Re: FAT32 HDDrive Hidden

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance


"jdevola" <jdevola@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4C4A117B-0F60-4254-AD5E-94B2C6BB4F3B@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Similar to hogislander's post on 2/8/06, but with some differences. I
am
running XP with NTFS on the master drive. I just added a second drive
(I
want the data from it), which is FAT32. Microsoft claims that XP
should
work
with FAT32, but the drive doesn't show up in Explorer.

If I go to cmd prompt and enter e: (my primary drive takes up c: and
d:),
I
get 'The device is not ready,' [If I enter f:, I get 'The system
cannot
find
the drive specified'] This is basically confirmed by Disk Management,
where
the drive shows up as 'basic FAT32 partition, healthy(active);'
however, I
cannot assign a drive letter (that option is grayed out).

If I go into 'diskpart' the drive shows up as 'Hidden: Yes,' and shows
1
partition which it claims is the entire disk (4GB), but it also
indicates
that there is 'No volume associated with this partition'

One interesting tidbit: In disk management:
'volume list' shows capacity as 955MB, 60MB free; but 'graphical view'
or
'disk list' shows capacity as 4.03GB, 0MB unallocated.

I want the data on the drive, that's it. Any ideas? Thanks.


"Anna" wrote:
jdevola:
1. Disconnect that secondary drive from your machine.
2. Boot just with your C: - D: drive connected.
3. Assuming that boot is a normal one - no problems of any kind, shut
down
the machine.
4. Now, carefully look at your secondary drive as you reconnect it.
a. Are you sure you've correctly jumpered it?
b: The IDE cable is securely attached to the drive and to the
appropriate
motherboard's IDE connector?
c. No bent or deformed pins on the drive's signal/data connector?
d. If Cable Select configuration, you've made the correct connections?
e. If still no go, can you connect it to another IDE channel?
5. You're reasonably sure the drive is non-defective? Any reason to check
it
out with a HD diagnostic utility?
6. You're reasonably sure the data on that drive should be accessible?
There
was no problem with that drive when it was installed and working in
another
computer - presumably from whence you got it?
Anna


"jdevola" <jdevola@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:10FCB8C2-5DBD-4733-A038-6AA1BD006DAE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anna, you got it spot on. i swapped for another drive, and windows sees
that
one ok. So, now... is it possible to save the faulty drive? Any fdisk or
something that will _fix_ a volume/partition?

Well, hopefully I can find the backups I need anyway.
thanks for the help
cheers
-joe


Joe:
If you have a disk imaging program such as Symantec's Norton Ghost or
Acronis True Image, you might want to try cloning the contents of that
problem HD to another HD and hope for the best.

Since I take it the HD is detected in the BIOS, you could use a diagnostic
utility from the manuf. of the HD to test it out. Do so.

As far as so-called data recovery programs that are commercially available
you may want to try one or the other Ontrack products that have a pretty
good track record but their software isn't cheap. See
http://www.ontrack.com/software/. Also, do a Google search for "data
recovery programs".
Anna


.

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