HELP!! Unable to access disk (1 Viewer)

[porky996t]

This is more of a general shout for help than an MP problem.

I have just restarted my media centre and it took a long time to reboot. When it did the DOS type checkdisk screen came on saying there was inconsistency on my G: drive. This is the drive where I store all my movies. There are over 500 of them on there. When this check was completed the message that came up was a Corrupt Master File Table.

The disk shows up in Windows, but is inaccessible in Windows Explorer and in the disk management interface it is shown as having the correct size and disk letter, but no files (yes, I know, master file table corrupt )

I really don't want to lose the contents, and there are some very smart people out there; so can anyone suggest what I can do to recover my movies??

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions...


M.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi

Acronis has always been excellent when I've needed help recovering from any sort of HDD issues. You might want to Google for the ultimate boot CD and see what Acronis or ActiveUndelete can do for you...

 

[porky996t]

I think I'm happy to try anything. As I said, it is not the boot drive and is only used for storage of movies. Even if it does get the files back, it isn't too difficult to go through them all and rename the recovered files.

On the positive side, though, I have managed to resolve my new remote control problem!


M.

 

[porky996t]

Still no success. I tried Acronis, but couldn't see a way to repair the MFT.

Any other possible solutions?? I really don't want to format the lot and start again??

 

[mm1352000]

As I recall, Acronis won't give you an option to specifically repair the MFT - you just "repair" the partition. This is with the disk director suite...

 

[porky996t]

Ahhh... that's probably why I couldn't see anything... I have True Image Home....

I'll try again. The WAF has dropped like a brick

 

[SimondusMaximus]

Hi Porky.

Corrupt MFT may be caused due to a failing disk, in which case it may not be recoverable, but your files almost certainly will be.

You'll need a spare hdd and one of the tools mentioned by MM, or I've uses easeus in the past, to recover all the data to the spare drive. It'll probably take a while with 500 movies, but once everything's recovered, simply formatting the corrupt drive might fix it.

Good luck!

 

[porky996t]

Thanks Simondus.

It is a WD Green Caviar - from what I have read there seems to be problems with this drive. I'm currently using Ontrack's Easy Recovery which is currently scanning the HDD and rebuilding the MFT. As you say, all the files are still there.

Just another 3hrs to go.

I will replace this HDD next week with something else, it just doesn't seem reliable.

I'll post back my progress.



M

 

[porky996t]

Well, so far so good. The HTPC is now recovering all the films to a back up drive. Quite a straightforward process, but takes an age on a large drive.

The GF isn't too chuffed - she wanted to watch TV and had to lie in bed to do so. I do all this to keep her entertained!


M.

 

[SimondusMaximus]

I suggest you RMA your dodgy HDD and replace it with flowers or chocolate for the missus!