Hi all,
So I'll start off with the problem, and then offer a more detailed explanation to elicit some suggestions and response - many thanks in advance.
Problem:
My external HDD, where I keep my iTunes library and all movies and TV series etc, suddenly needs to be "reformatted" otherwise Windows 7 wont read it.
Explanation:
I have been using a Buffalo HDD for about 5 months with W7. Before I started using it I formatted it to FAT32 because I knew that I will be switching over to a Mac in the near future.
However, after installing the new version of iTunes on my W7 the other night, iTunes started becoming unresponsive. I thought it was my iTunes itself because it was saying "synch data error". I went to the settings to see if anything was wrong. First thing I noticed was the library location had changed to the default C drive setting. I thought that was strange.
So when I tried to re-select the ext HDD it came up as saying it needs to be reformatted.
I exited iTunes and went to My Computer. Same thing. As I clicked on the D: drive it said the same thing - needs to be reformatted.
Of course I canceled because I dont want to lose my data - I mean, 500gb of music and 1TB of movies and TV series.
I tried a W7 system recovery before the new iTunes installation, thinking it would work, but no. It still does not recognize my HDD.
So, a couple of questions:
1. Is it fixable, WITHOUT losing any of my data?? If so, what do I need to do? Please keep in mind I am an absolute novice when it comes to this sort of thing.
2. If I cant restore my system to recognise the data, what are my options for getting access to the HDD - here are a few scenarios running through my head:
a. just wait until I get my Mac (which will be sooner rather than later, now!) and use it on that?
b: take it to a PC specialist and ask them to back up the data and reformat the HDD, then put the data on it again?
c. buy another HDD (and format it to exFAT), take them to a friend who has a Mac, get the data from the HDD onto the Mac, and then put them on the new exFAT formatted HDD?
I appreciate any advice in advance, considering you are all doing this as a free enterprise.
Cheers
So I'll start off with the problem, and then offer a more detailed explanation to elicit some suggestions and response - many thanks in advance.
Problem:
My external HDD, where I keep my iTunes library and all movies and TV series etc, suddenly needs to be "reformatted" otherwise Windows 7 wont read it.
Explanation:
I have been using a Buffalo HDD for about 5 months with W7. Before I started using it I formatted it to FAT32 because I knew that I will be switching over to a Mac in the near future.
However, after installing the new version of iTunes on my W7 the other night, iTunes started becoming unresponsive. I thought it was my iTunes itself because it was saying "synch data error". I went to the settings to see if anything was wrong. First thing I noticed was the library location had changed to the default C drive setting. I thought that was strange.
So when I tried to re-select the ext HDD it came up as saying it needs to be reformatted.
I exited iTunes and went to My Computer. Same thing. As I clicked on the D: drive it said the same thing - needs to be reformatted.
Of course I canceled because I dont want to lose my data - I mean, 500gb of music and 1TB of movies and TV series.
I tried a W7 system recovery before the new iTunes installation, thinking it would work, but no. It still does not recognize my HDD.
So, a couple of questions:
1. Is it fixable, WITHOUT losing any of my data?? If so, what do I need to do? Please keep in mind I am an absolute novice when it comes to this sort of thing.
2. If I cant restore my system to recognise the data, what are my options for getting access to the HDD - here are a few scenarios running through my head:
a. just wait until I get my Mac (which will be sooner rather than later, now!) and use it on that?
b: take it to a PC specialist and ask them to back up the data and reformat the HDD, then put the data on it again?
c. buy another HDD (and format it to exFAT), take them to a friend who has a Mac, get the data from the HDD onto the Mac, and then put them on the new exFAT formatted HDD?
I appreciate any advice in advance, considering you are all doing this as a free enterprise.
Cheers