How to open a VHD or VHDX file asking for reformatting

Question

The issue has a backstory, starting with an issue with accessing data on a 8T external USB drive. The USB Drive got bumped...hard...and could not be directly accessed but did show up in Disk Management in Win10Pro running on an HP laptop. After many attempts at a software fix using commercial recovery software, I saw an article indicating that by creating a virtual disk I might be able to access the data. Bought an identical and NTSF formatted 8T usb external drive and created a vhd and vhdx files on it from the original damaged disk to see which worked. I then attached the virtual disk to the new and formatted 8T usb drive. The consequences of trying to create a vhd and vhdx virtual file were different but neither worked...and to shortcut any questions I did not do them simultaneously but rebooted between attempts to make sure I was starting each session clean.

Now the real issue (s). First, is this a legitimate approach to getting the lost data back?

Second, when I access the new vhs virtual drive with its new drive letter, I am asked to format the drive. However, formatting would wipe out the data. (Also, I cannot rule out that the damaged hard disk may be OK but the external drive module electronics may be damaged, which may be a root cause of all the accessing data issues. If a software approach for recovering the data does not work, I will buy a new external drive case and port the hard drive to the new enclosure and see if that might work.)

Third, when I create a vhdx file, I get a small file that I cannot open. Given the size of my data file, vhdx seems to be the right approach but the new file is way too small and cannot be opened in the virtual disk because the message says it is not formatted.

I suspect two things may be happening. One, the disk is truly screwed and two, it may be pilot error in terms of trying to do what I am trying and the approach may be flawed even if my technique is on the right track.

Any help would be appreciated.

Luther

Answer 1

Hi,

Thank you for your posting!

Based on your descriptions, firstly I think your issue is more related with logically damaged scenario. Although the issue is caused by bumped USB driver, your computer can still detect your USB driver (it shows up in your disk management). Secondly, I can hardly find your "creating virtual disk" way. Normally, for instance, we can run chkdsk command to scan and recover files from a damaged USB driver.

You can try to use the instructions in the following articles first:

1) https://www.diskpart.com/articles/usb-detected-but-not-accessible-7201.html

2) https://helpdeskgeek.com/help-desk/how-to-recover-files-from-a-damaged-usb-stick/

Please note: Information posted in the given link are hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

If you still cannot get access to the data on your drive, you may consider your way to buy a new external drive case and port the hard drive to the new enclosure and see if that might work.

Thank you for your support!

Best regards
Joan

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