Cannot read hard drive without "format disk" messages

[tfujino]

Hi,

My hard drive crashed and I need to recover the data. When I put it into my second computer (which is basically the same type of computer) as a slave, I can see the drive. But when I try to access it, I get the message that the disk is not formatted.

Does anyone know how I can still access the data?

Thanks!

 

[micker377]

What OS is on both computers? Fat 32 can't see NTFS. If they are both the same, go to the mfg of the "bad" harddrive and download the diagnostic software.

 

[tfujino]

The one with the bad hard drive is Windows XP pro and the other is Windows XP Home. I will take your suggesting to go to the manufacturer's website - thanks!

 

[micker377]

Were you running "Go-Back" on the "bad" drive?

 

[tfujino]

No, I just booted it up this morning and all I got was an error message saying something like "a disk read error has occured". From there, I could not get it to boot. That's when I took it out of that machine and then put it into my second computer.

 

[micker377]

The OS isn't the important thing. XP can be formatted in Fat32 or NTFS. What file system are you using? (Device Manager > Hard drive > properties).

 

[tfujino]

I was using NTFS.

 

[micker377]

On both drives?

 

[tfujino]

Yes, it is NTSF on both drives. I put in a new hard drive and installed the bad one as a slave. I finally purchased Easy Recovery....the trial version allowed me to see some of the files on the bad hard drive. I'm setting it up now and am about to run a scan to recover the files that I need.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get the important files that I need. I know, I should have backed up, but I was "going to do that tomorrow".

 

[micker377]

It's the old tag-line: "Back-up? I thought you were doing the ba.....".