My Buffalo hard drive was working fine but my computer had virus. I removed the virus and then copied a few files to the external hard drive. Later I realize that the virus wasn't completely remov

SOURCE: error copying file or folder

One of the most important yet overlooked elements of PC maintenance is data backup. If you do not perform regular backups, chances are your productivity will eventually suffer from data losses or a failed Windows installation.

All versions of Windows after 3.1 ship with a free backup utility called Microsoft Backup. It is not the best backup program available, but it may be sufficient for your needs. (Backup is better in later versions of Windows. Microsoft recommends Win98/Me users purchase a third-party utility.) If you want more control over your backups, consider purchasing a third-party program.

Backup is part of the System Tools utility. However, Setup does not install it by default in Win98/Me/XP Home. If you cannot locate Backup, visit the Microsoft support site and query for article No. 152561 (Win98), No. 264541 (WinMe), or No. 302894 (WinXP Home).

In Win98/Me, click Start, select Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click Backup. To create and run a backup, click the Create A New Backup Job radio button and click OK. Follow the prompts to create a full or partial backup. If you want to create a backup set and run it later or run an existing backup set, open Backup and click the Open An Existing Backup Job radio button and click OK. You can now access the main Backup dialog box.

In Win2000/XP, navigate to the System Tools utility and select Backup. Click the Backup Wizard button. If you do not see a Backup Wizard button, click the Welcome tab. In WinXP, the wizard will start automatically if you are in wizard mode. Follow the prompts to create your backup set.

When you reach the last dialog box, Completing The Backup Wizard, you can click the Advanced button to create a backup schedule (this option is not available in Win98/Me). When you reach the When To Back Up dialog box, select the Later radio button and click the Set Schedule button. Perform data backups on a schedule that is appropriate to the importance of your files (once a week is a common timeframe). You should also perform a system backup at least once a month.

If you do not want to use the wizard, or you are working with an existing backup, open Backup and click the Backup tab to access the main Backup dialog box.

SOURCE: remove all programs and encryptsion software from buffalo minista

I devised these simple steps that tend to remedy quite a few issues with most portable / external hard drives (though not always)

BUT the section that may be of interest to you is just after step 5.

A few things to check but assumes USB and Windows for other interfaces / operating systems similar steps may be adapted to suit.

1. Ensure it is connected directly to the computer to a USB 2.0 port not a USB 1.0 port as this can have effects on performance and reliability
2. Use only the cables that came with it NOT one that fits that may have been lying around or is longer. Not all USB cables are equal even though they should be)
3. Do not connect through an external USB HUB unless that hub is USB 2.0 AND has its own power supply.
4. Use ONLY the power supply that came with it if it has an external power supply
Don’t use any other unless you know it has both the same voltage and current rating e.g. 12V 500mA anything rated below that would not work properly.
5. Always use the same port for connecting your devices. Some devices do not like being switched about. If switched they may want to install software / drivers again.

If you checked and fixed anything there and still have issues carry on reading.

Go to your control panel and then administrative tools, select Computer Management.
Now select Disk Management and expand the window.
Your drive should be listed here, if not then you need to check your computer hardware has not got any issues before proceeding.
If your drive is listed and says healthy then right click on it an select Properties, click Tools and then Error Checking, Check now, tick the two boxes and then Start.
This will attempt to fix most minor / common errors on the drive. It may also ask you to restart which is fine. Allow it to finish its work or you could corrupt the drive. If all went well you should be able to use it normally again.
If you drive was listed but did NOT say healthy then right click and select Format. Choose NTFS as the file system and do not tick any boxes you do NOT want quick format. Again start and let it do its thing. When it is done restart your computer and you should be good to go.
If you still have problems with the drive you might want to look at other areas.

SOURCE: External Buffalo Hard Disk 500 Gb model no

Check the usb port function in the computer bios settings and be sure that it is set to yes. Connect properly your external drive. If it has two wire usb connections, use both to obtain the maximum power that will be need by your drive.

SOURCE: Dear sir i have Buffalo

We understand that your problem is:
hello i was using my buffalo ministation 320 gb external hard drive about a week ago, it was working fine but I left it on my bed when I was done. About 2 days later I went to change my bed sheets and the external hard drive feel on the floor. Now when I connect it to my computer it makes a connected sound but it does not show up on my computer but it is recognized when I safely disconnect it from my computer. I tried it on my laptop, it installs but its the same, it is not detected under my computer so therefore I am not able to access my files. Please tell me what I can do to retrieve my data. Thank you.

SOURCE: We understand that your problem is: hello i was

The external storage device has several major components:
* USB cable
* external power-supply
* disk-drive inside the enclosure
* USB-to-disk-drive adapter inside the enclosure.
Try a different USB cable.
Try a different USB port on your computer.
Try a USB port on a different computer.
Take a multi-meter, and measure the output voltage/amperage of the power-supply,
and compare with the specifications on the label of the power-supply.
Open the enclosure, and remove the disk-drive, and attach it as a "slave" drive in a desktop computer, to see if bypassing the USB-to-disk-drive adapter bypasses the problem.
Look at the label on the disk-drive, for manufacturer, product-number, serial-number, and manufacture date. Access the manufacturer's web-site, and use "check warranty status" to see if the warranty still is valid. If so, the drive can be replaced, at minimal cost to you.
Buy a new, compatible, disk-drive, and install it in the enclosure, to "revive" your external storage device.
Search online for a professional "data recovery service". For a significant fee, they can repair your disk-drive, just long-enough to copy your files to a new disk-drive.