My External Hard drive has stopped working

[redtowser]

Hi,

 

We had a power cut the other night and since then my external hard drive won't work properly.

 

everytime I try to open it I get a message saying it is new hard ware and needs to be formatted? but if i do this it will delete everything that is on the drive, is there anyway of rfixing this problem?

[Wolf]

Hi Red

 

Welcome to FPCH

 

Have you tried running a disk check on the drive?

 

To do so open a Command Prompt and type chkdsk x:/r where x is the drive letter.

[redtowser]

Hi Wolf,

 

Without sounding too stupid!! how do I open a command prompt?

[Wolf]

Go to Start/ All Programs/ Accessories/ Command Prompt.

 

Highlight Command Prompt and right click on it, then click Run as Administrator.

[Plastic Nev]

Alternatively, click start, then "run" and type cmd in the box then click OK.

The command prompt window is black with white script with a white flashing cursor, type in as Wolf said, the X being whatever letter the system has allocated to the external drive.

Nev.