are the folders hidden? ry going to View>Folder options and check the box "show hidden files" (just a thaught)

Originally Posted by signal

no hardware but quite a bit of software none installed on the external drive and all not conincidental to the problem.

one thing when i used to unplug and plugin the device it used to bring up the autoplay scan then ask me what i wanted to do. it no longer does this i'll try and test on another comuter soon.

I used the update which was successful but it didn't help the problem...

Right clicking the drive under My Computer then clicking Properties will bring up the AutoPlay options.

It would be interesting to see what it does on another computer.

make mike- i've tried already it doesn't seem to be related to windows settings but i'll comfirm this when i check it on another computer today.

Hi Signal, I'm having exactly the same problem with my maxtor onetouch. i'm also running xp.

i'm discussing it with maxtor `help' at the moment, but they're trying to say it's a software issue. Maybe it is, but why would i still be seeing some of the folders (in my case only those beginning with a number or `a`).

My maxtor stores all my music, and when I use the iTunes `find files location' (or whatever it is) the folder/file is found. I can then copy it to my internal hdd and back to the maxtor. once i turn the maxtor off tho, unless the folder beings with a number or `a' it's gone!

you are not alone!

I've given in now...

I retrieved what i could with a pc inspector type utility to another computer (thanks parents tho you don't know it I was having loads of delayed write failures and crc error galore. I've got what i could thought the missing files were pretty much ripped to shreds by all the errors over the few months it's been happening. I assume it was to do with an error caused by power failure or such which then made the drive go a bit funny and then eventually got worse and worse till data started to go missing.

I've re-formatted the drive and it's no longer ticking over all the time and flashing as it was doing. Data so far is fine on the drive and it finally made me have a clear out of crap finally. I put the fault mainly at my own feet as the drive is throw about (not literally) from uni to home and doesn't always get the easiest ride. x fingers this is the last time it'll do this...?

Fao: Jinky32 i'd do a re-format and get the data backed up clear it out and put it all back on. It's the only logical way to do it if you can still retrieve data. I wasn't that lucky with some stuff but most was OK.

signal