[SOLVED] External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format

ICUDoc · 07-24-2009, 07:06 PM

I have an external HP Pocket Media Drive - it is a 250GB external USB drive that draws power via the USB port.

It recognizes the drive and installs the software for the drive and gives it a letter, but when you try to open it it is asking for the drive to be formatted - it had a lot of data on it.

Are there any universal external hard drive software diagnostic utilities that I can use on it to see what might be the problem? I know I have the option of sending it to a Hard Drive Data Recovery Service but I would like to see if it is something simple.

Thanks!!

Lou

**raptor_pa** · 07-24-2009, 07:10 PM

Sounds like a partition table issue, but it also could be power related. Disconnect any other USB devices and see if it works, if it has a double connector for USB ports, make sure both are plugged in. You can also try test_disk as in this sticky. Have you "lost" a hard drive, partition or files in your computer?

ICUDoc · 07-24-2009, 07:20 PM

The power light comes on OK - and the Computer recognizes that there is a hard drive connected (and recognizes it by name) but when you try to open it it asks to format it. I will try the test_disk program. Thanks.

Lou

ICUDoc · 07-24-2009, 07:33 PM

Nope - Test_disk does not recognize the hard drive as being attached to the system. Any other suggestions? Thanks!!

Lou

**raptor_pa** · 07-24-2009, 07:44 PM

Next step is to remove the drive from the USB enclosure, mount it internally in a desktop and see if the BIOS recognizes it. test_disk also my see it there, and that eliminates any potential USB or power issues. If it is an IDE drive then you will need an adapter, SATA will plug right in...

ICUDoc · 07-25-2009, 08:07 AM

This is a sealed HP Pocket Media Drive - only a month old so if I open it I void the warranty - don't even know how you would open it - but HP will only replace the drive if I send it back and will not try to get the data out - are there ANY software solutions to look at a drive the mounts onto the computer but looks to format?

Seems to me that that is a common solution here - take it out of the enclosure and mount it internally - I can't believe there are not some diagnostic software solutions to this before having to do this.

**raptor_pa** · 07-25-2009, 02:50 PM

If itmounts, try r-studio demo and see what it can find - Unfortunately the USB interface does not pass all the low level commands and protocols that a drive needs. USb drives are also not recognized in BIOS which is the first indicator if the problem is physical or logical. When we get a drive for recovery, if it is external the enclosure is the first thing that goes. On about 60% of those drives, the recovery is done at that point because the drive will mount and access the files system USB is kind of like poutting a Ford Transmissiion in a chevy - not designed to fit but with the right adapter... :)

ICUDoc · 10-03-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor_pa

If itmounts, try r-studio demo and see what it can find - Unfortunately the USB interface does not pass all the low level commands and protocols that a drive needs. USb drives are also not recognized in BIOS which is the first indicator if the problem is physical or logical. When we get a drive for recovery, if it is external the enclosure is the first thing that goes. On about 60% of those drives, the recovery is done at that point because the drive will mount and access the files system USB is kind of like poutting a Ford Transmissiion in a chevy - not designed to fit but with the right adapter... :)

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU!!

R-Studio did the trick - allowed me to recover almost 95% of all the files on the drive - my daughter had gone on a trip to Italy and most of her pictures were on there and I saved the day - and it was all thanks to your suggestion!!!

Lou

07-24-2009, 07:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
ICUDoc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista	[SOLVED] External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format I have an external HP Pocket Media Drive - it is a 250GB external USB drive that draws power via the USB port. It recognizes the drive and installs the software for the drive and gives it a letter, but when you try to open it it is asking for the drive to be formatted - it had a lot of data on it. Are there any universal external hard drive software diagnostic utilities that I can use on it to see what might be the problem? I know I have the option of sending it to a Hard Drive Data Recovery Service but I would like to see if it is something simple. Thanks!! Lou

07-24-2009, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,921 OS: XP	Re: External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format Sounds like a partition table issue, but it also could be power related. Disconnect any other USB devices and see if it works, if it has a double connector for USB ports, make sure both are plugged in. You can also try test_disk as in this sticky. Have you "lost" a hard drive, partition or files in your computer? __________________ Last edited by raptor_pa; 07-24-2009 at 07:12 PM.

07-24-2009, 07:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
ICUDoc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista	Re: External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format The power light comes on OK - and the Computer recognizes that there is a hard drive connected (and recognizes it by name) but when you try to open it it asks to format it. I will try the test_disk program. Thanks. Lou

07-24-2009, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
ICUDoc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista	Re: External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format Nope - Test_disk does not recognize the hard drive as being attached to the system. Any other suggestions? Thanks!! Lou

07-24-2009, 07:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,921 OS: XP	Re: External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format Next step is to remove the drive from the USB enclosure, mount it internally in a desktop and see if the BIOS recognizes it. test_disk also my see it there, and that eliminates any potential USB or power issues. If it is an IDE drive then you will need an adapter, SATA will plug right in... __________________

07-25-2009, 08:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
ICUDoc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista	Re: External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format This is a sealed HP Pocket Media Drive - only a month old so if I open it I void the warranty - don't even know how you would open it - but HP will only replace the drive if I send it back and will not try to get the data out - are there ANY software solutions to look at a drive the mounts onto the computer but looks to format? Seems to me that that is a common solution here - take it out of the enclosure and mount it internally - I can't believe there are not some diagnostic software solutions to this before having to do this.

07-25-2009, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,921 OS: XP	Re: External HP Pocket Media Drive asks for format If itmounts, try r-studio demo and see what it can find - Unfortunately the USB interface does not pass all the low level commands and protocols that a drive needs. USb drives are also not recognized in BIOS which is the first indicator if the problem is physical or logical. When we get a drive for recovery, if it is external the enclosure is the first thing that goes. On about 60% of those drives, the recovery is done at that point because the drive will mount and access the files system USB is kind of like poutting a Ford Transmissiion in a chevy - not designed to fit but with the right adapter... :) __________________ Last edited by raptor_pa; 07-25-2009 at 02:53 PM.