[SOLVED] WD External HD is missing after reformat

CD43 · 08-18-2008, 04:33 AM

Hello,

I purchased a WD External HD over a year ago, and used it as a secondary storage ... ie: not truly a back-up, but simply stored files, Paint Shop Pro files, photos, etc .. on it instead of on my drive C:, my computer was hit with AV2009 Trojan, and for the past three day's I have been reinstalling my windows OS, I've just completed the reinstall, updated all drivers, and Microsoft updates, and plugged in my external HD and guess what? I can't find it, I plugged it into my laptop, and it doesn't show up there either? I checked my power supply, and changed out the USB cords, and still no show

:
Here is what "Disk Management" shows me

I suppose I know just enough about computers to get me into a situation like this

but I really need all those files, can someone help me figure out why it's not assigning the drive letter? Or have I already lost everything and just need to suck it up!

Thanks so much
CD43

CD43 · 08-18-2008, 05:06 AM

OMG .... I'm sooooo HAPPY!

This site is fabulously awesome, I ran "TestDisk" and guess what? Drive F: .... is there, it's really there ... all my beautiful files, pictures, siggies, everything I've been storing there!

... I am one happy lady!!!
Thanks so much!
CD43

I'll be referring ALL my friends to your site!

~~wiseleo~~ · 08-18-2008, 05:13 AM

And you'll buy another external drive for pure backups tonight, right? :)

500GB external drives by Acomdata are quite cheap these days. Just don't be tempted to use it as a secondary storage so you won't be in this situation again. Do not unplug external storage without going through the "Safely remove device" wizard.

Please click Thread Tools -> Mark Solved on this page to close your thread.

Good luck :)

08-18-2008, 04:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
CD43 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP	[SOLVED] WD External HD is missing after reformat Hello, I purchased a WD External HD over a year ago, and used it as a secondary storage ... ie: not truly a back-up, but simply stored files, Paint Shop Pro files, photos, etc .. on it instead of on my drive C:, my computer was hit with AV2009 Trojan, and for the past three day's I have been reinstalling my windows OS, I've just completed the reinstall, updated all drivers, and Microsoft updates, and plugged in my external HD and guess what? I can't find it, I plugged it into my laptop, and it doesn't show up there either? I checked my power supply, and changed out the USB cords, and still no show : Here is what "Disk Management" shows me I suppose I know just enough about computers to get me into a situation like this but I really need all those files, can someone help me figure out why it's not assigning the drive letter? Or have I already lost everything and just need to suck it up! Thanks so much CD43

08-18-2008, 05:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
CD43 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP	Re: WD External HD is missing after reformat OMG .... I'm sooooo HAPPY! This site is fabulously awesome, I ran "TestDisk" and guess what? Drive F: .... is there, it's really there ... all my beautiful files, pictures, siggies, everything I've been storing there! ... I am one happy lady!!! Thanks so much! CD43 I'll be referring ALL my friends to your site!

08-18-2008, 05:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~wiseleo~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 461 OS: Win 2003 SP2 My System	Re: WD External HD is missing after reformat And you'll buy another external drive for pure backups tonight, right? :) 500GB external drives by Acomdata are quite cheap these days. Just don't be tempted to use it as a secondary storage so you won't be in this situation again. Do not unplug external storage without going through the "Safely remove device" wizard. Please click Thread Tools -> Mark Solved on this page to close your thread. Good luck :)