Complete idiot here when it comes to computers (and most other things if I'm honest). Would love some help in resolving what is a major dilemma to me.
We removed our external hard drive over the holiday period while our daughter and family were here. Having plugged it back in, we now get a box coming up which says we need to format the hard drive. I assume that would mean losing all the content on the hard drive. I've closed down the computer, unplugged and replugged, turned it on and off in every combination and still no joy.
HELP |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Some of my drives occasionally say that and yes a format would mean losing everything on it. Has the hard drive been dropped or plugged into another computer as this can cause this to happen and have you tried a different usb connector? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Do you have a different lead and also depending on what type of hard drive it is not all is lost. I had one that it looked like all was lost but on further inspection it had all the same connections inside to be able to plug it in internally. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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do a full power dump on the pc turn it off then remove the power lead and press and hold down the power button for 30 seconds power it up then pluge the drive back in and use the same cable you used in the past. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"once I go on start button where do I go to run and update"
no need to run an up date that willnot be it for PC. try running the scan driver for errors in teh above video. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If the data is important try opening up the plastic outer enclosure.. There will be a normal PC hard disk inside which can be put into a regular desktop PC. That might allow you to see the data and copy if somewhere else. If the data isn't important you can try a format.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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From what I can remember right click on my computer then click manage then click disk management then right click unassigned hard drive and allocate a letter it's been a few years since I've done this so I might be wrong |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Hi, As the pc recognizes it has a drive plugged in via USB, plugging it in internally will make no difference, it will still say it needs to be formatted before use..This is probably caused by a drive fault where the file record has been lost..You can use a free program called RECUVA to scan it for the files you are looking for, pics, docs, music etc and then save them on your pc harddrive..Then format the external drive and copy data back. It could have happened when removing the drive from the pc it it was still being written too..Be aware tho that it could be a drive fault and could happen again, to be safe I would also back up elsewhere..good luck xx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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just for future ref. you should look for the drive plugged into the usb port, in conrol panel or system tray and stop the device BEFORE unplugging. not nessecary for non storage devices like printers. |
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