PLEASE HELP: error the file or directory is corrupted or unreadabl

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Guest

My learned friends,

I have an external hard drive with a lot of data on it that I would rather
not lose if I can avoid it.

When I attempt to access the drive I receive the following error message:
"the file or directory is corrupted or unreadable"

I have tried chkdsk and it could not solve the problem.

What are my options?

If I have no choice but to format the drive, do I simply to this by right
clicking the drive and selecting "format"

Please advise

-Joe
 
JOE said:
My learned friends,

I have an external hard drive with a lot of data on it that I would rather
not lose if I can avoid it.

When I attempt to access the drive I receive the following error message:
"the file or directory is corrupted or unreadable"

I have tried chkdsk and it could not solve the problem.

What are my options?

If I have no choice but to format the drive, do I simply to this by right
clicking the drive and selecting "format"
Click to expand...

Since this is an external hard drive, connect it to another system and
see if it can be read. If another Windows system can't read it, try from
a Linux box (or boot a working computer with a Linux live cd such as
Knoppix).

Is the external hard drive old? Making any noise? Run a drive diagnostic
on it. You may need to connect it internally to do this.

If the drive is viable but the data can't be accessed from other
operating systems, you may be able to retrieve it with data recovery
software.

How about some more details about this drive before we go further?


Malke
 
My learned friends,

The drive is about three years old. It does make noises, the disk is
spinning. During the chkdsk, it does show a lot of the files and folders, so
the data is still there (I think).

How can I run a drive diagnostic if the drive is inaccessible?

I hope this information helps.

-Joe
 
JOE said:
My learned friends,

The drive is about three years old. It does make noises, the disk is
spinning. During the chkdsk, it does show a lot of the files and folders, so
the data is still there (I think).

How can I run a drive diagnostic if the drive is inaccessible?
Click to expand...

You don't do drive diagnostics from within the operating system. You go
to the drive mftr.'s website or use Seagate's SeaTools and download the
diagnostic utility. Then you create a bootable CD with the file you
downloaded. You need third-party burning software to do this. Then you
boot with the CD you created and do a thorough test of the hard drive.
If the drive fails any physical tests, you replace it. Depending on your
motherboard, the drive diagnostic may or may not see the USB-connected
drive. If it doesn't, you remove the drive from its enclosure and slave
it internally in a working system.

Since the data is important, I think I'd do my other suggestions first
before running diagnostics just to try and get the data off. This is why
a layered approach to backup is good - data on the computer's hard
drive, backed up to a second hard drive, burned to CD/DVD-R regularly
and taken off-site or put in a fireproof file cabinet away from the
computer.

Knoppix - www.knoppix.net

Data recovery software:

PCInspector File Recovery -
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/welcome.htm
Executive Software “Undelete” -
http://www.execsoft.com/undelete/undelete.asp
R-Studio - http://www.r-tt.com/
File Scavenger - http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm
Ontrack's EasyRecovery - http://www.ontrack.com/software/

I should mention that if the data is crucial, you would be best off not
working on the drive at all and instead send it directly to a
professional data recovery company. My preference is for Drive Savers
(www.drivesavers.com) but there are others. This is expensive, usually
starting at around $500 USD and going up with a rough average being
$1500-3000 USD. Only you know the value of your data and can make that
determination, of course. Some insurance companies will cover data
recovery costs so it might be worth checking with yours.


Malke
 
My learned friends,

I have backed up the majority of the data on the drive, some time ago, on
dvd disk, so what I will lose is the new stuff, which is not as important.
Threfore, I think I can take a deep breath and say I am prepared to lose it.

Can you instruct me regarding formatting?

I know that from now on I will be regularly backing up my data!

Please advise
 
My learned friends,

I downloaded and ran Seagate seatool. It recognized the USB drive but for
each of the tests, apart from the long generic test, it said the test was
unavailable. When I ran the only one that I could, the long generic test, the
drive failed the test. What should be my next step?

-Joe
 
JOE X5 said:
My learned friends,

I downloaded and ran Seagate seatool. It recognized the USB drive but for
each of the tests, apart from the long generic test, it said the test was
unavailable. When I ran the only one that I could, the long generic test, the
drive failed the test. What should be my next step?

-Joe
Click to expand...
Check your warranty.
If the drive is still within the warrantly period...contact the mfg for an
RMA number.

If it's out of warranty *DISCARD* it!
 
My learned friends,

For the amount of time I have had the drive, I think it is safe to say the
warrenty has expired. As for friend philo's suggestion to discard it, that
will be only a last resort.

Please contiue to respond.

1. the drive failed the only test availiable via the seagate tool
2. sould I format and if so how?
 
JOE said:
My learned friends,

For the amount of time I have had the drive, I think it is safe to say the
warrenty has expired. As for friend philo's suggestion to discard it, that
will be only a last resort.

Please contiue to respond.

1. the drive failed the only test availiable via the seagate tool
2. sould I format and if so how?
Click to expand...

If the drive fails *any* physical tests (which it did), you should
replace it. Don't bother to format it. Check to see if it is under
warranty and if it is not, throw it out and buy a new drive. End of story.


Malke
 
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