External HDD problem

TheAlanPeterson

New Member
Messages
7
Right, firstly, new here, so apologies if this is poted in the wrong place/ section.

Having a problem with an external HDD. When connected to a computer, windows will recognise it, but when I try to open it to view files, I get the following message:

F:\ is not accessible

'The volume does not contain a recognised file system.
Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted'

I also get a message saying that the HDD must be formatted in order to be used.

This happens in windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. However, when I connect the HDD to my playststion 3, I am able to view the photos on there, I can copy them, but it takes forever! And due to the file system on the ps3, it won't read any of the other files.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to sort this out?

Thanks, Alan
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
This happens to me quite a bit with my two external platter-clatter HDs. While Acronis True Image has no problem reading/writing images to and from both ext HDs, Windows 7 explorer often generates the same error you posted. I'm going to watch this thread and learn alongside you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
A quick Google turned up info that the filesystem in use on the PS3 HDD is a Linux filesystem -- UFS or UFS2 -- which Windows can NOT read. Which is why the PS3 can see the files but your PC can not.

If you boot your CD from a Linux LiveDVD LiveUSB (which you can get from distrowatch.com), then you MIGHT be able to read the filesystem on the PS3 HDD and copy those files to a Windows "drive" -- since Linux can read/write Windows NTFS volumes/
 

My Computer

Make yourself this stick, then you can read the files and recover them.

Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS - Windows 7 Help Forums


Ok, made the USB drive, but when I try to boot from it, I get a screen saying ' Linux Mint, Automtic Boot in 10 Seconds'

It then counts down to 0, the screen goes white for a few seconds, then changes to black and nothing else is displayed.

However, when I hold the power button to switch the laptop off, another Linux Mint screen flashes up for less than a second before the laptop powers off.

Is there something I have done wrong in the process? I followed all the steps carefully, but am not sure if I have done the right thing when booting from the USB drive. The laptop I have used the USB drive on is an old windows 7 system, but I lso have a newer windows 8 system, am I better to use the newer laptop?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8
    Computer type
    Laptop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Make yourself this stick, then you can read the files and recover them.

Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS - Windows 7 Help Forums


Ok, made the USB drive, but when I try to boot from it, I get a screen saying ' Linux Mint, Automtic Boot in 10 Seconds'

It then counts down to 0, the screen goes white for a few seconds, then changes to black and nothing else is displayed.

However, when I hold the power button to switch the laptop off, another Linux Mint screen flashes up for less than a second before the laptop powers off.

Is there something I have done wrong in the process? I followed all the steps carefully, but am not sure if I have done the right thing when booting from the USB drive. The laptop I have used the USB drive on is an old windows 7 system, but I lso have a newer windows 8 system, am I better to use the newer laptop?

There is really nothing I can think of that creates this situation. Many people have created this stick and I am not aware of another case that did not work. I am just now creating another stick with the same procedure to see whether there is any problem. I will get back to you.

In the meantime check whether your stick is formatted in Fat32.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I just made myself another stick and it worked perfectly. The only error I can think of is if the stick is not in Fat32.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I just made myself another stick and it worked perfectly. The only error I can think of is if the stick is not in Fat32.

Yes, the stick is FAT32, I reformatted it before beginning the process.

I have been running the 'mint4win' program from the stick. Do I need to change any settings on my laptop, or in windows before booting?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
If this is the 8.1 laptop in your profile, you have to set the BIOS to legacy mode and turn secure boot off.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
No, I was using it on my old laptop which has windows 7 installed. Thought is be best to try it out on there first incase I did anything wrong that I couldn't undo.

So far, I made the usb stick, ran the mint4windows program, selected the option to install/run within windows, restarted the laptop an booted from the usb stick, and that's as far as I got. The laptop is still running, but my screen is totally black.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
ran the mint4windows program, selected the option to install/run within windows,
What is this. Why did you run this program. You could have just booted with the stick after you made it as per my tutorial.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Ah, perhaps that is where I am going wrong. I will uninstall everything and have another go at it tomorrow.

Will let you know how I get on. Thank you for your help, it is very much appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
Any time. Sorry you are having all those problems. But it looks like you took a "detour".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
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