Hard drive wants me to format?

Megahurtz400 · 30 Nov 2009 at 20:34

What have i done wrong?

I took out my SATA drive to try my friends SATA storage drive, which all worked fine.

But now ive put my SATA storage drive (No OS on it), everytime i try to access it, it asks me to format it?

And im thinking, as ive only unplugged it, not physically taken it out, what have i dont wrong?

Lots of important data on the drive and i really need to access it!

Has the drive gone caput?

Cheers,
Dan

.walls · 30 Nov 2009 at 20:40

Megahurtz400 said:
What have i done wrong?

I took out my SATA drive to try my friends SATA storage drive, which all worked fine.

But now ive put my SATA storage drive (No OS on it), everytime i try to access it, it asks me to format it?

And im thinking, as ive only unplugged it, not physically taken it out, what have i dont wrong?

Lots of important data on the drive and i really need to access it!

Has the drive gone caput?

Cheers,
Dan

If you're familiar with linux, use fdisk to write a new partition table to it, if not...then Bledd recommends testdisk (never used it myself).

also - make sure it's ejected/whatever before unplugging it

Megahurtz400 · 1 Dec 2009 at 15:47

So if i added a partition table to that drive, would the data be able to seen?

flying grouse · 1 Dec 2009 at 16:06

Don't Fdisk the drive!

Having read your post, am I right that this is an external storage drive.

go to "my computer" right click on drive, and click on properties then go to Tools TAB and click on "check now" for error checking.

this may give you the option to repair after.

EsaT · 1 Dec 2009 at 16:11

Megahurtz400 said:
So if i added a partition table to that drive, would the data be able to seen?

You just can't put any random partition table to it but would have to match data structure in it.

If problem is really that lack of visible partition in it then try if Testdisk can see any partitions in it.
You can apply this guide (it tells what different functions do) for seeing can it find anything:
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

Megahurtz400 · 2 Dec 2009 at 21:06

Cheers guys

Testdisk rebuilt the corrupted partition and all is good

Thanks again