Welcome guest. Before posting on our computer help forum, you must register. Click here it's easy and free.

« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?  (Read 2765 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Taras49

    Topic Starter


    Rookie

    d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
    « on: December 21, 2007, 08:51:46 AM »
    I reinstalled windows on my c drive.  All my info was backed up on my second hard drive (:D)  Now clicking on d drive in windows explorer I get the message that ":d drive needs to be formatted".  Wont that delete all my backed up files.  Is there any other way to retrieve this data?
    Logged

    patio

    • Moderator


      • Genius
    • Maud' Dib
      • Thanked: 1769
      • Yes
    • Experience: Beginner
    • OS: Windows 7
    Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
    « Reply #1 on: December 21, 2007, 09:08:29 AM »
    Yes.
    Formatting will get rid of everything on that drive and/or make it pretty hard to retrieve...
    But we need more info here...
    Is D a 2nd physical HDD or an additional partition ?
    Was there a power failure or a spike involved here ?
    Has there been any other hardware/software installed recently ?

    What type of Windows CD was used here ?

    Right click My Computer and select Manage.
    Choose Drive management.
    Right click the D: partition/drive and select Properties...
    Report back with all the info.
    Logged
    " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

    Taras49

      Topic Starter


      Rookie

      Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
      « Reply #2 on: December 21, 2007, 09:29:19 AM »
      This is a second hard drive, not a partition.  No spikes or additional hardware added.  I'm running Windows XP.  Right clicking on properties  type; local disk   file system; RAW  used 0 bytes   free 0 bytes   This don't look good does it?
      Logged

      Astoria



        Intermediate

        Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
        « Reply #3 on: December 21, 2007, 10:59:25 AM »
        What OS did you use to back up all your info? (what OS did you use before re installing Windows?)


        A HD with the RAW format cannot be read by Windows.
        For example, if you previously formatted that HD for a Linux filesystem (EXT2 or EXT3), Windows will not be able to read the disk, and will  indeed say that it needs formatting.
        Logged


        patio

        • Moderator


          • Genius
        • Maud' Dib
          • Thanked: 1769
          • Yes
        • Experience: Beginner
        • OS: Windows 7
        Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
        « Reply #4 on: December 21, 2007, 11:20:36 AM »
        Sounds like it was an external drive unhooked improperly...

        But you're right...RAW is not a good sign.
        You could give some data recovery programs a try but keep in mind the more you use the drive the further you are away from possibly saving anything...
        Logged
        " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

        Taras49

          Topic Starter


          Rookie

          Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
          « Reply #5 on: December 21, 2007, 12:58:23 PM »
          I used Windows XP  before to back up my files and then I reinstalled Windows XP.  The D: drive was working fine before I reinstalled and never physically disconnected it.  What type of data recovery programs do you suggest?
          PS this site is great and you people are the best  thank you so much
          Logged

          squall_01



            Prodigy

            Thanked: 80
            Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
            « Reply #6 on: December 21, 2007, 01:40:50 PM »
            Did you format C?  If nothing is on C try formating it.   If you have maxtor 4 or Maxblast 4 try formating c then reinstall windows.  Try also reconnecting the cables to the drive so that there secured into it. 
            Logged
            Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

            If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

            Deerpark



              Egghead
              • Thanked: 1
              Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
              « Reply #7 on: December 21, 2007, 02:24:59 PM »
              Quote from: squall_01 on December 21, 2007, 01:40:50 PM
              Did you format C?  If nothing is on C try formating it.   If you have maxtor 4 or Maxblast 4 try formating c then reinstall windows.  Try also reconnecting the cables to the drive so that there secured into it. 
              How exactly is formating his other drive going to bring his D: drive back?
              Logged
              Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
              Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - 2008)

              patio

              • Moderator


                • Genius
              • Maud' Dib
                • Thanked: 1769
                • Yes
              • Experience: Beginner
              • OS: Windows 7
              Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
              « Reply #8 on: December 21, 2007, 03:58:59 PM »
              Pretty much the worst advice i've seen this month...but there's still a few days left.
              Logged
              " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

              Taras49

                Topic Starter


                Rookie

                Re: d drive not formatted, am I screwed?
                « Reply #9 on: December 21, 2007, 04:42:23 PM »
                I used Windows XP  before to back up my files and then I reinstalled Windows XP.  The D: drive was working fine before I reinstalled and never physically disconnected it.  What type of data recovery programs do you suggest?
                Logged
                Pages: [1]   Go Up
                « previous next »