[RynoZ]

Hi. I'm new here and saw some posts that lead me to believe this may be the place I will finally receive answers to this problem. I apologize for the bold text in title (moderators), but i'm in dire need -- it's an external hard drive data issue.

Information:
A. I own a brand new Mac Pro - OSX, a Dell Laptop - XP Windows (NTFS Format), and a Playstation 3 Entertainment System - PS3 (no further OS - format unknown).
B. I own a 1 TB Western Digital External Hard Drive, just bought about 5 months ago. It worked fine between my Laptop and PS3 for some time until one day (and till this day) only my PS3 can read it.
C. I didn't want to reformat the my external because I have important files that aren't media based - thus being that the PS3 only reads basic media based files (video, pics, audio).
D. Although my PS3 recognizes all of the folders within my external, I cannot compress them to be sent elsewhere so that I may reformat... and the web servers available to my PS3 only read media files to be transferred among my computers.
E. My external isn't damaged, no buzzing or humming sounds, it works fine and lights up as it should. I just cannot access it by conventional means. I have a warranty!
F. My Warranty with Western Digital does not cover this issue, I tried. They offered to replace the External if it is damaged, but it's not. They even said the cause may be corrupted files. This may be true cause I manually deleted a couple of them through my PS3.

My Attempts:
1. When I plug my external into my Laptop I get 'G:/ drive', regardless of what USB slot I put it in. When I plug it into my Mac I get nothing.
2. I considered opening the external's casing to access the confirmed SATA drive connection, but I am inexperienced with this kind of procedure and not sure to risk it.
3. I downloaded a Data Recovery software program called "Data Recovery Wizard Professional v3.3.4" which I have yet to use because I understand I must first format my external in order for it to recover my deleted files. True testimonials say it works, but TOO RISKY!!!
4. Have yet to find a network server that can connect to my PS3 & Computers and handle more than just media files.
5. I considered websites and email providers that offer file storage, but the PS3 cannot compress folders and I cannot access the type of files I need transferred from the external connected to the PS3.
6. Even though I just bought a Mac Pro for my business, I am sad to say i'm back to square one with troubleshooting the formatting problem.
7. I even considered calling around with this sensitive issue to Computer Stores and Hardware Repair Shops to restore my data. Either it's too expensive or they won't try it!

MY PLEA:
Please no responses about the dumping my data elsewhere to commence reformatting because no other computer can access my external. That answer shows no one is listening!
Please no, "You're sh*t out of luck", answers too, cause I know there's a way. Lol, I just haven't figured it out yet!
May it be that I can match the formatting on my computers the same as the PS3?
Please do not assume I know anything, if you must, provide detailed procedural instructions.
Please HELP ME!

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by RynoZ 

2. I considered opening the external's casing to access the confirmed SATA drive connection, but I am inexperienced with this kind of procedure and not sure to risk it.

Well, I don't think that would do any good.
If your drive still works with the PS3, then it can't be a hardware issue.

I would guess something happened to the file system, it's just odd that the PS32 still keeps reading it.

Here some (very basic) things to try:

a) did you reboot all of your computers (PC, Mac) and then tried again ?
b) when you connect the HD to the Mac, and you start the DiskUtility app, can you see anything ?
c) I'm not familiar with "Data Recovery Wizard Professional v3.3.4", but the claim that you "must first format my external in order for it to recover my deleted files" sounds like absolute bullsh!t. I'd try a proven Mac software, Data Rescue II.

-t

[ibook_steve]

The Mac won't see it if it is formatted NTFS. Download and install MacFuse and ntfs-3g. Hopefully it will mount. But you should also check Disk Utility first, as mentioned.

Steve

[turtle777]

Well, OP, did the Mac *ever* see the HD ?

And yes, Steve is right, it's important to know: what's the HD's format ?

-t

[seanc]

The Mac will see NTFS, but not be able to write to it without NTFS-3G.

What happens when you double click your G: drive on the laptop?

[RynoZ]

Thanks everyone so far for responding....

turtle777: Odd indeed. This has been an issue for some time. I have rebooted and still the same result. On the laptop regardless of what USB slot I plug it into, it still reads the external under the G: drive. I really haven't tried the Mac again, because nothing ever shows up when I plug it in. Plus the external contains a partition that is NTFS.

ibook_steve: I guess I must have misunderstood turtle777's Disk Utility Procedure that you also suggested. I'm not sure I know how to do that process, i'm a new Mac user. Data Rescue sounds somewhat promising, but first Disk Utility -- What should I do?

seanc: Whenever I double click on my G: drive, the laptop stalls and then closes the windows. Yet, my laptop does recognize the external as 'WD 10EAVS External USB Device', as a working external drive in the Device Manager. With thanks to the PS3 I did at least copy the basic media files that I wanted first, however, I cannot access the important documents that are products of Microsoft Word, Cubase SX3, Maya 2009, and Adobe Photoshop CS4. The Playstation's system is set to only display basic media files.

[turtle777]

To be honest, I'm not sure if Apple's Disk Utility can handle NTFS formats.
It might be able to read them (as Steve pointed out), but for sure it can't repair it.

I would think that Data Rescue II can read the HD, and then write back the files to a different HD.
However, it's hard to say how badly damaged the HD is.

I still can't make sense of the PS3 being able to read it, but the Mac couldn't.

So, start up Disk Utility, and see if the drive apears on the left side.
You should be able to do a "Verify Disk", which should tell you about any errors that Disk Utility finds.

-t

[RynoZ]

k... let me try that procedure and i'll get back to you once my attempt fails or succeeds. It will be some time however before I can do so please check on me tomorrow if you don't mind.

[mduell]

How is the partition on the external drive formatted? I'd guess FAT32 but I'd like you to confirm that.

[RynoZ]

it's partitioned as NTFS... I prefer Mac over PC's. However, I received help from someone to try this software from runtime.org on my laptop before I received all of your useful input. It is now scanning my external on the Laptop, which is why I can't try the Disk Utility process at the moment. I really appreciate your help though everyone, this is the most help I have received for some time since the issue started. NTFS-3G sounds really promising and I am willing to do that once the scanning is complete. I am almost 100% sure that the external isn't damaged, per say, just an unusual error.

***UPDATE

I ran the Disk Utility and it detected the external hard drive, only its in MS-DOS (FAT32) format not NTFS, sorry. It failed to repair because, "Unable to read (Input/Output error)". I went ahead and downloaded 'Data Rescue II', began the process, but much to no surprise it is very much like the 'Data Recovery Wizard Pro' program I downloaded from my PC Laptop. It scans for days so that I may retrieve the files off my 1T external. I truly only need about 20 or so files off that external, the rest I could live without. I guess this lengthy process will have to do for now. If I run into any further issues I will continue to post for further assistance.

Would it be possible if I could change the formatting without losing data? Maybe on the OS X or XP? If anyone does know of any faster solutions than the two and half day scan wait please post. More input is welcome from those who posted, and others alike. Thanks!

[RynoZ]

Ok I think i've truly figured it out!!!

It was weird that my PS3 read the external and the other systems didn't. I explained before that I was once able to switch back and forth between plugging my external into my PC laptop and my PS3 without any issues. Yesterday I found out that my format of the external wasn't NTFS afterall, it was MS-DOS (FAT32). My laptop had an issue running dos for some time, and now i'm connecting that problem with the formatting of my external. May it be that because the external runs through MS-DOS first, that my Laptop is having issues picking it up? I mean, if my laptop is having DOS issues, I can fix that first and then see if my external can be read! Maybe, i'm just way off and connecting the word DOS without really knowing what i'm talking about. What do you guys think?

[mduell]

XP doesn't run on top of DOS; none of the NT line of OSs ever has.

[turtle777]

Having DOS issues should not create issues with reading FAT32.

However, Disk Utility will read and WRITE FAT32, and even repair it.
You should give this a try.

If that doesn't work, be patient enough for Data Rescue to finish scanning, get the important files off (or better, everything), and then continue repairing the HD.

At this point, it seems like you got as many issues with your PC as with the HD, so you should not try to use th PC for this task any longer, since you can't be sure if it's a PC or a HD issue.

-t

[RynoZ]

Thank you very much mduell and Turtle777 for your input. You're right about not using my PC for restoration, probably not the best idea. Oh, and I tried the Disk Utility as mentioned above under ***UPDATE, but it didn't repair. Thanks guys for clearing up my DOS inquiry too. I'm truly novice to the more technical troubleshooting aspects of computers so I apologize for my n00bness. I'll go ahead and run 'Data Rescue' II again. I'm sure i'm going to see it on my bill, but it is worth it. Thanks guys. I'll update status once i'm complete.

I do have another question though. Last night when I first attempted 'Data Rescue II' I did a quick scan and conitnued to copy the info found on my external, when I selected a folder to copy them to, it told me I could not use a folder from the same volume. Any idea what I was doing wrong? To begin with, when I first start the program I have to select which volume i'm restoring data from, it shows two of my externals (one linked with my MAC drive and the other on it's own. Could it be that I selected the wrong one to restore from? Thanks