"Nerd Herd" assistance required HDD wont show content

[DRIFT4EVA]

I have just purchased a new Toshiba laptop and I am already having issues.

I have a transcend 1TB HDD which is not old and is treated with upmost respect. My laptop reads the hard drive, but not the content yet the content IS still there. The bar underneath says 495gb used, which is consistent with what is on there. It has been used on windows XP, Windows 7, PS3 and Xbox with no issue at all. Now wont show content on windows 7 laptop too

I have tried to change the drive letter, but that hasn't helped at all either

Please can anyone help me? I reeeeeeally do not want to have to format and start again

Thank you for any and all assistance

For those who are puzzled by the quote in the thread title. It is from my all time favorite show 'Chuck'

 

[BobK]

Can you test the drive on any of the other machines it worked on in the past?

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Same situation on windows 7 laptop.

 

[turbolefty78]

How about on a desktop pc? Can you view the full directory structure on one of those? Laptops approach certain functions a bit differently than a desktop would. For instance a laptop's processor would be able to tell the hdd to park the actuator arms and heads if it detected a fall (by using the built in accelerometer), thus protecting the drive's platters. You haven't dropped the drive while connected have you?
Also, have you told the drive to hibernate recently, then disconnected it from it's power source right after? It could be parked and you would need to "wake it up" again. I'm just guessing here as I don't run laptops, always been a desktop tower guy myself.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

I too am desktop guy, but now traveling decided a laptop is much more user friendly ha-ha.

My hdd has never been dropped or at least that I know of. It is relatively new and sadly I do not have access to a desktop. I have been trawling google and came across something interesting. A virus has been circling that turns folders into shortcuts etc and hides the content. I remember that my folders did that all of a sudden, but I didn't question it. From what I have read the content is retreivable. I just need to understand the process of doing it. Presuming ofcourse, that is the issue

 

[turbolefty78]

Virus is certainly within the realm of possibilities here. I'm truely fed up with hackers and their ilk. Have you heard about the recent big hacker attack here in the states? Target stores (big red bullseye logo) was attacked and credit card info plus PIN numbers obtained of some 40+ million people who shopped there recently.
Makes me want to toss out all technology and go live like Grizzly Adams somewhere in the mountains.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Words simply cannot comprehend my aggression towards these cowards. The say it's a victimless crime, but I do not buy into that for a second!

Thankfully I have now sorted my issue. Embarrassing as this sounds, it was a easy fix. simple tick of a box in fact

Thank you for all of your help!