Windows recognizes hard drive, explorer does not.

[jlockley]

After assembling a new w2k system, I added my data drive which was recognized for about two boots then disappeared with a nasty message which I remember to be something about not being able to read something. Since then it's missing in action. This WAS my backup drive, so it's really not good. Bios recognizes the drive, which appears in the Device Manager, but without a drive letter. NOT in explorer.

Running the Lost and Found indicates nothing wrong , but obviously that's incorrect (and it takes forever and it's a pain). I am going to try pcinspector, though.

fdisk recognizes it, too, but I don't wat to format.

Any ideas on how to fix this dilema? It's apparently drive specific, since I tried it on two (new) w2k systems. I don't need the space, just the data...which I know I can get back with Lost and Found but would like to access with the actual file names.

 

[TekTippy4U]

I don't know 2000....but just want to alternatively give an option in case you were unaware....
try this forum;
Forum616

It's win2000 pro....but it's probably a good spot anyway to try.....

I'm sure others here will post also.....hang in...

TT4U

 

[etarhan]

That nasty message probably gave solid clues about what's happening.

Your disk may be operating hardware-wise, but the information which allows W2K do detect it properly may have been damaged. I'm sure that there are a number of utilities around which may help to fix this situation, but I assume that you would be unable to use them (just like me), as you're not aware of them.

Formatting may be the only alternative you may have. You can also try the disk manager to see if putting a signature is required (and if it helps).

At any rate, I would do a fdisk /mbr to refresh the master boot record. This, AFAIK, is the first step for the recognition of a HDD by the OS.

 

[jlockley]

Got signature. No luck. Managed to assign drive letter. No luck. It's fat32. PCinspector reports it as empty, and now that it has a drive letter, it reports as "not formatted" in Windows. It does contain information, as a run with Lost and Found showed. (Zapped partitions look ever more likely).

I am trying to get to the information. Would fdisk/ mbr erase all or just hit the boot record? Thank you all for your input.

 

[TekTippy4U]

Don't use it if you've partitioned the drive with 3rd party software(use that instead).....or you've compressed(not so sure of this one though)....and

It's supposed to only "rewrite the boot record code"(cyl,0/ hd,0/sect,1)....leaving the partition tables intact....

Win2k uses the recovery console to do this.....and it's called FIXMBR...the recovery console equivalent to fdisk is DISKPART.....type HELP after loading console...if possible

TT4U

 

[jlockley]

Many thanks. Will give all this a try. It is probably not formatted with 3rd party software, but who knew back then?

I have just about had it up to here with woz2k and the drive thing. I've made a usb2 portable drive with an old 3g disk for transporting information and saving wear on the laptop.
Since it runs in on USB Woz doesn't have a chance to grouse, but robooting after using it inevitably brings up the ntos bsod. Man, I'd love to run into the jerk who thought that up alone in a stalled elevator.

Ahhhh. Venting is good.