Help! The disk you inserted was not readable by the computer.

[Sirus1618]

I need help! I have been using a 2TB MyPassport Ultra to store holiday photos and videos. It is also used to backup of my Macbook Pro. It was formatted for Mac.

Recently, I plunged it into my Starhub Samsung set-top box but took it out when a message appeared on TV asking whether to format it. I know it was foolish to do this. I did this because the set-box did not respond to another hard disk.

Today, I could not open the disk on my Macbook Pro and a message appeared as follows:

I googled for solution and most recommended disk repair via Disk Utility. I tried this and the 2TB disk appeared in Disk Utility but the "repair" tab is blank.

I hope the experts here can help me as I am very worried that all the data in the disk are gone. May I know where can I bring my MBP and disk for repair?

 

[szeli]

u mean u formatted e disk n u want yr data back?

 

[Sirus1618]

No. I don't think I formatted the disk. I pressed "no" and plunged it off when Starhub set-top asked whether to format it.

 

[szeli]

if i were u i would get a linux livecd n see if e disk can b mounted on linux. it's probably a corrupted partition table or bad sectors or worst case scenario e disk could b damaged. there r tools in linux to recover lost data...

 

[slogd3ad]

From my experience..
Your external hdd might have been corrupted.

This is what I would do..
Try to connect your external to another computer.. mac and/or windows.. just to check if the files and folders still there..

Last time I use Disk drill (forgot the name... somewhere along the link)... to retrieve my deleted files or accidentally formattee external hdd...
Not 100% retrievable.. based on how deep is the deleted files is..

Or just move on and learn from this mishaps from hapoening ever again.

Best of luck.

 

[Sirus1618]

if i were u i would get a linux livecd n see if e disk can b mounted on linux. it's probably a corrupted partition table or bad sectors or worst case scenario e disk could b damaged. there r tools in linux to recover lost data...

Pardon me, I am a computer idiot. May I know what is Linux livecd and where can I get this?

I heard a few had rectified the same disk problems by using Disk Warrior or Testdisk: http://www.mac-forums.com/other-har...3960-disk-inserted-readable-computer-fix.html

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/ Has anyone used this? I was wondering whether it is difficult to use if I buy this. I think it is not cheap.

 

[Sirus1618]

From my experience..
Your external hdd might have been corrupted.

This is what I would do..
Try to connect your external to another computer.. mac and/or windows.. just to check if the files and folders still there..

Last time I use Disk drill (forgot the name... somewhere along the link)... to retrieve my deleted files or accidentally formattee external hdd...
Not 100% retrievable.. based on how deep is the deleted files is..

Or just move on and learn from this mishaps from hapoening ever again.

Best of luck.

I tried the unreadable external disk on another Macbook Air and the same message appeared : "the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer"

 

[slogd3ad]

I tried the unreadable external disk on another Macbook Air and the same message appeared : "the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer"

I'm afraid try and to use data recovery if you still want to retrieve back all the files and folders.

Does your external hdd still have warranty? Go to the company of the hdd and ask for replacement.. just to prevent any future mishaps.. the hdd might be dead..soon.

 

[slogd3ad]

sometimes the error message might be related with loose usb wire..
I once experience that error message also, and I change to another usb cable.

Source: me