try testdisk at http://www.cgsecurity.org/index.html?testdisk.html be sure to read the How-To-Use first.

0

If push comes to shove you may be able to recover files by using a live version of Linux. Knoppix is one that works. Knoppix installs to and runs from one CDR. Knoppix is a free 700MB download and you will need to burn it to disk. If you can't see the partition Knoppix may not be able to see it either. Try testdisk. You refer to the external drive. You mean the laptop drive don't you? Did you try using an external monitor on the Laptop before you removed the drive? You do understand that the drive letters will change when you connect the laptop drive via USB. View the contents of all visible partitions to be sure you aren't just confusing one for another.

0

Thanks for all the great ideas. Othehill, I am referring to the laptop drive, which is now the external HD. I did not try to external monitor yet, but in my experience with using these, you need to specify to the system which is mon 1 and which is mon 2. of course the problem is that mon 1 is toast and it's tough to do this blind. I've checked carefully the drive letters and contents of the visible drive to be sure that i'm not confused. So, I'm sure that I have only the original C drive and the D drive is not visible to the PC. I will use the testdisk program next. thanks.

0

I don't use laptops but I believe there is a keystroke that will enable the external monitor. You may not need to see anything on the screen to be able to enable one.

0

Usually a combination of Fn and F4. The Fn being the function key, quite often in blue and the lower left of the keyboard. A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. Robert Lee Frost

0

Hi all, thanks for the ideas. I solved the problem by removing all other devices that could have drive letter, hard booted the machine and then tried again. the system found both drives. I guess the drive letters confused the machine. thanks again

0