Stranger than Strange !

[alofano]

I had this happen to me. This is Stranger than Strange and am wondering if someone can either explain it or had this happen to him or her. I have a IBM IDE 12.07GB Hard Drive - 2.5" - ATA-66 - 9.5mm - 4200rpm - 512Kb model #: DARA-212000 p/n: 31L9874 which I put into an enclosure to use as a back-up. I formatted it, Fat32, and then I transfered some DATA (files) and then I stored it away in a safe place for about 10 days. Today, I plugged it into the USB in order to read my data and the hard drive asked me that it needed to be formated. I tried everything I know to see in the drive but no such luck. The HDD didn't let me go in without been formatted which I did and lost all my data. Good thing I have back-up over back-up but Strange nevertheless, hey ?! Oh yes, I did check to make sure that the Data was in it when I first stored it away 10 days ago. Anyone know what could have happened or has anyone have this happen ? Thanks.

[Harryc]

That drive is as old as dirt and it is probably shot. Run the Hitachi/IBM drive fitness test on it.