'D: ' Drive links have disappeared ( 2nd hard drive)

Hi all

Dont know if anyone can help with this one, I have come across it a cpl of times before and somehow it seems to have corrected itself, however this time it hasnt. I have a 2nd physical hard drive on my system 'D:' which all linksto this in explorer or my computer even the shortcut on the task bar has been broken..any ideas!! I have tried restore to an earlier time but no luck.. when I went to do that it told me 'all links to D drive will be lost it has been turned off etc.... I am using windows XP pro if that makes nay difference.

ANy help will be invaluable as I keep all my files on this disk plus 4 years of photographs..

TY

KJP

Is it seen in the BIOS?

Is it seen under My Computer?

Is it seen in the Device Manager or Disk Management?

Also under the Device Manager check under IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.

This is a slave on your Primary Channel? Have you checked the physical connections?

Thanks Jephree

It just so happens I decided to look in the Bios to see if the D: drive had been picked up. As it wasnt there as the slav drive I did an auto search which found and recognisded the drive. Its is all just a mystery to me why suddenly the drive was 'dropped' from the Bios


Thanks Again

KJP

If the system is three or four years old it may be that the CMOS battery is on it's way out. Keep an eye on your clock. If it starts to wander, it's a good indication the battery is dying.

It could also have to do with the disk drive itself. Is SMART disk monitoring engaged in the bios (if equipped) for your drive(s)? If not, and the option is there in the bios, I'd engage that as well (at least for a while). Or run the drive manufacturers diagnostics on the drive.

__________________
It's a good day when you learn something
-----------------------------------------------------------
Location: Alberta, CanadaD-A-L Hardware Scan

Thanks Dan

I shall keep a look out for any loss in time as the system is 3 ish years old.