slalomrm

Thanks to all posters for the helpful suggestions. Fortunately, I just used TestDisk version 6.11, open source software, to find, recover and re-write my lost partition on my Seagate Free Agent Pro external hard drive. I simply followed the step-by-step instructions available via this link: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step. I had to utilized the "Deeper Search" option, but my drive now shows up under "Computer" in Windows 7 (My Computer in XP) and all of my files are listed and intact. Yes! Thanks again.

Hazelnut, Thank you for your reply. The drive did not show up when I plugged it into an XP machine. I have tried the drive USB cable in multiple USB ports on my laptop (with and without my wireless mouse USB dongle plugged into the computer). I have also turned the drive off and then on while the computer is on, and booted up the computer with the drive on and plugged into the computer. No luck. I reviewed the link you suggested. The link contains many suggestions. None of the general USB drive troubleshooting advice seems to apply to my situation. I also tried renaming the drive via Windows 7 Disk Management, but renaming was not an option presented in the right-click window. I am somewhat reluctant to attempt some of the registry/bios modification steps recommended, as I do not want to compound my current problem by messing up my new laptop. Thanks again.

Thanks. I tried to re-designate a drive letter in disk management, but was unsuccessful. I checked out Handy Recovery, but that program only permits free users to save 1 file per day.

Hi, When I try to run Recuva to recover data on my Seagate Free Agent Pro external hard drive connected to my laptop via USB, Recuva does not find my hard drive. I have tried all of the Recuva default location options (i.e., "I'm not sure," "On my media card," and "In a specific location."). My external hard drive does not show up in Windows 7 when I click on "Computer," but it does show up under Windows 7's "Devices and Printers," and also shows up Windows 7's "Computer Management." Data recovery programs such as VirtualLab and Easeaus have successfully located my Seagate Free Agent Pro external hard drive, but those programs are not much help due to their freee edition limited functionability. Can anyone please advise me on how to get Recuva to locate and recover data on my external hard drive? Thank you in advance.