How do I get my computer to read my 1TB external drive when it only shows 'format disk' as an option?

Published Jan 23, 2014

Readers like you help support MUO. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

When I connect my external hard disk it only gives the option to 'format disk'.

It is TB external drive and I have used for a month and now it is showing format now. It has gigabytes of information that I need to recover. How do I get this information back?

Hovsep A

2014-01-22 21:01:47

try testdiskhttp://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Stepchange the drive letterDrive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windowshttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82994-drive-letter-add-change-remove-windows.htmlthe unpluh external hard drive and replugwhen the format message appear 1) uplug the hard drive2) click on format message so it should not work 3) replug hard dribe

MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAY

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

Poll

Is your smartphone the last thing you look at before going to sleep?

Yes, I’m on my smartphone until I’m ready for bed

46%, 1199 votes

Yes, but only to play music, white noise, etc.

10%, 251 votes

No, but I do look at other screens right before bed

23%, 594 votes

No, I try to avoid looking at screens before bed

17%, 451 votes

Other (Leave a comment)

4%, 131 votes

Total Votes: 2626