Cannot find files using enclosure; please help

RichieJ

New Member
Messages
8
Hi everyone, im new here and in need of help.

I recently purchased a new laptop (Windows 8), we put the hard disk from my old slow laptop (win XP) that stopped working into a "sata enclosure". When I attached it, I cant find my personal files. Its like the space is taken up but my important files cant be seen!! All that comes up on the hard disk enclosure drive (F:) is: recovery, swwork, windows, and preboot folders... and a recov.wim file. I even ran "Search" but still cant find my documents or anything...

Please, what can I do? These are important files :(

Thanks so much in advance,

Richie.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
You may only be seeing the recovery partition in your enclosure

Your other partition may be hidden or does not have a driver letter assigned to it.

go to your desktop and right click computer and select manage

then go down to disk management and click that

Look on lower right half of your screen and youll see DISK 0 and you will see some boxes and they will say healthy partition

You will see a box with a volume name and C: next to it

Look further down and see if there is a Disk 1 next to it you should find your enclosed drives

Ignoring the boxes that say system, how many other boxes are there and what are their letters and sizes? (e.g. D: 80gb )
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Hi,

I followed those instructions and it brought up nothing at all in the "disk management" at the bottom it just says "Connecting to virtual disk service" and nothing shows.

Gosh whats going on, maybe I didn't use the "Sata Enclosure" right? Or maybe its not the right one... cause on the package it says "Compatible with Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista/7" - it says nothing about Windows 8, which I have? Could that be it? I guess I should have asked before I bought it, but they suggested this one so im not sure? My other thought is the files are hidden so I cant see them?

Brooklyn thanks for replying, do you or anyone else have other thoughts or has anyone else has encountered this?

Im getting nervous I spend like the last 2 years working with these files and my documents.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
UPDATE...
I was able to refresh and get the "Disk 1" to show... it showed my SERVICEV003 (F:) hard disk with my important files on it. It says 1.46 GB NTFS Healthy (Active, Primary Partition).
After this there are 2 more boxes... G: 221.65GB RAW Healthy (Primary Partition) and Lenovo H: 9.77GB GB NTFS Healthy Primary Partition

Im not sure what all this means, but it looks like everything is healthy... what is a good next step for this. Thanks so much for your help thus far, I really really hope I can see and copy my files over to my new laptop. Ok thanks and please please keep in touch.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
sorry had to retract my post, missed something allergies killing me...

I missed that your G: drive is RAW which means unformatted, DO NOT FORMAT this drive even if asked...

you may have to use data recovery software to recover these files, your system is not recognizing it as having a filesystem or data on it.

Let me get back to you in a 30mins.. Im writing this now to make sure you do not format that drive..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
what happened to your XP system?

was it virused?

just randomly stop booting? or booted then bluescreen?

Do you have access to a desktop pc and see if it says the same RAW?

Was your harddrive encrypted? or gov secured?

before we get into software fixes lets make sure it really is RAW and not just being misread..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Hi, oh good I figured it would be a bad idea to format the hard disk, and thanks for writing that warning message too.

So, my old computer started getting really slow, then a couple days later I got the blue screen and couldn't even boot into windows. I was actually able to do a system restore, and all my files were fine, I figured I was all set, but it happened again, this time I got some startup recovery screen that seemed stuck. So then I was forced into a new machine and removing it into an enclosure and boom - now I can't access my dear files!

For your next questions - yes I tried this on a desktop before and same thing happened, however I didn't check to see if it was "raw"... however my F: Drive, which apparently is where this is located didn't saw raw that part said healthy, are all the drives there on this one drive? Also I am not sure if it is "Harddrive encrypted" and I don't think this was gov protected or anything, it was just my home computer laptop...

What if its just misread? I was reading about the "NTFS" im not exactly sure what that is but should I switch that if I can?

I am just so dumbfounded that I carefully put this from my old machine to this enclosure and into my new laptop and cannot see the files. It is bizarre cause the space is missing there so I do think they are there but hidden from my sight so im am still hopeful. ( I did check hidden files, I think at least)

Lastly, Brooklyn567, I want to say thank you for your messages and concern and that warning about formatting and of course your help. My goodness, you truly are putting me much more at ease than I would be if it weren't for your help here. Im really praying we can find my missing files, they were like my lifes story.

Thanks again all and Brooklyn567. Please keep me posted on our next play here.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
You say your F drive is where you data is, in your origial post F: drive was only 1.46GB

Is it still 1.46GB or is it now 221GB?

Do you have another USB cable to connect to your enclosure? I suspect your enclosure may be misreading your drive..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
UPDATE...

Wow, i probably should have checked this earlier, but I tried accessing the G: drive (the one with 221GB) from "File Explorer" which now I realize must be my old hard disk (right?) so anyway, after trying to read it for about 90 seconds, a pop up came with the following: " G:\ is not accessible. Data error (cyclic redundancy check) "

I wanted to share this with you asap, and I just did a quick google search for "cyclic redundancy check" and it looks like it means there is some corruption but the data is there and mostly fine,and maybe to run chkdsk on it from like cmd prompt? But im not sure how to do that or IF I should do that, so I certainly wanted to write here to you first and update you on this and to check.

Also, I don't have another cable connector but I can bring it back to the store and check / trade my enclosure in for another one?

Thanks again and the plot thickens right?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
Richie, lets go the safe route first. Chkdsk can be both a precision tool and a hammer.
So lets do that last..

Download a recovery program called RECUVA Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download

This non-destructively scans your harddrive for files that are deleted or otherwise not visible to you.

You need to make a folder in your laptop to copy your old files into.. (not on the computer's desktop) But you can create a shortcut of that folder in your desktop.

Call it OldLaptop or whatever will be easy for you to find and identify..

Run RECUVA

when asked for filetype choose (Documens) and on the next run of recuva choose (pictures) or just choose all if you want to select from thousands of files..

File Location = G:\ ( or whatever your 221GB drive is currently labeled )

thank you screen will come up hit next

If it says no files found click NO for deepscan

click advanced mode click options click action

and check scan for non deleted files

check restore folder structure ( this will keep things organized instead of having one directory will all your files dumped into it )

click scan

click the files you want to recover and on the bottom right click recover

then tell it where to recover the file to (OldLaptop or whatever you called it, use the browse button to locate it)

let us know how this goes before we continue, and verify all your files are now in the new laptop.

Chkdsk may fix this in one shot but it may also kill it in one shot.. lets try that after we safely recover your files...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Hi, just a quick update. I successfully downloaded "RECUVA" and was going to run it, but I had to go to work some, so as soon as im home, later tonite, I will run it. I wasn't sure how long the "Recuva Scan" can take but I wanted to do it when I could be around the computer to do it.

How long does it take about? Or should it take? And does it typically recover all / most files?

Thanks so so much again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
Recuva can take a few minutes or hours depends on how much youre looking for and how stubborn the connection to your harddrive is... Im up for the next couple hours or so, add a reply here and ill receive notification via my phone's email..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Ok, we have made so excellent progress! This "Recuva" program is pretty awesome! Brooklyn567, seriously I cannot thank you enough!! So I ran it a few times, recovered what appears to be just about all of my important "documents" following then important "pictures" - truly awesome and suuuuch a huge relif!

As for web pages I worked on/saved, ie: html, css I think was some too... is there a way to recover them, cause I do not think they count as part of my "documents" search?

Also is there anything else I could be missing that is good to search for or that I may need / missing?

Lastly, Brooklyn- I actually live in Virginia btw, gosh I owe you big time. You have truly been such a help, I know Ive said it before but again, just thanks so much for your concern, advice, and knowledge... gosh how do you know all this anyway!!!

OK its been a really hectic weekend for me, all I want ot do is work on my files and check them!! Haha!!

Rich
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
yes when you get to filetypes click documents, and continue through, til you get to the advanced screen youll see on top

*.doc|*.xls|*.ppt|*.odt|*.ods|*.pdf|*.docx|*.xlsx|*.pptx|*.odc<H:\*>


type instead *.htm|*.html|*.css<H:\> where <H:\> is the drive with your data

Or if you know what folder it was just type in the folder \*.*

Great job on the recovery.. people have paid hundreds even thousands of dollars to get their data back, and sometimes its that easy, sometimes not...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Hi again, i was able to recover a few more items and am extremely pleased, Brooklyn567 you literally saved me here.

I have a couple more questions; i do not want to close this eightforums inquiry down yet; for the folder say it is "nflleague" my folder name, how would i search that? Then would it recover all the items in that folder Is there a way i can do that? Cause i think my searches are only gathering file names from a certain search code... not complete folder names with their complete folder contents.


Lastly, do you think all document files were recovered? What percentage usually get recovered from Recuva? From what i can see so far btw, im actually NOT missing any key documents of mine... just webpage contents. Overall that is really really good.

OK thanks so much again, i am extremely thankful.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4GB
Yes, I just verified that you can recover from a particular directory.

when you get to the end at the advanced options instead of individual filenames type in the directory youre looking for.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
Puran data recovery is another free program that has an easier interface and can customize to any changes you make without having to rescan.. The only problem i have with it is that the recovered files will now have a new timestamp of when you recovered the files.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
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