Storage forum: Windows is Checking the consitency of my external hard drive

I'd backup the data on that drive as best as possible. Then,I'd delete the partition and recreate and format it as NTFS.

Let me rephrase the advice given.

1. Copy everything you don't want to lose to a safe place. That is, your internal hard disk, another external, a CD or DVD (that's called burning), another PC in your home network or web-based storage.
2. Go into your OS's Disk Management.
3. Delete all partitions (most likely one) on that external disk.
4. Make one or more new ones and see that they are formatted NTFS.
5. Now copy your files back from where you put them in #1, but keep that as a backup.

Kees

Ok i dont really know how to do any of that how did this happen? what caused it malware? or what it is only 8months old and only has 100g of files out of the 500 i dont want to lose it! is what im doing now just disconnecting for a sec as the computer boots and then recconting ok? I dont know about all this reformat stuff? will it mess up my pc?

You wrote about Norton Backup. Are you saying this was not backup?

This forum is full of stories about using drives as storage but having no backup copy. What many find is this lesson can't be taught but often is learned by losing a drive or two.

So copy out what you can and start over. Take it as the lesson it was and keep what you can't lose on backup devices and copies elsewhere.

-> About formatting a drive. You ask will it mess up your PC. For some it might since they call the loss of an external messing up their PC. For others they learn more than they ever wanted to and begin to backup to other media, devices and the internet. With 25 gig of free storage on sky drive, live drive and other places why would we lose "our stuff"?
Bob
Bob

PS. Backup Bob.

Drives don't run backup. Backup programs just store data on a drive. So that should still work on a new drive. If not, do exactly what you did the first time when you started to use it and it was all empty, like it is now.

By the way, I don't think a 'quick format' will change the type of the filesystem from FAT to NTFS. Are you sure it did?

Kees

The reason I suggested going to NTSF is I've had similar issues with USB flash drives that are FAT-32. I get that same message when I boot. I don't get this with NTFS drives of any kind.

Ok it is about %50 done formatting been going for 2 1/2hrs so should be done in a couple (fingers crossed)Alrgight so when that is done formating to nfts i will take the files i cut and pasted out before formatting and put them back in correct? word docs etc. then i will attemp a n360 backup what if norton does not find the drive? will windows run a file check when i restart my pc after changing formating and moving files back?

So what was the point of reformatting then? will the problem be fixed when i move the files back in? will my n360 and quicken backups still work right? I though i had to reforamt ntsf in order to save the hard drive crash and it would fix the problem?

Its working like a charm now Thank you from the bottom of my heart you saved my files no error messages or anything thx again you guys are the best I am eternally greatful what can i do to repay you?