My 2.0TB WD 3.5" external hard drive I've used for several yrs is suddenly asking to format every time I plug it in (USB).
...so after reading around the internet, I ended up here thinking I need to recover or rebuild the partition?
I downloaded TestDisk and Analysed it (and also went under Advance) to try and view files (to confirm they are still there). After a Quick Search and List Files I get an error that says:
Can't open filesystem. Filesystem seems damaged.
FYI, I am using the default (*) primary bootable characteristics selection on the ext hard drive when trying to view/list the files.
Disk Management on my Win7 64bit PC is showing a health partition and a SMART info on the drive shows no errors.
Any suggestions?
Thank you for any help.
USB ext 2TB HD saying needs to format (its not new)
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When asking for technical support:
- Search for posts on the same topic before posting a new question.
- Give clear, specific information in the title of your post.
- Include as many details as you can, MOST POSTS WILL GET ONLY ONE OR TWO ANSWERS.
- Post a follow up with a "Thank you" or "This worked!"
- When you learn something, use that knowledge to HELP ANOTHER USER LATER.
Before posting, please read https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk.pdf
- cgrenier
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5432
- Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
- Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
- Contact:
Re: USB ext 2TB HD saying needs to format (its not new)
Please post the testdisk.log file content showing what you have done in the Advanced menu.
Re: USB ext 2TB HD saying needs to format (its not new)
Will do, I went ahead and started a deep search on the disk (not the recognized drive letter)... scan is at 33% after an hour and 1/2 so far.
Re: USB ext 2TB HD saying needs to format (its not new)
after a deep search, I still get the same error when trying to view/list the files.
I have been able to view the files using a GUI file recovery program, but I would like to salvage the partition if possible.
here is the the testdisk.log contents (ext HD in question is: Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63, sector size=512):
Tue Mar 7 14:30:47 2017
Command line: TestDisk
TestDisk 7.0, Data Recovery Utility, April 2015
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows 7 (7601) SP1
Compiler: GCC 4.8, Cygwin 1007.34
Compilation date: 2015-04-18T13:01:55
ext2fs lib: 1.42.8, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: 0.3.1-rc8, ewf lib: 20120504, curses lib: ncurses 5.9
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=2000365289472
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=2000365289472
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=989715234816
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\D:)=9409921024
filewin32_getfilesize(\\.\E:) GetFileSize err Incorrect function.
filewin32_setfilepointer(\\.\E:) SetFilePointer err Incorrect function.
Warning: can't get size for \\.\E:
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\R:)=2000364240896
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63, sector size=512
Drive C: - 989 GB / 921 GiB - CHS 120326 255 63, sector size=512
Drive D: - 9409 MB / 8974 MiB - CHS 1144 255 63, sector size=512
Drive R: - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63, sector size=512
Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Partition table type: Intel
Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/32/33
Current partition structure:
1 P HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
No partition is bootable
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63
NTFS at 0/32/33
filesystem size 3906961408
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 2
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963457(243197/57/62)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,14,buffer,3906963458(243197/57/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963472(243197/58/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963519(243197/58/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963535(243197/59/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,3906963582(243197/59/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,3906965504(243197/90/30)) lseek err Invalid argument
Results
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Not an exFAT boot sector.
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Can't open filesystem. Filesystem seems damaged.
interface_write()
1 * HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63
NTFS at 0/32/33
filesystem size 3906961408
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 2
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
file_pread(5,2,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,14,buffer,3906963457(243197/57/62)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963457(243197/57/62)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963463(243197/58/5)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963471(243197/58/13)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963518(243197/58/60)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963534(243197/59/13)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,3906963581(243197/59/60)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,3906965503(243197/90/29)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,6,buffer,3906963458(243197/57/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963474(243197/58/16)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963521(243197/58/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963542(243197/59/21)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963592(243197/60/8)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906965505(243197/90/31)) lseek err Invalid argument
Results
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Not an exFAT boot sector.
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Can't open filesystem. Filesystem seems damaged.
interface_write()
1 * HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
I have been able to view the files using a GUI file recovery program, but I would like to salvage the partition if possible.
here is the the testdisk.log contents (ext HD in question is: Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63, sector size=512):
Tue Mar 7 14:30:47 2017
Command line: TestDisk
TestDisk 7.0, Data Recovery Utility, April 2015
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Windows 7 (7601) SP1
Compiler: GCC 4.8, Cygwin 1007.34
Compilation date: 2015-04-18T13:01:55
ext2fs lib: 1.42.8, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: 0.3.1-rc8, ewf lib: 20120504, curses lib: ncurses 5.9
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sda)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(/dev/sdb)=2000365289472
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive0)=1000204886016
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\PhysicalDrive1)=2000365289472
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\C:)=989715234816
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\D:)=9409921024
filewin32_getfilesize(\\.\E:) GetFileSize err Incorrect function.
filewin32_setfilepointer(\\.\E:) SetFilePointer err Incorrect function.
Warning: can't get size for \\.\E:
disk_get_size_win32 IOCTL_DISK_GET_LENGTH_INFO(\\.\R:)=2000364240896
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 1000 GB / 931 GiB - CHS 121601 255 63, sector size=512
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63, sector size=512
Drive C: - 989 GB / 921 GiB - CHS 120326 255 63, sector size=512
Drive D: - 9409 MB / 8974 MiB - CHS 1144 255 63, sector size=512
Drive R: - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63, sector size=512
Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Partition table type: Intel
Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/32/33
Current partition structure:
1 P HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
No partition is bootable
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63
NTFS at 0/32/33
filesystem size 3906961408
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 2
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963457(243197/57/62)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,14,buffer,3906963458(243197/57/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963472(243197/58/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963519(243197/58/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963535(243197/59/14)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,3906963582(243197/59/61)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,3906965504(243197/90/30)) lseek err Invalid argument
Results
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Not an exFAT boot sector.
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Can't open filesystem. Filesystem seems damaged.
interface_write()
1 * HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
Failed to startup volume: Input/output error.
$MFT has invalid magic.
ntfs_mft_load(): Failed.
Failed to load $MFT: Input/output error.
search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 2000 GB / 1862 GiB - CHS 243197 255 63
NTFS at 0/32/33
filesystem size 3906961408
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 2
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
file_pread(5,2,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963456(243197/57/61)) ReadFile The drive cannot find the sector requested.
file_pread(5,14,buffer,3906963457(243197/57/62)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963457(243197/57/62)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963463(243197/58/5)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963471(243197/58/13)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,3,buffer,3906963518(243197/58/60)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,8,buffer,3906963534(243197/59/13)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,11,buffer,3906963581(243197/59/60)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,2,buffer,3906965503(243197/90/29)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,6,buffer,3906963458(243197/57/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963474(243197/58/16)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963521(243197/58/63)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963542(243197/59/21)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906963592(243197/60/8)) lseek err Invalid argument
file_pread(5,1,buffer,3906965505(243197/90/31)) lseek err Invalid argument
Results
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Not an exFAT boot sector.
* HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
NTFS, blocksize=4096, 2000 GB / 1862 GiB
Can't open filesystem. Filesystem seems damaged.
interface_write()
1 * HPFS - NTFS 0 32 33 243197 57 60 3906961408
- cgrenier
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5432
- Joined: 18 Feb 2012, 15:08
- Location: Le Perreux Sur Marne, France
- Contact:
Re: USB ext 2TB HD saying needs to format (its not new)
If a program can list your files, it's safer to use it to copy your data.
Otherwise using latest 7.1-WIP, you can try TestDisk, Advanced, Boot, Repair MFT.
Otherwise using latest 7.1-WIP, you can try TestDisk, Advanced, Boot, Repair MFT.
Re: USB ext 2TB HD saying needs to format (its not new)
the problem with the GUI file recovery program I have is that it doesn't remember/contain file location - so I have thousands of files with no directory structure.
I'll grab those file today and then try to repair the MFT and let you know what happens, thanks!
I'll grab those file today and then try to repair the MFT and let you know what happens, thanks!