external hard drive wont connect to PC without formatting first

[JOSHLAREDO]

hi, i have a 2TB WD hard drive that is asking me to format it before it will let me use it. i have a huge amount of information (photos documents movies ect) that i need to save before formatting. please help!
any programs that are recommended to try and save info from the hard drive without formatting it 

extra info:
it will show up as local drive when plugged in but will not allow me to enter the hard drive,
have attempted different cables and other computers with no luck

SOS!!

[patio]

Is the data accessible on another PC ? ?

What has happened since it worked properly ? ?

Is it being reported as RAW in Properties ?

[JOSHLAREDO]

(Thanks for such a quick response)

The most information obtainable was the hard drives old name which no longer displays when plugged in to my pc which is Windows based. (It just registers as local disk ) when clicked on displays a warning along the lines of 'this drive must be formatted before use' when plugged in to a Mac i am still not able to access or view any files within the hard drive but it does still show the hard drive name.

The hd hasn't been dropped or been susceptible to the elements or physically damaged nor has it been on contact with any viruses

As for your last question I am unsure as to what you refer to (apologies)

[JOSHLAREDO]

not sure if this helps>

[attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]

[patio]

Post a pic of Disk Management...
In the meantime check the questionable HDD in the same spot with Properties...
Your 2nd image is a DVD drive...not the one your speaking about.`

[Geek-9pm]

Fro general information.
A limited number of USB to IDE adapters have wrong y firmware. I do not believe this never applies to any SATA spatter, just the older USB IDE devices.

The drive is not formatted correctly but works as long as you use that very same apter.  Sorry, I don't kn ow where that is documented. Many posts all over mention it, but I don't kn ow if any ever explains how it happens.
Once you format the drive, you can not get the data that had been stored with he wrong drive geometry.   

Maybe the OP had used an old adapter and then put the drive into a PC with the correct HD controller.

[JOSHLAREDO]

 @patio
image 1:
left is disk management
right is what pops up when i try and right click and explore the disk

image 2:
picture of correct disk (not my dvd drive *face palm*)



[attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]

[patio]

As is suspected it is being reported as RAW....which means it was unplugged too many times without using safely remove.

You will need a partition recovery app such as GetDataBack (not free) to see if you can retrieve /repair the data...

[JOSHLAREDO]

oh, this doesn't sound good

would you have a couple of links you could suggest for free partition recovery app's i can download and try?
alternatively please post a link to the GetDataBack download page so i can give that a go.
what is the likely-hood oh something like this being successful?


cheers again for the help! 

[patio]

Here Ya Go...

Also just found out Easus has a Free one as well...i have not tested it as of yet...

[JOSHLAREDO]

Currently waiting for the program to run through will post results when done fingers crossed

[InfamousMyzt]

If that doesn't work, you would have to pay someone to do advanced drive recovery....and that is NOT anywhere near cheap. ($500-1000+ depending on exact damage.) Most places that offer that service don't make you pay anything if they can't get it back though.

Good luck man.

Also you could try this, which is free: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

[JOSHLAREDO]

The easeUS one worked a treat, I was able select a recovery method that just looked for images. Was able to view previews of them on the free version and then once obtaining a licence I was able to save them all to another drive. It took on the good side of 5-6 hours to complete a 9 gb data 'find and rescue' but regardless I got what I was after. further more am now completeing a full recovery of the HD which includeds close to 1T of movie files (of course all downloaded legally)
Only downside.
Licence was around $100
I'm sure there are cheaper options but this was very user friendly and worked first time
Thanks all!

Ps: would recommend safely removing external drives XD

[Geek-9pm]

Only downside.
License was around $100
I'm sure there are cheaper options but this was very user friendly and worked first time
Thanks all!

IMO you got a bargain. 

Let me explain. The OP has now recovered d some 9 GB of data that would be hard to replace. That fact that the data can be recovered fort any price is remarkable. The OP says it took about 5 to 6 hours. In most places  you can not find anybody who will do that kind of work for the lowest wage.  Not in the advanced countries.

[patio]

For long lost data...i would have to agree Geek...