Asus M5a-78 + Phenom IIx2 + IE9 + Win 7 32bit + 4gb ram

That looks like the very thing - thanks. I'm off to the hospital shortly, so will look into it when I get back.

It had already assigned its-self as G:\ drive.

cheers mate.

Hi guys, Apologies for the delay in getting back – I’ve been ill.

I’ve just sorted a problem with my Sons hdd (with the help of you guys) which prompted me to get back to my own problem.

UPDATE:

I’ve connected this up again to remind me of what happened.

When I go to Computer, it recognises it as a drive and assigns G: to it. It doesn’t say anything about a file system (FAT/NTFS etc) – whereas my Samsung & Seagate 1tb drives show up as NTFS’s.

When I click on G: it comes up with:

“Needs formatting before you can use”.

Then I get:

**“G: is not accessible.” The volume does not contain a recognised file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded & that the volume is not corrupted”.**

This came off the machine that I was using before this one, so I can’t see it being empty, though I guess it uses the older file system.

I haven’t missed much that might be on it,,,, but that might just be because I don’t know what’s on it ?!

As you said lotvic, the 'askleo' wasn't for my problem.

any more ideas please ?

UPDATE:

Hi guys, Apologies for taking up your time, but I tried to carry on with this drive today.

I think there is now a physical problem with this drive. When I managed to boot it up a couple of weeks ago, all seemed well. I looked at the files/folders, and deleted a couple of them, intending to carry on with it later.

But: when I connect it up now, the PC reverts back to its original message “needs formatting”. I have tried most permutations of jumpering – to no avail. When its powered up, I can hear/feel it spinning and all seems nice and smooth - until I connect the USB data cable. It then starts to make a couple of noises;

One is a slightly quickening whirring sound for about a second, then there is a ‘click’, and it goes back to the whir – on a loop.

To my limited mind, it sounds as if its trying to read the disk, but gets mechanically stopped.
*If its anything like a laser arm in a CD/DVD thing, the laser carrying arm sometimes sticks. I’m wondering if this might be what’s happening here.*

I only want it to work once more – then I’ll copy the data to my internal E: (back-up) drive.   I looked at a thing on youtube about opening similar items, so that I might be able to see what’s happening, but the video only showed him taking out 6 screws around the edge of the cover. Mine has similar 6 screws, but another 3 (poss more under the label). One seems to be in the middle of the platter – so I don’t want to remove this without seeking help.  

Is anyone conversant with this drive – intimately ?  

I’m hoping that a little nudge might make it work one more time.

Whilst its not the end of the World (I missed that day !? What occurred) I’d like a bash at both retrieving the data again, and also making it work properly – after all, I’d like to put it back in the old machine that it came out of.

  Any help or advice would be appreciated.

  Hope you’re all having a great time.