mnbookman
asked on
Hard Drive Not Showing All Data (Hidden Files)
I brought out an old hard drive today that has about 300gb of media on it. I haven't used this in a while, or ever with my Windows 7 system.
I'm getting a huge discrepancy on it:
1. The System (My computer) says it has 467 gb of space with 167gb free - 300 are used.
2. When I open the drive up, select everything, and click properties, it indicates there are about 42gb in use.
Help! I need the media files on here. Where do I need to start looking?
I'm getting a huge discrepancy on it:
1. The System (My computer) says it has 467 gb of space with 167gb free - 300 are used.
2. When I open the drive up, select everything, and click properties, it indicates there are about 42gb in use.
Help! I need the media files on here. Where do I need to start looking?
have you allowed viewing hidden files and folders?
ASKER
Yes, I have that selected in Folder and File options.
Are there multiple profiles on the drive? The data may be in folders that you don't have permission to. If you are just trying to get the files -- as an admin you could change security settings and take ownership of all files and folders gaining access to all the media. Make sure you reset all subfolders as well.
Try TreeSize Free: http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml.
It will "bubble" the folders with the largest sizes to the very top of the list.
It will "bubble" the folders with the largest sizes to the very top of the list.
ASKER
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I've done three things: Rebooted, and then was able to see the files. Playing them was a different beast entirely.
I'm running CheckDisk on it, it is about 10% done and has found almost 1600 bad file records.
Yikes. What is a bad file record? Is the file actually bad, or is it some type of indexing tool?
I've done three things: Rebooted, and then was able to see the files. Playing them was a different beast entirely.
I'm running CheckDisk on it, it is about 10% done and has found almost 1600 bad file records.
Yikes. What is a bad file record? Is the file actually bad, or is it some type of indexing tool?
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ASKER
Hello dontseme,
This is an old Lacie external drive. Booting into it isn't an issue - I just hook it up. Any thoughts on the best way to pull the data in that situation?
This is an old Lacie external drive. Booting into it isn't an issue - I just hook it up. Any thoughts on the best way to pull the data in that situation?
bad file records are usually the result of a disk failing. Sometimes chkdsk can 'recover' the records other times you just get garbage. either way salvage you data fast. The two options I listed above might help you better than windows. Helix is actually a forensics data recover tool used by private investigators and law enforcement to recover data.
Either of the tools will recognize most USB devices.
ASKER
Thanks dontseme.
I'm downloading that now. Just want to verify with you:
Download Helix, create the CD from the ISO, and install. Will it allow me to pull the files to a network location, or will it want me to get another external drive and literally clone the entire partition?
I'm downloading that now. Just want to verify with you:
Download Helix, create the CD from the ISO, and install. Will it allow me to pull the files to a network location, or will it want me to get another external drive and literally clone the entire partition?
It is a live CD so there will be no install and it will allow both.
ASKER
Hello,
You've been so helpful. I'm using the xfprot program to scan the drive, but I'm thinking that's not actually what I should be doing. I booted Helix from the disk... what should I be doing to start recovering the files?
You've been so helpful. I'm using the xfprot program to scan the drive, but I'm thinking that's not actually what I should be doing. I booted Helix from the disk... what should I be doing to start recovering the files?
I would use adepto and eitherclone or dump image of hard drive to a network share. you can also just mount the volume (icon in the middle of the toolbar at the top) and browse it like windows.
ASKER
Hello. I ran multiple programs in Helix last night, and one of them advised me to run chdsk on the drive, in windows. I started this yesterday about 4:00. Last night, when I left, it had processed 17,000 files. This morning, it has processed ~23,100.
Is this speed normal for Chdsk? After it completes, I'm going to pull all files from it.
Is this speed normal for Chdsk? After it completes, I'm going to pull all files from it.