My Harddisk crashed about a couple days ago. Windows XP SP3 indicated a serious of error messages like disc error, delayed write failed, unmountable boot volume. I furiously googled for an answer, but no avail. Since this is not the first incident, I can’t say I’m surprised. I can sleep well, knowing that I have already back my files in my external hard disk. So I did the usual thing, though I dread doing it – reformat my hard drive. Unfortunately that damned “delayed write failed” still appear during installation. That’s when I know my 3 years old harddisk is gone.
So, I went to Sim Lim Square to get a replacement hard disk that cost me $75.00 for a Samsung 160GB IDE ATA-6. This is the type of harddisk that is compatible with my Dell inspiron 6000. After I installed windows xp sp3, I connect my western digital external hard disk and try to get my old files back.
I was so shocked to find out that my computer did not detect my external hard drive although disk management listed it as unallocated and without recognizable format. After I googled for an answer, here is what I find: YOU CAN’T CONNECT UR Ext HDD via USB port when you are re-installing windows, windows will re-partition your hard disk and all you data will wiped out. To get your external hard disk back your need to reformat it in NTFS / FAT32. Here is how to do it: (1)Right click my computer; (2) click manage; (3) under disk management, right click your external hard disk (under disk 1); (4) click new partition (all your files already gone before this stage, so might as well reformat your ext harddisk).
Therefore folks, remember do not repeat what I did: connect ext HDD when re-installing windows. A good practice is always un-plug your external hard disk after use.
