Resycled\boot.com is not a valid Win32 application

[Coldkilla]

I don't exactly remember what happened but now I can't access my external hard drive. Initially I got the error:

resycled\boot.com is not a valid Win32 application

But then recently the drive doesn't even exist on my PC.

-Its not in device manager.
-When connected, the entire PC becomes unstable and locks up. But immediately regains full function the instant the drive is removed.
-Drive does not appear in BIOs
-Drive cannot be connected while loading windows or a black screen will remain constant prior to desktop loading and the only way to get to desktop is to remove the drive.
----This includes safemode.
-Disk Management does not detect the drive ether.
-Virus/spyware checkers detect nothing.

Any help appreciated.

OS: Had XP Professional (SP3), and now Vista. The problem was the same for both OS's.
CPU: Q6600
RAM: 4GB
GFX: 8800GTX

 

[mpilchfamily]

First thing to do is try the drive on a differnt PC> if it works on that PC then the problem is your PC not the drive. Do you have any problems with any other USB devices on that system. Devices like thumb drives.

 

[DarkRogue]

Can you take the hard drive out of the enclosure?

I had an issue once with a cheapo CompUSA 2.5" enclosure. I had my laptop HD in there for a while and it worked fine. After a few weeks, the drive started clicking. I feared the worst and wrote it off as a dead drive. A couple weeks later, I decided to take the drive out of the enclosure and plug it in directly - that worked. Apparently, the enclosure died, lol.

If you can take it out of the enclosure, give that a try.

 

[Coldkilla]

Doing it on a different PC has the same effect. If it helps any, when the drive is connected, it is not possible to open up device manager or "manage" in on "my computer".

I could try to take it out of the enclosure, although I'd prefer not too. If yall have any other ideas I'd appreciate it.

 

[Coldkilla]

Hurrah! I loaded in ubuntu and was allowed to access and format the drive. Thanks all