External Hard Drive

[HDprob]

I have a Seagate GoFlex Desk Adapter USB 3.0. I can no longer access my files. I have researched and done the chkdsk and nothing. I have looked at disk management it shows that it is raw. Every time I click on the "f" drive, where it was located, I keep receiving the disc needs to be formatted message. Is there anything else I can try? I have the trial check on Seagate's web-site and didn't find any partitions. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[geraldoferrero]

RAW is kind of error of file system. if the chkdsk can't fix the error, then you have to format it to make the drive normal. but after formatting files on the drive will be lost.
if file on the Seagete drive are important to you, then you have to retrieve files first before formatting
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1894148/convert-raw-fat32-loose-data.html
http://www.eassos.com/eassos-recovery-free.php

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey HDprob. Just as @geraldoferrero mentioned, it's important to recover your data first, before you try anything else. I'd recommend that before you go with data recovery software, that you try to access the drive with Linux Live USB/CD to see if it's recognized properly and if you can get your data back this way. And if this doesn't work, here are a couple of more data recovery options, which might be able to help: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1644496/lost-data-recovery.html

If you manage to recover your data, I'd recommend that you reformat the drive via Disk Management and that you format it with the NTFS file system. I'd also suggest that you download the manufacturer's diagnostic tool to test the drive with it and see if any errors or bad sectors pop-up.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD

 

[HDprob]

Great. Thanks to you both for your answers. I am currently using EaseUS Data Recovery and I am seeing all of my files. After I recover all of my files, I am planning on purchasing a couple more back ups for my external hard drive. Thanks again. I appreciate your help. Have a great day.

 

[_Tiki_]

Yeah, these guys are pretty much on the spot with their suggestions. Seagate has a free trial recovery software you can download (either for Mac or PC):

http://www.seagate.com/services-software/seagate-recovery-services/recover/

It's a "trial" but more or less it will give you a forecast of what data can or cannot be recovered. Do not hesitate to contact their support team and see if they can give you a free download/license for the software if you it can recover the data. Ask them to stand behind their brand and ask to speak with a supervisor to "escalate" the issue. This has worked for me in the past. You never know if you don't ask. The full version of the software is something like $99 USD. BUT there are other software online. Boogieman provided a very good link.