I have two 80gb maxtor hdd one master and other set to slave. For some strange reason windows can't access the second drive and states that its not formatted but I was using it like 15mins ago so this is impossible. I have around 70gb worth of important data on this disk that I do not want to lose. I have tried using programs like my file recovery but this can not find the drive. I hdd boots in basis and shows in my computer. Any solutions?
Hard Disk Not Formatted But I know Is.
- Thread starter sodamhall
- Start date
Christian Darrall
Active Member
well have you got fat32 running as a fileing system, because if you have then make sure the other hdd is also fat32, a fat32 patition with XP wont detect NTFS partitions, or well i havn't found different yet
diduknowthat
formerly liuliuboy
When you boot up, does it try to run any "disk selfcheck" thingy? If so, let it run and see what happens.
Sorry about the poor english thinking ahead before typing.
The hard drive boots in bois and shows in my computer but is not asscesabilty.
I have been using this setup for about a year so has nothing to do with the partitions.
On boot up no disk check starts, but I have tried scanning using disk defag as this will check for errors on disk before defragging but this can not locate the disk.
In the 15mins I was away from my computer not no one else could have touched it.
I will try Disk Management when I get home.
Thanks
The hard drive boots in bois and shows in my computer but is not asscesabilty.
I have been using this setup for about a year so has nothing to do with the partitions.
On boot up no disk check starts, but I have tried scanning using disk defag as this will check for errors on disk before defragging but this can not locate the disk.
In the 15mins I was away from my computer not no one else could have touched it.
I will try Disk Management when I get home.
Thanks
Last edited:
Starman*
New Member
When you have checked Disk Management you could also check what is shown in Device Manager for the hdd / Properties and also check the transfer modes of the IDE channel it's on (IDE Controllers / Properties / Advanced).
If transfer mode is not what it should be, check bios setting and check the ribbon cable to the drive is firmly in place both ends (discharge your static first by touching the case).
If nothing was going on in the 15 mins it sounds more like a hardware failure. Could be a software failure depending on what you had running.
Starman*
If transfer mode is not what it should be, check bios setting and check the ribbon cable to the drive is firmly in place both ends (discharge your static first by touching the case).
If nothing was going on in the 15 mins it sounds more like a hardware failure. Could be a software failure depending on what you had running.
Starman*
Here is finding from the tests.
Ide Controllers:
Device 0 (this is the drive that is working correctly)
Device Type = Auto dectection
Transfer Mode = dma mode if avaible
Current transfer = ultra dma mode 3
Device 1 (drive that is causing me problems)
device type = auto dectection
transfer mode = dma if avaible
Current transfer = pio mode
Disk Management
Layout = partition
type = basic
File system = this field is blank please also note the drive that is working correctly is showing ntfs
Status = Healthy the other good working drive is showing heathly (system)
Capacity = 76.32
Free space = 76.32 this is incorrect as the disk was basically full.
During the 15mins nothing was running from the second hard drive all programs were running from the main drive witch was things like firewall anti virus etc. I have checked all connections are every thing is fine not sure what im looking for in bois but shows the media name and set as slave etc.
Ide Controllers:
Device 0 (this is the drive that is working correctly)
Device Type = Auto dectection
Transfer Mode = dma mode if avaible
Current transfer = ultra dma mode 3
Device 1 (drive that is causing me problems)
device type = auto dectection
transfer mode = dma if avaible
Current transfer = pio mode
Disk Management
Layout = partition
type = basic
File system = this field is blank please also note the drive that is working correctly is showing ntfs
Status = Healthy the other good working drive is showing heathly (system)
Capacity = 76.32
Free space = 76.32 this is incorrect as the disk was basically full.
During the 15mins nothing was running from the second hard drive all programs were running from the main drive witch was things like firewall anti virus etc. I have checked all connections are every thing is fine not sure what im looking for in bois but shows the media name and set as slave etc.
Starman*
New Member
Thanks for the detailed info. Still does not look very good.
The hdd going into pio mode can be caused by several things outside of the drive but I would suspect the drive in this case. You could go into the bios and make sure the settings for the IDE controller of the bad drive are the same as the settings for the good drive. If there is a problem with the drive, you will still be in pio mode regardless of what is set in the bios.
The fact that the file system is not recognized is not a good sign. If you can, try connecting the drive in another pc with the same OS. You could also try disconnecting the bad drive, start and stop the pc, reconnect the bad drive and it will be treated as new hardware. Somehow I don't think it will help.
"Losing" the ntfs system is one thing. Even if the file table is damaged, good file recovery programs can find files. It makes no sense that the drive is recognized by the pc (My Computer) but your file recovery program cannot find it. The only file recovery programs I use are payware (File Scavenger) or no longer available (Fast File Recovery).
I cannot see how an idling pc could suffer this sort of problem without it being a hardware problem. Did you check the health of your pc? No dust build-up, temperatures OK?
I'm at the limit of my expertese. I don't know if anyone else has any ideas. If you don't have a dvd backup of your important files, you will know better in the future.
Starman*
The hdd going into pio mode can be caused by several things outside of the drive but I would suspect the drive in this case. You could go into the bios and make sure the settings for the IDE controller of the bad drive are the same as the settings for the good drive. If there is a problem with the drive, you will still be in pio mode regardless of what is set in the bios.
The fact that the file system is not recognized is not a good sign. If you can, try connecting the drive in another pc with the same OS. You could also try disconnecting the bad drive, start and stop the pc, reconnect the bad drive and it will be treated as new hardware. Somehow I don't think it will help.
"Losing" the ntfs system is one thing. Even if the file table is damaged, good file recovery programs can find files. It makes no sense that the drive is recognized by the pc (My Computer) but your file recovery program cannot find it. The only file recovery programs I use are payware (File Scavenger) or no longer available (Fast File Recovery).
I cannot see how an idling pc could suffer this sort of problem without it being a hardware problem. Did you check the health of your pc? No dust build-up, temperatures OK?
I'm at the limit of my expertese. I don't know if anyone else has any ideas. If you don't have a dvd backup of your important files, you will know better in the future.
Starman*