I was copying some files over to a friends ext.disk (Maxtor) when I got some problems. The disk already has 200 of the 300gb filled and has worked properly so far.

I let windows install the "new device found" with standard settings and started copying a big folder (8 files total 5gb) onto it when it froze at 75%. After a long while I disrupted the copying and since "windows safely remove device" wouldn't let me stop the ext.disk I turned it off manually. When I restarted I could access it but when I clicked the file that I was copying to delete it everything froze. Explorer hanged and would not respond.

After restarting again I don't even get the disk showing in "my computer"... When starting the disk the icon "safely remove.." is shown in the bottom right corner at once, but nothing happens after this.

I read somewhere someone with a similar problem got it to work by running CHKDSK 'x': /F in DOS. (To fix the end of the file that wasn't copied correctly I guess.) So I tried that, when I typed "CHKDSK G: /F" the marker went to the next line and nothing was printed out and it stands on the beginning of the line and blinks. It has been running for 18 hours now, and I am not sure if I should stop it since it is recommended not to stop the program when in /F mode. I know that CHKDSK can take some time but the disk is pretty quiet and the lack of output confuses me. Is it really running and no text output when starting the program is normal, or is it hanging because it cannot access the disk or something?

What else can I try to get it working? I tried starting the disk on both a computer with XP and Vista but cannot access it on any of them. Vista seems even more affected since everything hangs until the ext.disk is stopped, then everything works again instantly.

Btw it is a Maxtor OneTouch III 300GB...

you can try force delete the file using the dos prompt

DEL [drive:][path]filename [/F]

so if the ext hard drive letter is x:/
and the file is in x:/abc

you can do this

del x:/abc/TheFile.xxx /F

this will force delete the file that is causing the problem, then you can try copying it over again..

Chkdsk didn't help at all. Now when turned on windows notices it, but nothing happens except for the safely remove icon coming up. In the device manager there is a listing for it under USB with a warning. It is now named USB mass storage device. Under options it says "unknown device" and "the device does not start(code 10)".

Since it cannot find any drive letter for it I cannot try the suggestion above.

I talked with the owner and he said he had copies of all important data, any way I can format it?