Hp Portable SSD P500 Cannot access

[kitiaragrl]

When we received the drive we added important employee files onto it for transferring to a new computer.  i was able to add all the data to device, I was even able to open files and look at the stuff I add added to the device. The net day nothing. No computer will recognize it. When you plug it in you will see it for about a half of a second and then the drive disappears. We really need the data on this drive. We have had a local IT guy look at it but I don't think he knows what he is talking about as he said there is no way to access the data but there has to be something. HP makes it very difficult to get support. None of my emails have been answered and you can not find any usable help on the website because the serial number is not finding anything. 

[TheOldMan]

Depending on the method used to add the data, Windows might be blocking the area.  Look in Disk Management if you know where the data was placed.  Then look if that area is viewable.  You might need to mark it as active.

Another method to see if the data is really there is to boot to a Linux Live OS (a Live OS will not make any changes to the Windows installed) then examine the drive with the file explorer from that Live OS.  I like to use Ubuntu but most any distro  will do.

[kitiaragrl]

I am so sorry I am not a techie person... The folders I wanted to move I right clicked on and sent to drive E which was the device. I am not understanding any of the other stuff you stated. I am surprised that our local IT guy just said your screwed there is no way to get the data... At this moment I just want to quit my job as I do not know how to fix this problem...

[TheOldMan]

I suppose "this device" you speak of is either a flash drive, external drive,

Start with an explanation of this "I right clicked on and sent to drive E which was the device."  How was this device connected and to what?  Then what are these files that were moved to the device?  You state " i was able to add all the data to device, I was even able to open files and look at the stuff I add added to the device."  Where was this and how did you view the data?

[kitiaragrl]

I have an HP RP5 desktop computer. I plug the portable drive into one of the USB ports. The E: drive was recognized. I went to the folders on my F: drive and right clicked on the folder and clicked on send to drive E:. I then opened drive E: on my computer and individually opened each file to make sure the data was there. Word documents, Xcel files & PDF's were what was in the folders I transferred. I am not sure any of this makes any sense at all...

[TheOldMan]

That process seems to be OK. Copying files that way should work.  Now the part " The net day nothing. No computer will recognize it. When you plug it in you will see it for about a half of a second and then the drive disappears."  So is this on the same computer that you transferred the files with or on a new computer where you wish to copy them.

Let me ask - are the files still on the PC where you started and copied them to the portable device or did they disappear from there, too?

[kitiaragrl]

Any computer we plug the portable device into. The files are no longer on the original PC. I accidentally deleted the Recycle Bin. 

[TheOldMan]

That does seem to be a situation.  I see why this is concerning.

I assume the other PC's are all running Windows ?

I would try using different computer, maybe a Mac, just to see if it can see the files.  Again I recommend using a Linux Live OS running on a already functioning computer to see if the Linux OS can see the files.  A Linux OS can be used as a rescue device that many times can do what a Windows PC cannot.  I have used this method before in recovering files from a bad drive.  I can walk you thru the process, if you like.

The only other way is to hire a competent PC tech to have a look at the device.  It needs to be someone that has experience in problems with data recovery.  They may want to see the source PC also.  There are ways to recovery data even from a hard drive that has been erased.  If you want to go that way, stop using the source PC, as the more it is used, the less likely data recovery is possible.  FYI: data recovery is expensive using a professional service.