[SIM-1966021]

So I have been running an unregistered copy of windows off of my VMware. I keep the VM file stored on my external hard drive. Today when I logged into this VM I was prompted for an activation code to activate windows 7. I then googled it and found one here then disconnected my internet and entered the code. It said something along the lines of invalid code and then crashed my VMware. Ever since this just happened my external hard drive shows up when plugged into my computer but it is not usable.



It shows up in my computer but does not show the size of the HDD or the available space. Anytime I try to open my external hard drive Windows explorer just stops responding and I have to CTRL ALT DELETE and close it manually (this is when I try to access my external hard drive in general from my real computer with real verified copy of windows 7).

Did my unregistered copy of windows somehow cause this or is it just a coincidence?

[Wifi Pineapple]

I think it's just like a coincidence.
Go into safe mode and see if it still does it.

But I think the drive is dead if it just turned off like that

[Inked ๖ۣۜFeather]

reformat the HDD with the proper filesystem (FAT32?) with a bootable linux CD, such as Kali

[SIM-1966021]

Unfortunately, I have all of my files ever stored on that external hard drive as well. I don't know if I should reformat it or try to extract them somehow...

[Wifi Pineapple]

Unfortunately, I have all of my files ever stored on that external hard drive as well. I don't know if I should reformat it or try to extract them somehow...

Don't format it, try and recover it with programs. I suggest using linux.

You should try a different power supply and see if that works. I know with my western digital, they need a certain power supply or higher or it won't work.

[SIM-1966021]

Don't format it, try and recover it with programs. I suggest using linux.

You should try a different power supply and see if that works. I know with my western digital, they need a certain power supply or higher or it won't work.

My hard drive actually is western digital and had been running on an unoriginal power supply for maybe a week before this happened. I didn't even think of that. Do you think it will fix itself if I start using a different power supply or is the damage already done?

EDIT: I had made sure that the power was the same on the replacement adapter as the original but I just tried a more powerful one to see if that would fix it. It immediately blew it out and now it won't power on anymore with either adapter...

[Wifi Pineapple]

My hard drive actually is western digital and had been running on an unoriginal power supply for maybe a week before this happened. I didn't even think of that. Do you think it will fix itself if I start using a different power supply or is the damage already done?

EDIT: I had made sure that the power was the same on the replacement adapter as the original but I just tried a more powerful one to see if that would fix it. It immediately blew it out and now it won't power on anymore with either adapter...

Sounds like that adapter was to much power lol.

With most if not all power supply(not usb powered | wall plug) they have a button under/over the power port circle thingy ma-bob(:D)
Plug it in with the lower powered supply and hold the button for a few second(try 10\15\30) and see if you see any lights coming on.
If nothing, try the bigger supply
If no lights still come on, it's safe to assume your drive is dead.

FYI: it's always BEST to keep the same wattage that it needs for powering it, the same thing happened to me a few months back, good thing mine was only a vm hdd. I do hope you can recover anything needed.