Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted

AndyD305 · 11 Nov 2017

Hi All

I am having a bit of an issue with my Seagate 2 TB External HD. I've attached a screenshot which shows what has happened. The name of the drive, all folders and file types are all random characters and I am unsure about the best way to go about recovering my information. I do not have a backup of all the data that was previously on this drive so I would like to know if it is at all possible to recover it. I have tried the chkdsk command prompt, however I get a message telling my access is denied, and when I try the scan and recover from the file explorer, the drive just disconnect and reconnects itself. Any help with resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Andrew

.

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-harddrive-ss.png

Tony K · 11 Nov 2017

Hi there, @AndyD305. Welcome to Windows TenForums.

Do you have it configured to store personal files on that drive?

Did you perform chkdsk on your C: drive? If not, do that first.

Hopefully you can get to the D: drive using this method. If not, you may have to perform offline.

Be forewarned > Use at your own risk.

Info: It shouldn’t in this case, but if chkdsk cannot lock the drive, a message appears that asks you if you want to check the drive the next time you restart the computer.

Make sure the drive letter in File Explorer is still D: > Open Admin Command Prompt > Type the command below, press Enter, and let run. When finished, reboot.

Chkdsk D: /f

jumanji · 11 Nov 2017

After you have done what HippsieGypsie recommends in the above post,

1. Please post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management with only your Seagate 2TB external drive plugged in.

Windows Disk Management: Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

Upload to tenforums: How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

2. Download, run and scan your external drive with the trial version of GetDataback Simple Data recovery https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm and check whether it shows all your folders and files. You can also preview those but cannot copy ( unless you buy a licence)

If successful, we shall try TestDisk - Freeware - to check and repair any file system corruption.

AndyD305 · 11 Nov 2017

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies. This is the error I get when I try and run the chkdsk. I have admin rights on this machine so I am a bit confused by that.

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-chkdsk.png

I can see all my files in GetDataback, should I just pay for the license and recover using that program, or is testdisk easier to use?

jumanji · 12 Nov 2017

"I can see all my files in GetDataback" That is great. (So we have a backup in case TestDisk fails )

You need not buy it right away - unless you are in a hurry. . We shall try freeware TestDisk and check whether it can recover the disk. But give me sometime to get the workout ready. May be I will take another eight to ten hours to compose and rollout the exercise.

Our first effort is always to recover the data first. So have another external disk with adequate space ready to copy files. In that disk create a folder named Recovery. This will be your destination disk and folder to which you will copy the files. (After successful recovery we shall try to restore the disk as a whole if possible. )

( TestDisk is a little difficult for the first time user. So you are well advised not to experiment it on your own. Please wait for my instructions and follow it scrupulously)

(You did not post the Windows Disk Management screenshot. Post it for reference. )

Sun must be setting now in your location. You may go to sleep and check my post your tom morning

jumanji · 12 Nov 2017

OK,

1. I would still like to see the screenshot of Windows Disk Management with only your 2TB Seagate external drive plugged in.

2. Your Windows 10 system 32 bit or 64 bit? Desktop/laptop?

3. Did you install any new software after which this problem arose?

4. Just curious to know how you decided that it is a file info corruption.

Whatever, here is the worksheet for you.

Download TestDisk 7.0 for windows from http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download ( not the beta 7.1, not the Windows 64bit version even if your system is 64bit) Roll down in that page and you will find 7.0

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-12-11-2017-12-28-28.jpg

Extract the zip file to the root of your system drive C:

Reboot your system, plug in your 2TB problem drive and then the destination drive in which you have created a Recovery folder as per my previous post.

Run testdisk_win.exe in the testdisk-7.0 folder in the C: drive. ( You may create a shortcut on the Desktop for convenience and future runs.)

Go as per the screenshots below.

Screen 1:

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-s1-12-11-2017-12-43-53.jpg

Screen 2:

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-s2-12-11-2017-13-43-29.jpg

Screen 3:

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-s3-12-11-2017-14-08-33.jpg

Screen 4:

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-s4-12-11-2017-14-51-03.jpg

Screen 5:

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-s5-12-11-2017-15-05-12.jpg

Screen 6:

Seagate 2 TB External HD file info corrupted-s6-12-11-2017-15-23-08.jpg

If your folders/ files are listed post a screenshot ( let me also join the party :)) then copy your files to the Recovery folder in the destination drive.

If not, we shall go back and take a different route. That after you report and post the screenshot. . ( We shall go to the previous screen check the [Boot] sector and then MFT and MFT Repair. Instructions will follow after you report the status at Screen 6. An online dialog is preferable. Or else you may have to close TestDisk and run it again after getting my instructions. No problem anyway)

Copying files listed by TestDisk during Recovery: https://www.sevenforums.com/hardware...ml#post2395385 ( From screenshot 5 onwards in that post)

NOTE:

If you get a different screen at anytime, post a screenshot and then close TestDisk.

You can close TestDisk Window anytime by clicking on X in top right of the Title Bar.

You can run TestDisk any number of times as per the above instructions. Your data will not be affected since we are not writing anything to the disk.