External Hard Drive Help, WHAT HAVE I DONE

[Mr_Duck]

My 3 day old 1tb my passport SE hard drive was going through the write delayed stuff, so I tried a number of fixes that google brought me.
 
I changed the performance optimization thing through windows, and when that didn't work, changed the settings back.
 
Then used the program 'cacheset' to change the cache. That didn't work either, so I changed it back.
 
Then, I tried this... http://www.gibni.com/windows-delayed-write-failed-solved/2
 
Messed with the registry and stuff, and it still didn't work. So I deleted all the registry values I'd made, and right click uninstalled the 'max128k' file.
This is where I think I messed up, because now it's never detected, but the light turns on, and I can hear the disk spinning.
As I'm writing this, the drive was detected as just 'F:\'
if I go to properties, the drive has 0 bytes of 0 bytes available, and if I explore the drive, there are no files.
 
I DO have files in it, I don't really care if I lose them, but it shouldn't be empty...
 
please help me.
 
this is so frustrating

[patio]

3 questions...

1) Why change the performance options on a new HDD ? ?

2) Why use a 3rd party app to get an external drive to do what it should do without it ? ?

3)Why do registry edits ? ?

[Computer_Commando]

Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows

[Allan]

And I just have one question. Why not leave well enough alone?

[Mr_Duck]

I guess I didn't explain myself well enough, I apologize.
This all stemmed from the drive having an error message of 'write delayed failed' bubble, which would pop up when there was something put on the drive. So to fix that, I did these, and got a totally different problem. :|

Right now it says: Local Disk (F:) but I can't get to it.

[Computer_Commando]

...I DO have files in it, I don't really care if I lose them, but it shouldn't be empty...

Use the Lifeguard Tools to initialize & format.

[Geek-9pm]

There is some missing information.
This is a 3 day old Hard drive and you have to make changes?
If you do not like it, put it back in the box and return it.

Also, when kind of computer? What OS?
Did the documentation specify the use of certain drivers? Which OS? Have you considered that you may have bought a device that is to go on Apple Mac?

[Mr_Duck]

Because the drive had started the delay write failure error message after not doing it at all, I thought that most likely something else was the problem, software wise. Not sure, but ran Registry Mechanic then restarted XP and CHKDSK completely fixed it. No more write delay error message, and I have all my files still.
turns out, probably a just some registry error?
uh Thanks guys!

[Geek-9pm]

Glad you got it  it fixed.
It would really help others if you could provide more detail. There is a problem with external drives, W e need to document this sort of ting.
The information from the manufacturers is not always as candid as we would like. A number of users have reported strange problems with external drives i the last few months. It should not be necessary to modify the registry.

[Mr_Duck]

The delay write error failed message is coming up again... I unplugged it and plugged it back in, only to hear the disk making a scratching sound. It was JUST IN USE before I unplugged, it didn't move at all, and now it's making a scratching sound :/
that little 'doo-dah' noise is heard and everything when I plug it in, but when I look in My Computer it's not there.


What is going on? It's four days old. Should I just get the warranty on it from WD?

[Mr_Duck]

Now it seems to be detected okay. What is going on?! I went to properties>tools> check disk for errors with the 'automatically fix filesystem errors' box checked. Both times I've done it now, it gets the bar to Phase 2 all the way filled up but won't go past that.
Sometimes it makes the scratching sound, sometimes it doesn't.
It was fine last night.

[patio]

Yes.

[Geek-9pm]

What is going on? It's four days old. Should I just get the warranty on it from WD?

Yes, Yes!

[Salmon Trout]

the disk making a scratching sound

This means it's busted. Send it back!

[Computer_Commando]

You must run the test which will generate the error codes.  If you don't & they test is as OK, they will return the drive & you pay shipping both ways.