Accidental partial format of external drive. Help me retrieve files please.

[Scraniel]

Hi folks,

Long story short: During an attempt to format a tiny USB pen drive using the USBFormat program (http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd-on-usb-disk), although I highlighted the USB pen drive, the darn program began to format my 2 TB external HD instead!!! After a few seconds, I realized something was wrong, and cancelled the operation.

Problem: Now I cannot access my external HD. When trying to enter the drive, Windows displays "Access is denied". (This is not a security and permissions issue, but a minor corruption to the file system resulting from an interrupted partial format).

My computer & HD details:
- Western Digital My Book Essential 2TB, USB 3.0
- Windows 7

Other details: At the moment, Windows gives the drive a letter (F and names it "Local Disk", but doesn't name it "My Book" like it should.

I tried the running tests using the Western Digital Diagnostic tool, but to no avail. The Quick Test passed, but the Extensive Test failed.

How can I solve my little problem here? Thanks so much.

 

[Hello Kitty15]

Suddenly canceling the formatting process may damage your USB pen drive. There, you should not do it next time.

Since you have done it, you drive may be corrupted.

1. Download data recovery software to rescue your saved data on this drive. There are plenty of data recovery tools available out there. You should select a proper one according to your own needs.

Here is a free drive data recovery software that must help you:
http://freeware-fix.blogspot.com/2013/02/format-hard-drive-recovery.html

2. Back up your data well after the data recovery stuff.

3. Format this drive afterwards to see whether it could be used as before.

Edit: Data backups could be the best way for you to get back your data. So, always back up your data, no matter what happens.

 

[Scraniel]

@Hello Kitty15, First, you didn't read my post. I didn't say my USB pen drive was the problem. Second, hindsight is 20/20 and your answer doesn't help.

I'm looking for specific data recovery software that any of you may know of. I tried a couple tools but no luck.

What can I do?