Windows 10: External HDD Lost all iles as if partitioned

So I have a 500GB external Toshiba 3.0 USB HDD. It has around 200GB of data on it. It was working fine up until about two weeks ago.


I noticed a week ago or so when I tried to access some data there, or move some files to it, that it was not being seen. I just today have time to look at it, and boy am I surprised.


Previously the drive was not seen at all, today it is.


Today it shows as only a 300 GB drive, that is empty. It would seem the available space has been set up in it's own partition. It reads as (2) E: drives, where previously it was my F: drive.


I have no idea how this could happen to a pc that was sitting dormant. The only changes that have been made to the computer are the updates that Windows continue to push, which I can't opt out of. Different story.


So here is my question, how do i get my files from that missing 200GB on my drive, now that windows is convinced that 200GB of space does not exist?


I don't really care how it happened, I just need a workaround to recover the data that is there. My preventive measure for this occurring again is Mojave.


If you could help me get that 200gb of data back it would be great, just great.

:)

 

External HDD Partitions

I have an external HDD. It had multiple partitions. I removed partitions with this procedure: Press the "Start" button, type "diskmgmt.msc" and press "Enter." 3. Right-click the existing partition on the external hard drive, select "Delete Volume" and
choose to remove the partition. I did this to remove all partitions and NOW the computer doesn't recognize the drive in file explorer. What can I do?

 

W7 Hard drive partition issue

to get rid of that 100 meg windows partition that setup creates for you on a new install on a blank hdd:

- press shift+f10 when on the partition management screen in setup <-- this opens a command prompt
- diskpart <-- start the windows command line partition management tool
- list disk <--- list the installed hdds in this computer for the next step
- select disk 0 <- might have to replace 0 with the number of the correct disk
- clean <-- this will erase all data on the disk you selected one step up- dont use the wrong disk!
- create partition primary <- creates a primary partition taking up all space on the drive, adjust the command if necessary
- exit, exit to exit diskpart and the command prompt
- click refresh in partition manager and select your newly created partition and install to that

 

Accidentally Converted External Hard Drive to "ESD-USB"

I can help you:

1. Press Windows Key+R

2. Type 'cmd'

3. type 'diskpart'

4. type 'list disk'

5. find your external HDD in the list

6. type 'select disk (what ever the disk number is for the external HDD)

7. type clean

8. open Disk Management

9. right click the external HDD

10. click 'New Partition'

11. Complete the steps