Storage forum: Update drivers on external hard drive = loss of data?

Assuming you have Windows XP or Vista (not ME or 98) the answers are no and no. There's nothing to update as your machine comes with all drivers to access the disk. But if you do somehow, it won't harm, because those drivers are on your PC, not on the external disk.

Things to try:
1. Try the drive on another PC. If it works, that's a good occasion to make a backup of your data.
2. Try another USB-port (without intervening hub).
3. See what XP or Vista Disk Management tell about the drive. It's unlikely they will find an errorless FAT32 or NTFS partition, but you might be lucky.
4. Put the drive in a new case, just in case the electronics is broken and the drive OK.
5. Repartition and reformat. You'll loose all data on it.
6. Buy a new drive.

Kees

It's likely to be a corrupt volume if there are no other bad sounds like clicking, clacking or such emanating from the drive.

Here's a few titles to try:

GETDATABACK
ZERO ASSUMPTION RECOVERY

As to loss of data if you install drivers that should make matters worse as none are required. Also we only lose what we didn't backup.
Bob

those recovery programs might find it and be able to extract the data. You only know when trying.

Kees