'My Computer' won't show 1TB USB Simpledrive.

[Coastguard]

My 1TB Simpledrive (Hitachi HDT 721010SLA360) external hardrive which for the last year has enabled me to backup files from my Vista 32, now won't show on 'My Computer'. Looking in Computer-Manage-Disk Management the hardrive is shown as DISK 4 BASIC 931.51 GB ONLINE/UNALLOCATED.; but I can't see it to open it. I haven't added any new hardware or software recently.

[Boomer]

In computer management (disk management), right click your drive and select properties. In the 'tools' tab click 'check-now' for 'error-checking'. Sometimes the file system on drives can become damaged, especially with interrupted power (more likely with external drives).

[Coastguard]

Hi Boomer. First of allthank you for your help.

 

Opened 'ComputerManagement' then 'Disk Management' opened that with L/C selected'Properties' 2 box's open. Top one shows Boot© & Recover(D) astwo drives stating both are 'Healthy'.

 

2nd (lower)box is sub-divided into 5 box's Disk 0 shows C+D drives/ Disks 1,2,3empty. Disk 4 states 931.51GB (my missing drive) and showing'Unallocated'. Final division referring to C/D Rom drive. Followingyou suggestion I r/c drive 4 and got 3 options one being 'Properties'which I selected. Box opens with 5 tabs'General-Policies-Volumes-Driver-Details. Can't find 'Tools' oranything about checking.

[Boomer]

Thats OK Coastguard,

Right,

 

1. Select the tab volumes and click populate, this should fill the blanks with details about your drive. (Report the details back to this post.)

Next highlight your drive in the volume window and click properties. Do you see a tools tab in the new window? If so run chkdsk (error-checking) from there. If not....

 

2. Goto 'start' and open a command prompt by typing 'cmd' into the search bar and press enter.

Type, chkdsk X: /f (where 'X' is the letter of the problematic drive). press enter.

 

Have you tryed using different USB ports?

Do you keep the drive plugged in at all times?

[RandyL]

Hi.

I just wanted to pose a query. Wouldn't unallocated indicate a file structure problem? If so your data may be a risk. Shouldn't it be showing as ntfs?

 

Just curious. Carry on.

[Boomer]

Under normal circumstances unallocated suggests a file system doesnt yet exist. It could well be inaccessible because there is nothing on the drive to work with. :(

[Coastguard]

Hi chaps (I'm an old person).

Will be proceeding withBoomers suggestion soon. In the meantime some additionalnon-technical information. I have had this 1TB external drive forabout a year and have been backing up on a regular basis. Every nowand then the drive failed to show in 'Computer', when that happened Iwould unplug supply and USB leave overnight then reconnect. Untilrecently that solved the problem and I was able to continue backingup. About two months ago I think I picked up a virus and all sorts ofthings started to go wrong with the PC. As there were too manyproblems to resolve I was advised to back up and reinstall Vistawhich I did after disconnecting the 1TB H/D. Re-installation of O/Sput the P/C back into a good state and I reloaded my software, butsince then (coincidence) the P/C won't recognise the external drive.

[Coastguard]

Boomer, I have openedVolume tab there is no 'Populate' option it just states that 'thevolumes contained on this disk are listed below' and gives maker'sname, status: online, partition style,capacity and unallocated space.The capacity and the unallocated space are the same Mbs so it lookslike I have lost all my data. Got CMD box up and entered chkdsk usingDisk4 then 4 as identification, result was 'The drive, the path orthe filename is not valid'. Whilst main drives were shown as C &D the Hitachi drive had no alpha reference shown, only 4.

 

I have connected theUSB to all 4 rear and 2 front, no joy. Until the drive started to gowrong it was permanently connected, only after the first 'no show'did I start disconnecting it.