ok here is my problem that has me going nuts. My computer is partitioned into drives c and drives d. D is obviously where i like to keep my music, program, pictures, etc... The problems id some files like some music and some pics and program mysteriously disappear from time to time. And then every so often when i reboot (not all the time ) the computer will check d drive for consistency where after about an hour or so of watching it delete files and than recover files and replacing orphaned files all my stuff is back where it belongs like nothing happened and life goes on. Well right now i have files missing again and some of which i despately need so i guess my question is first how to get them back and second, how to keep them so i can get passed this annoying problems and move on to other problems.

Hi Wolfman and welcome.

Sadly, if you had come here the first time you had this problem, someone would have probably told you that it sounded like your hard drive is failing and you better back up all your stuff before chkdsk fails to fix it.

At this point, your safest bet is probably to remove that hard drive and install it in an enclosure, or as a slave in another computer, then copy off your files (from all partitions) that you don't want to lose to the second PC.

Then run chkdsk on the drive again (from the other machine would be great). This time, use the /r switch so your command would be: chkdsk x: /r (where x is the target drive). This might get it going again but I would start shopping for another drive.

Unless - the drive keeps getting corrupted because of frequent system freezes or power outages, then that problem needs to be fixed too.

what i find odd with all this is if my hard drive was going bad wouldnt i have the same problem in my c drive also???

Originally Posted by wolfman972

...wouldnt i have the same problem in my c drive also???

That depends on what exactly is wrong, but note chkdsk errors are problems with physical locations on the drive, perhaps they are currently contained on the d partition, or perhaps the partition tables are bad.

If you know the brand of the drive, most makers have diagnostic utilities on their websites. See Hard Drive Diagnostics for a list.

hey digerati

took your advise and downloaded a diagnostic tool from seagate to check my hard drive and all test have passed. So im still at the point right now that i have lost data that i am really needing right now and praying everytime i do a reboot that it will check drive d for consistency which is the only way i seem to retrieve the data.... but instead of praying there has gotta be a way that i can check consistency myself without having to wait for the random reboot. A friend of mine mentioned a hammer punch to the tower.....tempting.

but instead of praying there has gotta be a way that i can check consistency myself without having to wait for the random reboot

From above,

At this point, your safest bet is probably to remove that hard drive and install it in an enclosure, or as a slave in another computer, then copy off your files (from all partitions) that you don't want to lose to the second PC.

You could take that a step further and once installed in another computer, you could clear the drive and start over with new partitions, format and fresh install of all your programs. That, of course, is last ditch stuff, and something you will rarely hear me suggest, but that may be what is in the cards.

took your advise and downloaded a diagnostic tool from seagate to check my hard drive and all test have passed

Well, like RAM testers, some times everything tests fine but still does not work when put to task.

Your problem is unusual. Does it always boot up fine? Is it always the same file types that go missing? Has the c: partition ever had these problems?

Does your computer work fine otherwise? Any sudden lockups? Reboots?

Do you (and every user of that computer) always go through the Start menu to shutdown Windows and power off the computer?

Have you scanned for malware? If you install in, or attach this drive to another computer make sure (1) that other computer is current and running a good anti-malware defense, and (2) the first thing you do to the new drive is scan it for malware again (or "full" format).

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I urge you to purge your system of clutter using Windows [XP / Vista] Disk Cleanup, ATF Cleaner or CCleaner. If you use CCleaner, then during installation, uncheck the option to install the Yahoo toolbar and before first use, go to Options > Settings > Advanced and ensure Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours is unchecked.

Note: Ensure you know your site credentials (user names and passwords) for sites you frequent before cleaning; you may have to login again at next visit.

Then download, install, update, and run Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) to ensure your system is free of malware. Then do the same for all other computers on your network (everything on your side of the Internet gateway, typically a cable/DSL modem).
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