External hard drive not found

My last computer crashed and died last month, so I was using a Mac laptop
until I could get a new one, which I did last week ... a Compaq Presario
w/Vista.

Unfortunately, when I was on the Mac I accidentally forgot and unplugged my
drive without that whole "safe removal" garbage that Mac does.

Since then, whenever I plug in my external hard drive (Seagate 80gb USB
connection) it does not read the drive (on either the Mac or the Vista PC).
All I keep getting is a request for me to format the drive, but if I do that
I will lose all my files.

Is there any way to change the settings or something to allow me to open the
files on this external drive?

I know I can buy data recovery software and services, but I have no money
and I'm looking for a quick and simple fix. Even if it's just something that
will let me transfer the files off the drive and THEN format it before
putting the files back on it.

Also, I've been told I can do a repair disk on the Mac, and that might fix
it, but whenever I tried it, all it did was keep repeating the words
"Repairing disk" and then "Repair Complete" over and over again. It went on
like this for a good while, so I'm not sure if it was actually fixing
anything, and I still can't seem to access my drive.

Anyone have any ideas?

The problem was caused while using a Mac. I suggest you go to their help
forums to find a way out of this mess. You are not likely to get a lot of
help in the Vista forums - not because we don't want to. Most of us just
don't know the answer to your problem.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)



"rsottney" <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote in message
news:6F50AB3C-AC03-4C03-A3E8-FDF8A0AAA09F@microsoft.com...
> My last computer crashed and died last month, so I was using a Mac laptop
> until I could get a new one, which I did last week ... a Compaq Presario
> w/Vista.
>
> Unfortunately, when I was on the Mac I accidentally forgot and unplugged
> my drive without that whole "safe removal" garbage that Mac does.
>
> Since then, whenever I plug in my external hard drive (Seagate 80gb USB
> connection) it does not read the drive (on either the Mac or the Vista
> PC). All I keep getting is a request for me to format the drive, but if I
> do that I will lose all my files.
>
> Is there any way to change the settings or something to allow me to open
> the files on this external drive?
>
> I know I can buy data recovery software and services, but I have no money
> and I'm looking for a quick and simple fix. Even if it's just something
> that will let me transfer the files off the drive and THEN format it
> before putting the files back on it.
>
> Also, I've been told I can do a repair disk on the Mac, and that might fix
> it, but whenever I tried it, all it did was keep repeating the words
> "Repairing disk" and then "Repair Complete" over and over again. It went
> on like this for a good while, so I'm not sure if it was actually fixing
> anything, and I still can't seem to access my drive.
>
> Anyone have any ideas?

The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is there
a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This is a
Vista question.

I don't typically use a Mac. I don't like them at all. It was a matter of
necessity. Now I'm back on MS and I'm trying to find a solution so I can
access my files again.


"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OON62XzEIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> The problem was caused while using a Mac. I suggest you go to their help
> forums to find a way out of this mess. You are not likely to get a lot of
> help in the Vista forums - not because we don't want to. Most of us just
> don't know the answer to your problem.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
>
>
> "rsottney" <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote in message
> news:6F50AB3C-AC03-4C03-A3E8-FDF8A0AAA09F@microsoft.com...
>> My last computer crashed and died last month, so I was using a Mac laptop
>> until I could get a new one, which I did last week ... a Compaq Presario
>> w/Vista.
>>
>> Unfortunately, when I was on the Mac I accidentally forgot and unplugged
>> my drive without that whole "safe removal" garbage that Mac does.
>>
>> Since then, whenever I plug in my external hard drive (Seagate 80gb USB
>> connection) it does not read the drive (on either the Mac or the Vista
>> PC). All I keep getting is a request for me to format the drive, but if I
>> do that I will lose all my files.
>>
>> Is there any way to change the settings or something to allow me to open
>> the files on this external drive?
>>
>> I know I can buy data recovery software and services, but I have no money
>> and I'm looking for a quick and simple fix. Even if it's just something
>> that will let me transfer the files off the drive and THEN format it
>> before putting the files back on it.
>>
>> Also, I've been told I can do a repair disk on the Mac, and that might
>> fix it, but whenever I tried it, all it did was keep repeating the words
>> "Repairing disk" and then "Repair Complete" over and over again. It went
>> on like this for a good while, so I'm not sure if it was actually fixing
>> anything, and I still can't seem to access my drive.
>>
>> Anyone have any ideas?
>

"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OON62XzEIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> The problem was caused while using a Mac. I suggest you go to their help
> forums to find a way out of this mess. You are not likely to get a lot of
> help in the Vista forums - not because we don't want to. Most of us just
> don't know the answer to your problem.
>
Problem will happen on both Mac and Windows. You just happen to be on a Mac
when it did.
I hate the Mac OS, But this would have happen would you have ejected the
drive without the safe removal 1st on these OS's...

In the future you might want to start using that safe removal garbage.
As for your data, you may want to try some free data recover programs. At
this point you have nothing to lose.

> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
>
>
> "rsottney" <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote in message
> news:6F50AB3C-AC03-4C03-A3E8-FDF8A0AAA09F@microsoft.com...
>> My last computer crashed and died last month, so I was using a Mac laptop
>> until I could get a new one, which I did last week ... a Compaq Presario
>> w/Vista.
>>
>> Unfortunately, when I was on the Mac I accidentally forgot and unplugged
>> my drive without that whole "safe removal" garbage that Mac does.
>>
>> Since then, whenever I plug in my external hard drive (Seagate 80gb USB
>> connection) it does not read the drive (on either the Mac or the Vista
>> PC). All I keep getting is a request for me to format the drive, but if I
>> do that I will lose all my files.
>>
>> Is there any way to change the settings or something to allow me to open
>> the files on this external drive?
>>
>> I know I can buy data recovery software and services, but I have no money
>> and I'm looking for a quick and simple fix. Even if it's just something
>> that will let me transfer the files off the drive and THEN format it
>> before putting the files back on it.
>>
>> Also, I've been told I can do a repair disk on the Mac, and that might
>> fix it, but whenever I tried it, all it did was keep repeating the words
>> "Repairing disk" and then "Repair Complete" over and over again. It went
>> on like this for a good while, so I'm not sure if it was actually fixing
>> anything, and I still can't seem to access my drive.
>>
>> Anyone have any ideas?
>

On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:21:09 -0400, "rsottney"
<rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote:

>The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is there
>a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This is a
>Vista question.

Perhaps. By the way the problem is common to any external hard drive
regardless if running on a Mac or Windows. If you yank off the drive
or just kill it's power supply in it's "hot" state if it isn't fully
supporting hot swap which some of the newer drives do with the right
controller and BIOS update and not do the "now it is safe to remove"
dance the file system can get corrupted which is likely what happened.

Usually it sounds worse then it actually is.

I'll assume you're talking about a NTFS partition. Windows is pretty
good about repairing that file system. Give it a chance to do that.
Right click on the drive that's damaged assuming it spins up. If you
get that far. Next view it in Windows Explorer. Right click on
properties, tools, check automatically fix file system errors. If
anything is messed up that can be fixed Windows should do it. Almost
always it only involves a few files which you may lose. The rest
should be fine.

In rare instances, I've only seen it happen twice in the two decades
I've used Windows it will start giving some very strange screen
messages while trying to fix the file system, stop and then some more
warnings that basically say man, what the $%#$ did you do bro, you
want to try to fix this mess?

If you say yes, go take a walk or something because what happens next
isn't pretty to watch. Every file you have in the partition will flash
by, the screen scrolling past way faster then you ever seen Windows do
anything then once it hits a bad file come to squeeching halt, the
drive will got nuts for a few seconds, you see a message it did such
and such to some file, then start scrolling like mad again. Once it
is done, maybe a half hour later you end up with a report saying what
it was able to fix and what it couldn't. Normally you won't see this
and it will just fix things on the fly and give you a quick summary in
a couple minutes and you'll be back in business.

Adam Albright wrote:
> On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:21:09 -0400, "rsottney"
> <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote:
>
>> The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is there
>> a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This is a
>> Vista question.
>

<Fruit Loop, that was too much lip dribbling. Your help was lost in the
lip dribble, as you dribbled right past it. You need to make a clean
crisp pass for the assist. Where is my whistle? I have to blow the
whistle on your infraction.>

"Adam Albright" <AA@ABC.net> wrote in message
news:8pnkh31hkkk7bee43n3cdgu2sgfkjv3dbq@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:21:09 -0400, "rsottney"
> <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote:
>
>>The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is
>>there
>>a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This is
>>a
>>Vista question.
>
> Perhaps. By the way the problem is common to any external hard drive
> regardless if running on a Mac or Windows. If you yank off the drive
> or just kill it's power supply in it's "hot" state if it isn't fully
> supporting hot swap which some of the newer drives do with the right
> controller and BIOS update and not do the "now it is safe to remove"
> dance the file system can get corrupted which is likely what happened.

Its not the BIOS or controller its the file system type and what cacheing is
done by the OS.
If on windows you enable performance mode for the external drive it will
also be likely to screwup the file system.
On XP and Vista the default for removeable drives is to enable quick
removal.. i.e. minimise caching so that the file system is not corrupted if
it is removed suddenly.


> Usually it sounds worse then it actually is.
>
> I'll assume you're talking about a NTFS partition.

On a disk sharedwith a Mac? More likely to be plain old FAT.

> Windows is pretty
> good about repairing that file system.

Its quite good at FAT too but if the data is really important the user
should make an image of the disk first just in case he wants to try
something else if it makes it worse.

> Give it a chance to do that.
> Right click on the drive that's damaged assuming it spins up. If you
> get that far. Next view it in Windows Explorer. Right click on
> properties, tools, check automatically fix file system errors. If
> anything is messed up that can be fixed Windows should do it. Almost
> always it only involves a few files which you may lose. The rest
> should be fine.
>
> In rare instances, I've only seen it happen twice in the two decades
> I've used Windows it will start giving some very strange screen
> messages while trying to fix the file system, stop and then some more
> warnings that basically say man, what the $%#$ did you do bro, you
> want to try to fix this mess?
>
> If you say yes, go take a walk or something because what happens next
> isn't pretty to watch. Every file you have in the partition will flash
> by, the screen scrolling past way faster then you ever seen Windows do
> anything then once it hits a bad file come to squeeching halt, the
> drive will got nuts for a few seconds, you see a message it did such
> and such to some file, then start scrolling like mad again. Once it
> is done, maybe a half hour later you end up with a report saying what
> it was able to fix and what it couldn't. Normally you won't see this
> and it will just fix things on the fly and give you a quick summary in
> a couple minutes and you'll be back in business.
>
>

On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:50:44 +0100, "dennis@home"
<dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> wrote:

>
>"Adam Albright" <AA@ABC.net> wrote in message
>news:8pnkh31hkkk7bee43n3cdgu2sgfkjv3dbq@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:21:09 -0400, "rsottney"
>> <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote:
>>
>>>The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is
>>>there
>>>a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This is
>>>a
>>>Vista question.
>>
>> Perhaps. By the way the problem is common to any external hard drive
>> regardless if running on a Mac or Windows. If you yank off the drive
>> or just kill it's power supply in it's "hot" state if it isn't fully
>> supporting hot swap which some of the newer drives do with the right
>> controller and BIOS update and not do the "now it is safe to remove"
>> dance the file system can get corrupted which is likely what happened.
>
>Its not the BIOS or controller its the file system type and what cacheing is
>done by the OS.

Stop following me around a like puppy dog always trying to sniff my
butt. Frank likes that I've heard, maybe you should bark at him for
awhile. <wink>

>If on windows you enable performance mode for the external drive it will
>also be likely to screwup the file system.

Rubbish on both counts. You should stop trying to squeeze your square
pegs into round holes. Your simplistic responses suggest you have very
limited experience.

>On XP and Vista the default for removeable drives is to enable quick
>removal.. i.e. minimise caching so that the file system is not corrupted if
>it is removed suddenly.

You really like to babble don't you. Stop drooling. If you had better
reading comprehension you would have noticed I was referring to hot
swapping external drives which has nothing to do with what you just
had to chime in on.
>
>
>> Usually it sounds worse then it actually is.
>>
>> I'll assume you're talking about a NTFS partition.
>
>On a disk sharedwith a Mac? More likely to be plain old FAT.
>
>> Windows is pretty
>> good about repairing that file system.
>
>Its quite good at FAT too but if the data is really important the user
>should make an image of the disk first just in case he wants to try
>something else if it makes it worse.

If you truly had any interest in helping the OP, why didn't you? You
seem to prefer nipping at my heels making an ass of yourself. Down
boy! Heel! Heel! Be good and I might give you a cookie or do you
prefer snausages?

http://www.snausages.com/

"Adam Albright" <AA@ABC.net> wrote in message
news:3uukh314ntd9s6u3o2iuci3h2rdg5clbbo@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:50:44 +0100, "dennis@home"
> <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Adam Albright" <AA@ABC.net> wrote in message
>>news:8pnkh31hkkk7bee43n3cdgu2sgfkjv3dbq@4ax.com...
>>> On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:21:09 -0400, "rsottney"
>>> <rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is
>>>>there
>>>>a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This
>>>>is
>>>>a
>>>>Vista question.
>>>
>>> Perhaps. By the way the problem is common to any external hard drive
>>> regardless if running on a Mac or Windows. If you yank off the drive
>>> or just kill it's power supply in it's "hot" state if it isn't fully
>>> supporting hot swap which some of the newer drives do with the right
>>> controller and BIOS update and not do the "now it is safe to remove"
>>> dance the file system can get corrupted which is likely what happened.
>>
>>Its not the BIOS or controller its the file system type and what cacheing
>>is
>>done by the OS.
>
> Stop following me around a like puppy dog always trying to sniff my
> butt. Frank likes that I've heard, maybe you should bark at him for
> awhile. <wink>
>
>>If on windows you enable performance mode for the external drive it will
>>also be likely to screwup the file system.
>
> Rubbish on both counts. You should stop trying to squeeze your square
> pegs into round holes. Your simplistic responses suggest you have very
> limited experience.

Its you that got it wrong not I.
If you can't stand having someone correct your errors that would explain
your personality problems.


>>On XP and Vista the default for removeable drives is to enable quick
>>removal.. i.e. minimise caching so that the file system is not corrupted
>>if
>>it is removed suddenly.
>
> You really like to babble don't you. Stop drooling. If you had better
> reading comprehension you would have noticed I was referring to hot
> swapping external drives which has nothing to do with what you just
> had to chime in on.
>>

So was I, do you have a reading problem?.
Maybe you should learn that you don't know as much as you think if you
believe everything everyone else says is wrong.

>>
>>> Usually it sounds worse then it actually is.
>>>
>>> I'll assume you're talking about a NTFS partition.
>>
>>On a disk sharedwith a Mac? More likely to be plain old FAT.
>>
>>> Windows is pretty
>>> good about repairing that file system.
>>
>>Its quite good at FAT too but if the data is really important the user
>>should make an image of the disk first just in case he wants to try
>>something else if it makes it worse.
>
> If you truly had any interest in helping the OP, why didn't you? You
> seem to prefer nipping at my heels making an ass of yourself. Down
> boy! Heel! Heel! Be good and I might give you a cookie or do you
> prefer snausages?
>
> http://www.snausages.com/
>

Why are you babbling again?
You told the OP to check his disk.. it may work but its doubtful as he has
already tried it on the Mac.
Windows may have more success and we will find out if the OP tries it,
assuming you haven't put him off.

Adam Albright wrote:
> On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:50:44 +0100, "dennis@home"
> <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> wrote:
>
>
>>"Adam Albright" <AA@ABC.net> wrote in message
>>news:8pnkh31hkkk7bee43n3cdgu2sgfkjv3dbq@4ax.com...
>>
>>>On Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:21:09 -0400, "rsottney"
>>><rsottney@ryanscottottney.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>The problem might have started on a Mac, but what I'm asking is ... is
>>>>there
>>>>a way to fix in in Vista, so that I can access my files on Vista. This is
>>>>a
>>>>Vista question.
>>>
>>>Perhaps. By the way the problem is common to any external hard drive
>>>regardless if running on a Mac or Windows. If you yank off the drive
>>>or just kill it's power supply in it's "hot" state if it isn't fully
>>>supporting hot swap which some of the newer drives do with the right
>>>controller and BIOS update and not do the "now it is safe to remove"
>>>dance the file system can get corrupted which is likely what happened.
>>
>>Its not the BIOS or controller its the file system type and what cacheing is
>>done by the OS.
>
>
> Stop following me around a like puppy dog always trying to sniff my
> butt. Frank likes that I've heard, maybe you should bark at him for
> awhile. <wink>
>
>>If on windows you enable performance mode for the external drive it will
>>also be likely to screwup the file system.
>
>
> Rubbish on both counts. You should stop trying to squeeze your square
> pegs into round holes. Your simplistic responses suggest you have very
> limited experience.
>
>
>>On XP and Vista the default for removeable drives is to enable quick
>>removal.. i.e. minimise caching so that the file system is not corrupted if
>>it is removed suddenly.
>
>
> You really like to babble don't you. Stop drooling. If you had better
> reading comprehension you would have noticed I was referring to hot
> swapping external drives which has nothing to do with what you just
> had to chime in on.
>
>>
>>>Usually it sounds worse then it actually is.
>>>
>>>I'll assume you're talking about a NTFS partition.
>>
>>On a disk sharedwith a Mac? More likely to be plain old FAT.
>>
>>
>>>Windows is pretty
>>>good about repairing that file system.
>>
>>Its quite good at FAT too but if the data is really important the user
>>should make an image of the disk first just in case he wants to try
>>something else if it makes it worse.
>
>
> If you truly had any interest in helping the OP, why didn't you? You
> seem to prefer nipping at my heels making an ass of yourself. Down
> boy! Heel! Heel! Be good and I might give you a cookie or do you
> prefer snausages?
>
> http://www.snausages.com/
>

Well, that diatribe of bs sure was a lot of help to the op...hahaha...lol!
Hey bozo, try taking some of your own advice just once in your miserable
failure of a life.
Frank