Can't find external hard drive?

Question

I removed some malware from my computer this weekend. While rebooting the computer I received a message that said H: volume is dirty. For what seemed like forever it ran through files and then booted to Windows. The malware has been removed, however, I no longer see my external hard drive anywhere. I have thousands of original photos and documents on that drive. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Answer 1

This will most likely work for you! Just remember to back up files in the future on a more permanent medium (CD, DVD, etc.)



If you really want to recover the files on this drive then you will have to do a little work. Do not reformat the drive, because you will lose everything. The good news is that it is not broken, and your files are 100% recoverable, so don't worry. Most manufacturers recommend a full file recovery by using their software - which they charge well over $100 for - which is not necessary at all.



The problem is that the drive's boot sectors do not match up.

You will have to download a stand-alone, free program to change this. It is called TestDisk and is available free at http://www.cgsecurity.org/ - Don't worry it is virus/trojan free!



Download it to your desktop and open the folder. Go to the folder called "win" and click on testdisk_win.exe

TestDisk will now open

The website also has a pretty good step-by-step that I would recommend you to use. It has pictures - which we all love! However, it is not the exact process you will need, but use it to get the idea of what you are doing. It is located at this address:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_...



Follow these steps (you can refer to the webpage for help):

1. Select "No Log"

2. Select your drive and hit "Enter"

3. Select "Intel"

4. Select "Analyze" - Unless you have partitioned the drive it will not look like the pic shown, but that is fine.

5. Select "Quick Search"

6. If you are using Windows Vista select "Y", if not select "N" and then hit "Enter" - This will scan for several minutes.

7. The result of the scan will probably show that no partitions were detected, so hit "Enter" to continue.

8. Select "Deeper Search" - this search will take longer than the first.

9. Now your drive should show up, but don't select anything. Just hit "Enter"

10. Select "Write" - This will show the 'bad' boot sector.

11. Select "Backup BS" - Now the boot sectors are identical.

12. Select "Quit" and then "OK"

13. Now safely remove your external drive, and I would recommend rebooting your computer, as well.

Now that's it!!! The drive is now working, and all files are accessible! And, best or all, you didn't have to pay for a recovery program or take the drive to a private disk recovery.

Answer 2

If external hard drive is infected by malware and shows dirty on Windows computer, you may recover original photos and documents on that drive with data recovery software. See this tutorial

http://www.asoftech.com/articles/portable-device-data-recovery.html

Answer 3

Try downloading the driver for it again from the cd or from the manufacturers website. Also unplug it and plug it in again, if there is a reset button push that too.