XP can read/write to FAT32 as used by W98 and also to the
NTFS file system. If the drive is unformatted then it has
no data file structure. If the disk was FDISKed the
partition table was over-written, if the drive was formatted
the FAT table was altered to show all data cluster were open
to be written to...
Depending on what you did when you upgraded to XP, the disk
should be detected as your D: drive. Right click on MY
COMPUTER and select "manage" then look at your disk storage
to see if the drive is shown. Is it possible you did not
connect the IDE cable or the 12v power lead?
Don't format or you'll cause possibly more data loss. Even
if the drive was formatted, with the proper software or
procedures, the data can be recovered as long as you stop
any read/writes to the drive until you are ready to recover
the data. Do a Google for "data recovery" or "disk
recovery" One company's name comes to mind.DRIVE SAVERS.
| Is it possible to access an unformatted hard drive
| without having to wipe out all of the data with a format
| in win xp pro?
| The reason I ask is when I was using win 98 i stored all
| of my downloads (mp3's etc) on a seperate hard disk but
| when I upgraded to xp I cant access that drive.