at a snail's pace and then seizes and 'not responding'.
Help!!!!

I would try running the chkdsk /r command on the drive.

Go to My Computer, select the drive, right-click on it, select Properties.

Follow the instructions under Starting Check Disk at http://www.hard-drive-help.com/chkdsk.html , putting check marks in both options.

Louis

Hi Louis
thank you for your prompt response. I have already tried that and it is still showing only 10mb of external hard disc usage when in fact I know it is about ten times that. The files all seem to be there, but many of them I can't open.
I did make a backup onto D drive and when I go into that the files are all there but again it is quite a fiddle to open them - but I can eventually open the jpeg images.
I did come across something called Blue Screen???? when searching through trying to fix things. does that ring any alarm bells??
Many thanks
Sandy

Please...post the exact detail of any onscreen error messages you receive...when trying to use this external drive.

Louis

Hi Louis
Well, I have now found out that if I go into one of the folders on the external hard drive and try to open an image it just comes up blank - however, if I right click, copy and then paste it (into the self-same folder) it makes a copy and I can open the copy. Seems really weird.
As I right click in the folder to paste, a box comes up with headline 'DESTINATION FOLDER ACCESS DENIED'
In the body of the box it reads 'You'll need to provide administrator permission to copy to this file'
There's a yellow triangle with a question mark, a box with jpeg written in it and a description of the file.
At the bottom of the box it has 3 buttons, Continue/Skip/Cancel
I press Continue.
~Then another box comes up 'USER ACCOUNT CONTROL'
Body of text reads 'Windows needs your permission to continue'
Then says 'File Operation, Microsoft Windows (3AD05575-8857-4850-9277-11B85BDB8E09)
It copies the image below the original and hey presto I can open it.
I keep having to provide administrator permission which is really doing my head in. I'm the only one to use the PC!!
Sorry to be so naieve
thanks and regards
Sandy

Sounds like you may need to take ownership of the folders/files in question...at least, I would try that.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

Louis