±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 606
Total: 606
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Photo Gallery
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Your Account
07: Photo Gallery
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Home
11: Downloads
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Community Forums
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Photo Gallery
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Home
21: Photo Gallery
22: Community Forums
23: CPGlang
24: Community Forums
25: Photo Gallery
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Your Account
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Home
33: News
34: Community Forums
35: Photo Gallery
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Home
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: News
44: Downloads
45: Home
46: Community Forums
47: Photo Gallery
48: Photo Gallery
49: Your Account
50: Your Account
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Photo Gallery
54: Downloads
55: Community Forums
56: Home
57: Downloads
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Home
61: Photo Gallery
62: Community Forums
63: Downloads
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Photo Gallery
71: Home
72: Community Forums
73: Photo Gallery
74: Photo Gallery
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Home
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Photo Gallery
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Photo Gallery
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Photo Gallery
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Home
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Home
108: Home
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Photo Gallery
112: Community Forums
113: Downloads
114: Photo Gallery
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Photo Gallery
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Home
123: Photo Gallery
124: Community Forums
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Home
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Your Account
142: Community Forums
143: Member Screenshots
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Member Screenshots
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Home
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Photo Gallery
157: Community Forums
158: Photo Gallery
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Photo Gallery
163: Community Forums
164: Downloads
165: Photo Gallery
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Home
170: Community Forums
171: Photo Gallery
172: Photo Gallery
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: News
180: Photo Gallery
181: Community Forums
182: CPGlang
183: CPGlang
184: Photo Gallery
185: Statistics
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Home
190: Community Forums
191: Photo Gallery
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Photo Gallery
196: Photo Gallery
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Downloads
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Home
207: Community Forums
208: Home
209: Member Screenshots
210: Downloads
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: News
214: Home
215: Your Account
216: Home
217: Community Forums
218: Photo Gallery
219: Home
220: Home
221: Your Account
222: Community Forums
223: Photo Gallery
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Photo Gallery
227: Photo Gallery
228: Community Forums
229: Photo Gallery
230: Community Forums
231: Your Account
232: Community Forums
233: Photo Gallery
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Statistics
237: Photo Gallery
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Photo Gallery
242: Photo Gallery
243: Photo Gallery
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Home
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Downloads
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: News
255: Photo Gallery
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Photo Gallery
261: Community Forums
262: Home
263: Community Forums
264: Photo Gallery
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Downloads
269: Downloads
270: Community Forums
271: Home
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Home
275: Community Forums
276: Photo Gallery
277: Your Account
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Downloads
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Photo Gallery
287: Home
288: Photo Gallery
289: Community Forums
290: CPGlang
291: CPGlang
292: Community Forums
293: Photo Gallery
294: Home
295: Community Forums
296: Home
297: Photo Gallery
298: Community Forums
299: Photo Gallery
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Downloads
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Photo Gallery
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Your Account
315: Community Forums
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Photo Gallery
329: Community Forums
330: CPGlang
331: CPGlang
332: Community Forums
333: Community Forums
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: News
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Photo Gallery
342: Downloads
343: Photo Gallery
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Home
347: Your Account
348: Photo Gallery
349: Home
350: Community Forums
351: Photo Gallery
352: Photo Gallery
353: Home
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Photo Gallery
357: Community Forums
358: Photo Gallery
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Photo Gallery
363: Photo Gallery
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Community Forums
368: CPGlang
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Downloads
373: Community Forums
374: Downloads
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Downloads
378: Community Forums
379: Community Forums
380: Photo Gallery
381: Your Account
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Home
386: Community Forums
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Photo Gallery
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Home
395: Photo Gallery
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Photo Gallery
400: Community Forums
401: Home
402: Community Forums
403: Home
404: Downloads
405: Downloads
406: Home
407: Community Forums
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Downloads
412: Photo Gallery
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Home
419: Photo Gallery
420: Downloads
421: Community Forums
422: Home
423: Community Forums
424: Photo Gallery
425: Home
426: Community Forums
427: Home
428: Community Forums
429: Photo Gallery
430: Community Forums
431: Downloads
432: Community Forums
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Downloads
437: Community Forums
438: Community Forums
439: Downloads
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Photo Gallery
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Home
446: Member Screenshots
447: Community Forums
448: Downloads
449: Community Forums
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Photo Gallery
453: Photo Gallery
454: Home
455: Downloads
456: Home
457: Home
458: Community Forums
459: Your Account
460: Photo Gallery
461: Community Forums
462: Home
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Photo Gallery
467: Community Forums
468: Community Forums
469: Photo Gallery
470: Community Forums
471: Photo Gallery
472: Community Forums
473: Photo Gallery
474: Home
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: CPGlang
478: Community Forums
479: Photo Gallery
480: Community Forums
481: Photo Gallery
482: Photo Gallery
483: Community Forums
484: Photo Gallery
485: Community Forums
486: Your Account
487: Photo Gallery
488: Home
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Downloads
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Home
501: Community Forums
502: Photo Gallery
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Home
514: Home
515: Community Forums
516: Home
517: Home
518: Home
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Home
524: Home
525: Downloads
526: Home
527: Home
528: Photo Gallery
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Member Screenshots
532: Community Forums
533: Home
534: CPGlang
535: Photo Gallery
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: News Archive
542: Downloads
543: Community Forums
544: Photo Gallery
545: Photo Gallery
546: Photo Gallery
547: Community Forums
548: Member Screenshots
549: Community Forums
550: Home
551: Downloads
552: Community Forums
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Home
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: CPGlang
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Photo Gallery
564: Community Forums
565: CPGlang
566: Community Forums
567: Downloads
568: Community Forums
569: Home
570: Your Account
571: Community Forums
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Home
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Community Forums
579: CPGlang
580: Photo Gallery
581: Home
582: Community Forums
583: Photo Gallery
584: Home
585: Home
586: Home
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Downloads
590: Community Forums
591: Home
592: Community Forums
593: Photo Gallery
594: Community Forums
595: Home
596: Home
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Photo Gallery
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Home
604: Community Forums
605: Community Forums
606: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
External drive problem (Non-gaming related) :: Archived
Resolve issues with your computer problems here or read about the latest computer parts and information.
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Hardware

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:28 pm
Post subject: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

Hi guys,

I usually hang out in the AFV News section, but I'm hoping y'all might be able to help me with a little hardware problem.

I'm trying to figure a way to reformat the drive after it crashed, so I can use it again.

I have a Firelite USBFL40 40-gig external drive. Recently it went completely on the fritz, computer locked up when it tried to read it, etc. I think that was because one of my sons set a roll of adhesive magnet tape on my desk and the drive slid on top of the tape.

After an arduous three-day recovery scrub, I think I've recovered everything I'm going to off of the crashed drive. Now, I'd like to find a way to re-format (if that's the right word) the disk so I can use it again. Like I said, Windows is useless with it, and usually locks up when it tries to read the disk.

Any suggestions? (Shareware or freeware is preferred, since the drive isn't expensive enough to warrant much outlay just to get it running again.)

Thanks!
Chuck

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:37 am
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

That's a tough question. If the drive itself crashed, there's not much hope for it, but I've had some success with this...

I've installed a Linux OS on the drive. Once Linux formats the drive to accommodate it's file system, and I see the drive works, I try putting Windows back on the drive. As I stated above, if the drive is too badly damaged, this probably won't help, but if it's a format issue, it could work for you.

As far as what Linux OS to use. Well, the majority of them are free and one that I like is SimplyMephis. You can find this free OS HERE! It downloads as an ISO file, so you'll have to burn it to a CD or DVD to use it.

Good luck...
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:14 pm
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

Hi,

Shad, thanks. I probably wasn't clear, though. This drive is just used as a storage drive, no OS needed.

I don't think the drive itself crashed mechanically or electronically. I'm pretty sure that the magnet it was sitting on just corrupted the data and FAT to the point that Windows couldn't sort it out.

I'm looking for a way to wipe and reformat the disk/FAT so that Windows can read it and use it again. I have no expectation of recovering any more data from the disk. I'd like to end up with a blank but usable storage drive.

Thanks!
C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:54 pm
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

Hi Chuck,

If you have recovered all the data that was salvagable, you right click the icon for the drive, go to properties and select format.

It will then reformat the drive........ all data will be really gone then

dependable on the OS you use you can even set the cluster size


Good Luck

fled
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:03 pm
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

Right..but as I read this, that's where it locks up, no?

Did the drive come with any utilities?

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:35 pm
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

- JG300-Stoopy
Right..but as I read this, that's where it locks up, no?

Did the drive come with any utilities?


Hi Stoop, everyone,

Correct on the lockup. Anytime I do anything that accesses the drive, the OS locks up...some sort of terminal loop I guess. I think it may be because the drive data isn't readable, but the OS doesn't know what to do (like it would with a garbled floppy disk). I'm hoping that someone knows of a program that can "kick the door in" on the drive and get enough access to start the reformat.

The only utilities it came with was a really slow backup program, which died with the rest of my unrecovered data.

C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:18 pm
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

did you run checkdisk ?

Chuck,

if you right click the drive when it's connected there should also be the option to run a checkdisk, this has multiple choice options, make shure you tick both the repair faults and bad sectors.

as far as I know that should work, mostly this goes with a new startup of the system, alltough it can also run the checkdisk without shutting down

hope it helps Confused


fled
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:31 am
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

Hi all,

Solved!

Uhu, apparently Windows queries the drive when you try to access it in the normal ways, like from the link in "My Computer". It hangs up when it doesn't get an answer it understands, so you never get to the "CheckDisk" option.

However, your suggestion led me to dig around for a different way, and I found it. In the Control Panel, there is an option for Administrative Tools. There I found Computer Management:Storage:Disk Management, which could see the disk. It allowed me to right click on the drive letter and choose format. It even let me choose the allocation unit size! 20 mins and Bob's-your-uncle!

Now Windows sees the drive the normal ways, and it works like it used to. Now, if I keep the children and magnets away from it...

Thanks for the help, all who offered it!

C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:11 am
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

Cool Cool

glad to hear you got it cleared



fled
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7015
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:01 am
Post subject: Re: External drive problem (Non-gaming related)

:D, glad you got it sorted...:chug:
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Hardware
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.