Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: SingleTwin on May 17, 2011, 07:08:20 AM

Title: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: SingleTwin on May 17, 2011, 07:08:20 AM: Hey guys,
I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out here.
I have an iomega 500gb hard-drive that won't open when I try to click on it. The laptop I'm using is an Acer travelmate with Windows xp.
When I open my computer, the name of the hard-drive has changed but the letter is the same. When I right click on the hard drive it takes an age for the options to come up. Then I click on properties, to do an error check, but it doesn't seem to do it.
It says the hard-drive is completely full (using the coloured circle diagram), which I know it's not.
It lists used space as 0 bytes
Free space 0 bytes.

Anyone have an idea what it could be? Also, the C and D drives are almost full on the laptop, would that have something to do with it?

I appreciate any help I can get as I'd really like to retrieve all the data on it.

Thank you kindly.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: SingleTwin on May 17, 2011, 10:00:13 AM: I forgot to mention that when I try access the hard drive through my computer, it asks me (after a long wait) if I want to format it. Obviously I click no.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: Allan on May 17, 2011, 10:01:31 AM: Have you used the drive with this system before? Have you tried it with a different system to see if it works properly?
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: SingleTwin on May 17, 2011, 10:09:15 AM: Ya I've been using it with this laptop all the time. There was one problem before where the data disappeared but I solved that woth an error check.

I don't have any other computer to try it with. Though I do know someone with a MAC but I presume that's a bad idea really.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: Allan on May 17, 2011, 10:14:55 AM: Well, the easiest way to check whether or not the drive is good is to try it with another Windows system. You can always run chkdsk /r on the drive or download & run a utility such as hddscan (http://hddscan.com/)
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: SingleTwin on May 17, 2011, 10:57:59 AM: ok.

I just did a chkdsk. I thought it was working but when I tried to click on the f drive after it just said"the drive isn't formatted, would you like to format it?"
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: Allan on May 17, 2011, 11:02:43 AM: Sounds like the drive is shot, but you might want to wait for someone a little more hw knowledgeable than I am.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: Computer_Commando on May 17, 2011, 01:18:51 PM: I've had this happen a few times with different USB drives. Reformatting has "fixed" them every time. I have never been able to determine the cause, so I have multiple USB drives with the same data. Multiple backups of data on different media is a necessity, since there is no perfect media for data storage. IMHO, Iomega has been the least reliable since the introduction of the Zip drive.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: SingleTwin on May 18, 2011, 12:11:07 AM: Ya I definitely won't be buying iomega again. I would just like to be able to recover the data if possible. Might need to bring it into a shop somewhere.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: ashleywilis on May 18, 2011, 06:58:34 AM: check it on different operating system and also on different system, Also run scan disk and chkdisk for it.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: Allan on May 18, 2011, 07:03:26 AM: Quote from: ashleywilis on May 18, 2011, 06:58:34 AM
check it on different operating system and also on different system, Also run scan disk and chkdisk for it.
We've already discussed that.
Title: Re: External Hard-drive problem.
Post by: SingleTwin on May 18, 2011, 08:05:21 AM: I have a friend who lives nearby, I'll ask him when he gets back from holidays, should be tomorrow. I'll report back.
Thanks guys!