Disk Repair Software Needed

[Davoud]

I have an external USB drive (FAT32) that has become corrupted. I do
not believe that there is a hardware problem; at least I will proceed
on that assumption for the time being. Windows (multiple machines)
can't see the drive; Macs (multiple) can see it but can't mount it or
repair it. (Macs can read/write FAT32.)

I need a recommendation for a utility to attempt to repair this disk.
Something I can purchase on-line and download would be great, but I
want good software and will order a CD on-line or drive to the store if
necessary. Thanks!

Davoud

 

[Henry Bemis]

http://www.dtidata.com/

 

[Davoud]

Davoud:
Henry Bemis:

http://www.dtidata.com/

Thanks. I don't need data recovery; the disk was fully backed up. I
need software to repair the logical errors in the disk's file system so
that I can put it back in service.

Davoud

 

[Jim]

I have an external USB drive (FAT32) that has become corrupted. I do
not believe that there is a hardware problem; at least I will proceed
on that assumption for the time being. Windows (multiple machines)
can't see the drive; Macs (multiple) can see it but can't mount it or
repair it. (Macs can read/write FAT32.)

I need a recommendation for a utility to attempt to repair this disk.
Something I can purchase on-line and download would be great, but I
want good software and will order a CD on-line or drive to the store if
necessary. Thanks!

Davoud

I would try chkdsk or a format if getting rid of the data is no concern.
Other than those two, the disk manufacturer may have a suitable utility.

Jim

 

[Davoud]

Davoud:

Jim:
I would try chkdsk or a format if getting rid of the data is no concern.
Other than those two, the disk manufacturer may have a suitable utility.

How does one run chkdsk on, or format, a drive that Windows cannot see
or mount?

I'm starting to think that utilities (such as the old Norton Utilities)
to repair logical errors in hard drives are passé, is that right?

Davoud

 

[Sinner]

I have an external USB drive (FAT32) that has become corrupted. I do
not believe that there is a hardware problem; at least I will proceed
on that assumption for the time being. Windows (multiple machines)
can't see the drive; Macs (multiple) can see it but can't mount it or
repair it. (Macs can read/write FAT32.)

Why would you assume that an external device, that can't be seen by multiple
machines, wouldn't have a hardware problem? Have you swapped out the USB
cable? Tried the drive in another enclosure? Mounted the drive internally?

It doesn't matter what software you run, if Windows can't see the drive
neither can the software.

 

[Davoud]

Davoud:

S:

Why would you assume that an external device, that can't be seen by multiple
machines, wouldn't have a hardware problem?

Loooong experience. The fact that Macs can see it and read its capacity.

Have you swapped out the USB cable?

Of course.

Tried the drive in another enclosure?

Of course.

Mounted the drive internally?

Impossible in my laptop; disinclined to ask my neighbor to mount an
unknown drive in his desktop; this ain't the Mac!

It doesn't matter what software you run, if Windows can't see the drive
neither can the software.

There has existed software that could see, and force to mount, HD's
that the OS by itself could not see. It's been a long time -- I use
mostly Macs and I've grown rusty at troubleshooting I'm going to
take it as read that you don't know of any such software.

Davoud

 

[Poprivet]

Davoud:

Loooong experience. The fact that Macs can see it and read its
capacity.


Of course.


Of course.


Impossible in my laptop; disinclined to ask my neighbor to mount an
unknown drive in his desktop; this ain't the Mac!


There has existed software that could see, and force to mount, HD's
that the OS by itself could not see. It's been a long time -- I use
mostly Macs and I've grown rusty at troubleshooting I'm going to
take it as read that you don't know of any such software.

Davoud

IFF you know the disk structure, there are many hex editors that can
directly read platter/track/sector/ etc. without mounting the disk first in
the usual sense. You probably should spend some time at Google searching
for what you need.
I seem to have lost everything to od with them so I can't even recall any
names to help with, but they do exist.
I assume you've exhausted all the fdisk etc. possiblities? There isn't
that much to getting a drive mounted w/r to disk data locations.
You also really should try putting the drive into anohter PC. It's not
going to hurt anything on another PC and might tell you quickly what's up.
I know you want software help, but a hardware groups may well still be
the type group you need to ask this qustion on because they're going to be
more aware of apps that can do what you need.

If this is a very expensive drive, I'd go to the experts at data recovery -
they obviously know how to do stuff like that for money. If you're just
trying to learn, then keep researching.

HTH

Pop`

 

[Andy]

I have an external USB drive (FAT32) that has become corrupted. I do
not believe that there is a hardware problem; at least I will proceed
on that assumption for the time being. Windows (multiple machines)
can't see the drive; Macs (multiple) can see it but can't mount it or
repair it. (Macs can read/write FAT32.)

I need a recommendation for a utility to attempt to repair this disk.
Something I can purchase on-line and download would be great, but I
want good software and will order a CD on-line or drive to the store if
necessary. Thanks!

When you say Windows can't see the drive, I assume you mean Windows
Explorer.
Does the drive appear in Device Manager?
No: Hardware problem.
Yes: Then the drive should appear in Disk Management, allowing the
partition to be deleted and recreated. However, FAT32 file
systems cannot be created on partitions larger than 32GB.