external HDD detection error

[Cripp7]

I purchased an WD 3T My Passport external drive last year, I've been using it regularly to keep backups of my documents. But now whenever I plug it in, I get a pop-up that says "in order to access this drive you need to format it" I had another drive that did the same thing. How do I get my stuff back on, or am I just FUBAR?!

WD 3T My Passport

[Radium_Angel]

1 minute ago, Cripp7 said:

I purchased an WD 3T My Passport external drive last year, I've been using it regularly to keep backups of my documents. But now whenever I plug it in, I get a pop-up that says "in order to access this drive you need to format it" I had another drive that did the same thing. How do I get my stuff back on, or am I just FUBAR?!

WD 3T My Passport

Try it on another computer first

I assume, judging from the pics, it's a laptop hard drive?

[seagate_surfer]

Hello Cripp7,

 

For the recovery you can try with Recuva, I have used it several times with very good results:

• Free Download

[Cripp7]

I have tried Recuva on another machine before with some good results, so I'll check that out. Thanks

[seagate_surfer]

You are welcome! Post results to know what happened...

[Yvette222]

Hello, i searched these posts for you: 

https://www.minitool.com/hard-drive-recovery/external-hard-drive-needs-formatting.html

https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-you-need-to-format-the-disk-in-drive-before-you-can-use-it/

You can also try methods listed in them. Good luck!