Hello Everybody! First of all, sorry about my English! So.. I have a super huge problem. My computer was working fine for like 2 years until Sunday. That's when I checked my computer and saw a message: Windows was unable to save file: D:/... etc.. (I'm sorry I didn't write it down.). It froze down. I couldn't do anything. I had to Reset the computer, but since that time the computer is unable to see my D: hard drive, which is a Seagate. You should know my configuration: I have a Compaq Presario SR1911X with 2 hard drives. One is for the Windows XP: Samsung SP2004C, the other one is for all my data (photos, music, emails, everything!): Seagate ST3200826AS. This is the one which is not working. I took my computer apart and tried to change the cabels, just to see if it's a cabel problem. It's not. And I can hear that the HDD has power because it gives me the sound.. But the only problem, that the computer doesn't recognize it anymore. Please Please Please people, help me!!!! I don't want to loose all my data, expecially my photos. Also, I don't have the money to get it to a data recovery comptany. Thank you!

Check to see if the bios detects the drive. To enter the bios setup routine watch the screen during the boot. If the bios doesn't see the drive, your chance of recovering any files is not very good. Here are some file recovery programs that you can 'try'. PC Inspector (freeware) http://www.snapfiles.com/get/pcinsp... Zero assumption Recovery http://www.z-a-recovery.com The demo is limited It will only recover 'up to' four folders per run But you can make multiple runs GetDataBack http://www.runtime.org/ File Scavenger http://www.snapfiles.com/get/filesc... Backing up your valuable files would have saved you a lot of grief.

hey, thanks for your help. unfortunately the bios doesn't see the drive :(( i'll wait a little hoping there's a easier way :) i hope!!

Do you see the other drive in the POST screens when you first start the computer? If the drive is spinning but the drive is not identified by the BIOS there are only a few things that could be wrong. One is the data cable. Another is the drive controller on the motherboard. That part could be disabled or burned out. The third thing is the printed circuit board on the bottom of the hard drive. It appears your working drive is an IDE ATA type and the non working drive is a SATA type. Seagate has had a lot of problems with that series of drive. That said, I suggest you try a different data cable and a different SATA port on the motherboard if you have another one available. Boot into the BIOS and check to make sure the SATA controllers are all Enabled in the BIOS. One other thing is SATA cables can't be folded too tight. Open the fold or replace the cable. You know you should always make backup copies of your personal data. You are now learning why. If switching the cable, SATA port and checking the BIOS doesn't help then the only other option other than professional data recovery would be to find another hard drive exactly the same and switching the printed circuit board. Tehre is no guarantee that will work but it might. If it doesn't you can put the circuit board back on the drive you took it off of and at least you will have another hard drive. You need to be positive the hard drive is NOT being identified by the BIOS. Check in Windows Disk management to see if the drive is showing there.

Do you hear any Ticking sound coming from the hard disk? Want A Weekly Update on Latest System Security Problem http://www.systemsecurityinstitute.org

"That said, I suggest you try a different data cable and a different SATA port on the motherboard if you have another one available. Boot into the BIOS and check to make sure the SATA controllers are all Enabled in the BIOS. One other thing is SATA cables can't be folded too tight. Open the fold or replace the cable." I have two cables and 4 SATA ports. I tried them all. The problem is not that because my other drive (the one with the Windows) is working. Thank you for you help! I'll try what you suggested. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Well just tell us the result after that. Want A Weekly Update on Latest System Security Problem http://www.systemsecurityinstitute.org