USB hard disk error: "You need to format the disk in drive F: ..."

[Joanne_123]

I was using my USB hard disk for a word document when suddenly, I was unable
to save my file. When I double-clicked on the disk's icon in my computer, the
error message shows "You need to format the disk in drive F: before you can
use it". What should I do to solve this?

 

[Joanne_123]

I would not want to format the USB hard disk because there is a lot of data
on the USB hard disk.

I installed the same USB hard disk on a windows 98se computer and I was able
to read it. So the problem is between my USB hard disk and Vista. I got the
same error message on an XP.

I would like to know if I reformat the USB hard disk on my Vista, would the
problem go away forever? Is reformatting the solution or just a stop-gap
measure?