External HDD not seen by Windows

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General Mailbox

Greetings.
I am using WinXP Pro and connected is a USB2.0 Maxtor 750GB One Touch
drive.
I wish to securely delete all information on the ext. drive so I used
Acronis True Image Home 11 disk tools to wipe using US algorythm 4 pass and
format. After running it for about 4 mins, it showed that it will take 2
days to process. Thinking I can use a shredder program instead, I cancelled
the current process with Acronis by pressing the cancel button. Immediately
it now does not show in the directory (My Computer) nor in the Disk
Management service in the admin tools. Cold restart did not improve
anything. It does show in the Device Manager as USB Mass Storage Device and
shows it is working ok. I am guessing that the MBR failed to be rewritten
during the cancel process of Acronis so directory information isn't
available. I'm reaching out of my league here, so that's why I'm asking for
assistance.
Please advise on how to get it recognized again. Thank you.
B.rgds,
Kevin
 
Are you able to use Device Manager to reformat the drive.
If so this will of course wipe the drives of all your files, but
not in a secure manner.

If you are able to reformat then use Eraser:
http://www.heidi.ie/node/6
Set Eraser for a single pass (DOD) as see how long it takes.
Make absolutely certain that you have selected the correct drive letter!!!
 
Sorry, no. Windows XP does not have a feature to format in the Device
Manager.
Device Manager sees the drive, but does not know the particulars of the
drive (type and size etc).

If I knew what the MBR should look like, I should be able to write it in
using Acronis Disk Director sector editor.
Again, I'm presuming a missing MBR is the cause.

Rgds,
Kevin
 
JS said:
Are you able to use Device Manager to reformat the drive.
If so this will of course wipe the drives of all your files, but
not in a secure manner.

If you are able to reformat then use Eraser:
http://www.heidi.ie/node/6
Set Eraser for a single pass (DOD) as see how long it takes.
Make absolutely certain that you have selected the correct drive letter!!!
Click to expand...

It's Disk Management not Device Manager.
 
Thanks Jerry, got my eyes crossed on this one.
It is Disk (not Device) Management where you need to go on this Kevin.
 
Thank you for your help. I got it working again.
The Device Manager did see the device, but not Windows directory, thus also
not Disk Management.
Because it was seen by Device Manager, it was also seen by Acronis that did
the damage to begin with.
It showed the whole drive unallocated. I went ahead and used Acronis Disk
Cleaner and wiped all sectors
to zero (which took 18 hours for a 750GB drive). I saw via sector editor all
were zeroed. I used Acronis "Add New Disk" feature which then made it
recognized by Windows. I got fortunate in this case as I do not know how to
otherwise start up with a totally unformatted drive. They normally come
formated when purchased.

Merry Christmas to all!
Kevin
 
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