My Seagate Hardrive needs to be "formated"???... HELP?

Question

My hardrive is suddenly not working becuase it says it needs to be "formated", but this apparently means I will lose all the files on the hardrive. What should I do? (I have all my music on the hard drive - i do not want to lose it!!)
Someone who's good with computers ANSWER THIS PLEASE!!

Answer 1

hello, if it is not responding it looks like you may not be able to get your music anyway. one way to do it would be to format the drive, then use a data recxovery program to recover all of your deleted files (they do not really get deleted, just 'hidden')

Answer 2

You will need to have the hard drive removed and put into a friends computer as a secondary drive. follow these removal instructions:
STEP 1: Ensure that your computer is shut down and the power supply is turned off. Take off the case to the CPU and let all the components cool down.
STEP 2: Remove all the cables that are attached to the CPU. The removal of wires should be done with utmost care so as not to damage other components, sockets or the cable itself.
STEP 3: Get your tool kit. Make sure that you have a cross-point screwdriver that suits the size of the screws on the hard drive case cover.
STEP 4: Unscrew the hard drive case if you are replacing the old drive. If you are installing a new drive, look for an empty bay to fix the drive.
STEP 5: Remember that the hard disk is connected to an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) cable. It is a flattish cable that looks like a ribbon and is also known as the ribbon cable. While changing the hard drive, detach the old drive carefully and if you are adding a new drive, make sure that the cable has enough space to accommodate the new drive.
STEP 6: Remember to check the jumper settings of your machine while installing the hard drive. Jumpers are used for configuring various devices in the computer. They are small metal pins with black plastic sleeves. If you are using a single drive then select the "master" setting. If you are using two drives, set "master" for primary drive and "slave" for the secondary drive.
STEP 7: Connect the second hard drive to the second connector on the cable (colored strip should be closest to the power cable). If the cable does not have a second connector, replace it with one that does, or use a second ribbon cable to attach the second hard drive to the motherboard (if a second drive port is available). STEP 8: Connect an available power cable to the hard drive. STEP 9: Insert the hard drive into an available drive bay and secure with screws.
STEP 10: Replace the computer cover.
Add Hard Drive to CMOS Setup
Instructions
STEP 1: Start the computer.
STEP 2: Enter the CMOS setup program (the system generally indicates which key to press), immediately after memory check. STEP 3: Use arrow keys to select Autodetect option (or comparable option for your computer) if it is available, and press Enter. If this option is not available, see step 5 to manually enter the drive parameters.
STEP 4: In the Autodetect screen, enter Y to select the default settings for each drive that is installed and bypass settings for uninstalled drives. The screen will return to the main setup screen. Continue to step 8.
STEP 5: To manually enter drive parameters, select the setup screen that displays hard drive parameters (usually Standard or Main screen).
STEP 6: Use the arrow keys to scroll through the list of drive parameters.
STEP 7: Select the set of parameters that most closely represents your drive and does not exceed the drive volume (such as 2 GB) and press Enter.
STEP 8: Press Enter or OK (or Esc if the other keys are not available) to accept the new setting.
STEP 9: Use arrow keys to select Save and Exit setup and press Enter. The computer restarts, indicating the presence of the second drive. Your drive is ready.

Answer 3

Low level format utilities for the hard disk


Important drive information (servo, sector layout, and defect management, etc.) is stored in the low-level format at the factory. This information is designed to last the life of the drive and therefore it is not possible to low level the drive outside the factory. Although some drive manufactures and BIOS provided so-called "low level format utilities", they actually perform a write-read verify of the drive’s user data sectors, and do not actually perform a low-level format. In the event of a corrupted master boot record or boot block virus, use FDISK /MBR command to restore the master boot record. If you need to low level format your hard drive then check the drive manufacturer and download such an utility from its website. Every drive manufacturer provides just such a utility. Below is a list of hard drive manufacturers with a links to low level format utilities.

Note: If normal (high level) hard disk formatting is required, you can use DOS FDISK command to first erase and create partitions and then use FORMAT. It is also a good idea when you hard disk becomes inaccessible to see if it is just the system files that are corrupted. Most of the time, it is the case. SYS will do the job of replacing system files. Therefore, low level format is always of LAST RESORT when you encounter HDD problems.


by

http://www.dhaarvi.blogspot.com

Answer 4

The MBR or FAT table has been corrupted .... this is basically the index to the data on the hard drive.

Here are some programs that can fix this:

MBR Repair & Recovery - Boot Sector Repair & Recovery
http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz/

Rebuild MBR
http://www.ptdd.com/mbr.htm

You may also have what is known as an "MBR" virus.
info:
http://www.easeus.com/resource/mbr.htm

To fix this you may need to boot with an antivirus emergency CD or remove the hard drive & install it in another PC (that has a proper AV program) & clean it from there.

regards,
Philip T

Answer 5

I have had that problem myself some time ago and I tried to format my HD but only made things worse. A message in big white letters showed and said'Unable to show desktop you have some corruption on your hard drive'. You'll have to do like I did and see a PC expert to format it for you.

Answer 6

decrease back on your grandma's day, a woman would positioned pink Hots Cinnamon Flavored chocolates on her nipples whilst she replaced into ripe for pickin'. it fairly is a history lesson on melancholy era social norms. Jeeze.

Answer 7

I am ready to help (I helped alot here with the same problem)

mail me here in Y! Answers to start this, we can get all your files back

Trust me, I am the VBAXLMan