lost partition on my external HDD

Hello everyone,

I have a problem with my external Toshiba drive.
I recently came across a I/O Device Error message. I was unable to access the drive. I unplugged the hard drive and rebooted the computer. When I plugged it back in, the drive was recognized and I was able to access it.
However, I am unable to view ANY of my old files. When I open the hard drive, I don't see any folders, no files, nothing. All of my old files still seem to be stored on the hard drive since it shows that about half of my external's space is currently being used. The drive is a 320 GB Toshiba Store Art. PROPERTIES show me that I am currently using 180 GB. But, when I open the drive nothing is there. Just a blank screen.

What gives?

Earlier in the day, I copied ALL files from a different external drive (Seagate) and put them into the Toshiba. Is there a connection? Is it possible that I copied some config/boot files from the Seagate into the Toshiba and now they are conflicting? That's my guess, but unfortunately, I can't access any of my files to check.

Please help!

If you can access the drive partition (does it have more than one?) and its properties and it is providing a drive letter, then I don't think the partition is lost though I'm not sure why you can't see any of the information.

Go to Start / Control Panel / Folder Options and mark the button to show hidden files and folders, uncheck the box to hide system files, and uncheck the box to hide extensions of known file types (I only really want the hidden option now, but the others may come in handy for you later as long as you're already there and making changes). Did that help (I suspect not, but it was worth a try).

Go to the Toshiba drive and again go to Properties but this time click on the Security Tab and make sure you are listed as an authorized user with full rights. If not, add yourself with full rights (and make sure to check the box to apply it to all files and sub-folders). Then click Advanced and do the same in the Special Permissions section. Make sure that the Everyone user does not show as access denied - if so, delete the everyone user or change the rights to read only. Finally, click on the Ownership tab and make yourself the owner of the drive (including all files and sub-folders). While I don't really think this is a permissions issue or you would have gotten an access error message, this will make sure that isn't an issue when the files are recovered and should be the setup in any event.

Go to Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Computer Management / Disk Management, expand the screen to full size and create a Printscreen file (choose .jpg when given the option) and attach it to your reply to this post. I'd like to see what the system is saying about that drive and/or partition (of course, make sure it is attached and powered up before you do this).

Does the Toshiba have a set partition/drive letter or is it assigned by the system when it is plugged in? Do you recall if it is the same letter as was used by the Seagate or if it is something different? Have you tried using different USB ports to make sure it isn't a problem with a specific port - please try.

Try copying a few files from your hard disk to the Toshiba (some document or picture files would be best - and be sure to copy and not move) and see if they show up on the Toshiba or if they too do not appear. If they do appear, try to open a couple to make sure you have full access and rights. I'd like to see if it is working properly besides this one massive copy procedure from the Seagate.

That's it for now. Let's see what happens with what I recommended and let's see what Disk Management shows about that drive/partition.

I hope this helps or that it at least helps us identify the problem.

Good luck!

Thank you very much for the reply. I tried all of the steps you recommended and unfortunately none of them have worked.
I included screenshots of my Disk Management as well as the Drive Properties. I am sorry that the OS is not in English. I am currently running a Japanese OS (I'm from the US, but I live in Japan).
The drive I'm having trouble with is H:. You asked if the drive had changed names. In fact, it has. Now that you mention it, my Seagate used to run as the H drive and my Toshiba used to be the G drive. If you notice under the main bar (showing my drive's contents) the icon for the hard disk is a generic icon. Before, as the the G drive, there used to be a Toshiba logo icon. The computer still recognizes it as a Toshiba drive, however the icon is no longer displayed.

Disk Management doesn't show any partitions. Slightly confusing since all of my old files are somewhere else on the drive and inaccessible.
Under H it states that it is ONLINE. Also, that it is ACTIVE and the PRIMARY PARTITION.


The Toshiba drive is 320 GB.
Here's what I have:
Options and Accessories individual page - Toshiba

It came with no CD for drivers. Apparently, they are preloaded into the device. Just plug-in and use.

I copied some files into the hard disk and I am able to open them and manipulate them anyway I'd like. They don't disappear or lock me out of editing them.
As you can probably tell, the three files on the disk only make up a little over 5 mb. However, under Properties, the Pie Chart shows 113 GB of used space and 184 GB of free space. 5 mb doesn't equal 113 GB...that's my problem. The 112.99 GB I'm missing has all of my photos, music, documents, etc. (basically my digital life).
How can I open it back up so I may be able to see them again?
Should I try plugging the Seagate back into the computer?
I tried moving the Toshiba to all of the other USB ports and there is no change.

Your assistance is GREATLY appreciated!

Thank you Lorien for the lengthy reply. I really appreciate it.
I tried to reply to your post several minutes ago, but my post never "posted." I apologize if my previous post pops up. I'm recalling what I typed earlier...

I followed all of the steps you gave me. Unfortunately, none of them worked for me.
I accessed Disk Management and it appears as though there is no other partition (aside from the main one). I included screen shots. I apologize for the OS being in Japanese. I am currently running Vista (Japanese version). I from the US, but I live in Japan. I went ahead and highlighted the important info...at least what I think to be important...all of this is slightly over my head, but I'm trying!
Basically, Disk Management is telling me that my H drive is Online, Active and the Primary Partition. I have a 320 MB Toshiba Store ART 2.5".

You asked me if the drive had changed names/letters. Now that I think about it, it has. In fact, the Seagate used to be the H drive and the Toshiba used to be the G drive. Ever since I mass copied everything onto the Toshiba and disconnected it (the Seagate) I had problems. First the I/O Device Error and then I was able to access it, however, I am unable to access my old files.
They seem to be lost in some kind of ghost partition. I attached a screen shot of my drive's properties as well. Like you suggested, I copied a document, photo and even a music file into the drive. All worked fine. I was able to manipulate them.
If you notice in the screen shot, you will see that the three files only account for a little over 5 mb of space. However, in the Properties window to the right, the Pie Chart shows a usage of 113 GB. 5 mb doesn't equal 113 GB so something is definitely on the drive (my old files), but I can't access them.
Also, when I would access My Computer, I would normally see a nice Toshiba logo as the icon for the HDD. However, now I only see a generic Windows-appointed logo. Is there a problem with the drivers? Unfortunately, the HDD did not come with a drivers CD. Drivers are preloaded into the drive and it is plug-in and run.


I DESPERATELY need help...all of my photos, documents, music, etc. (basically my digital life) are lost on that drive...

I notice the Toshiba is formatted FAT32. Is there a reason you aren't using NTFS? If not, I suggest you convert it to NTFS by going to a command prompt and typing convert H (or whatever the drive letter is): /FS:NTFS. I don't know if this will solve the problem (most likely not), but it might and it's generally better to have the drive formatted as NTFS anyway for a variety of reasons (especially since that's how your system drive is formatted and moving files to the external drive formatted FAT32 will cause you to lose some of the security and other information or attributes of the files). Given the situation, there is a risk that this may also make things worse if it doesn't detect those files and folders and converts the drive without considering their presence and possibly deletes them. On second thought, don't do this yet. Let's not take that chance. We may come back to this, but skip it for now.

I'm also wondering why the drive is Active - that typically is reserved for the system and boot partitions. I'm not quite ready to suggest you change that yet though (I need to do a bit more research). I'm also thinking of changing the drive letter as well (but I think re-attaching the Seagate may solve that - I hope).

Does your Seagate still contain all the files you copied to the Toshiba or were they deleted? I'd love to be able try try the copy again if that's still possible (but not just yet). If you've been having troubles (more than just this such as that I/O error you mentioned briefly) ever since unplugging it, then by all means re-attach it (in the same order as initially done - so if the Seagate was attached first, attach it first again). That should make sure the drive letters return to their originals and we can see if that resolves the problem and maybe even gives you the Toshiba icon back again. If it works, we still need to find a way to fix it so the Seagate isn't required, but it would be a great step in the right direction if it worked.

It's good to know that the drive is working for the new information/files - that means the drive is probably OK, the connection is OK, and it also suggests that your drivers are probably fine as well (though the change of icons is confusing and I'm not sure why that occurred but suspect it may be a symptom of the problem - even if I'm not quite sure how to handle that at this point except the suggestion noted above).

I wish I read Japanese so I could undertand everything on those screenshots, but I surely don't have time to learn at this point - LOL!

At this point, in essence, you should re-attach the Seagate along with the Toshiba and see if that helps or even resolves the problem (at least some of the problem). I'd also like a screenshot of Disk Manager with both the Seagate and Toshiba attached (and translations of the pertinent information like what it says about each drive and the drive letters and such).

I've tried to explain my thinking and suggest no steps that might damage the hidden data on the Toshiba (while describing some I am considering). But at some point we may need to take some risks to get things working properly. First, let's see if putting the Seagate back helps and do this as slowly and carefully as possible.

Thanks and good luck!